Tag: Emmanuel Rodriguez

Fight Week: Joshua-Helenius and Navarrete-Valdez, Rodriguez-Lopez title fights

Fight Week: Anthony Joshua will face Robert Helenius. Plus, Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez and Emmanuel Rodriguez-Melvin Lopez title fights.

FIGHT WEEK

Emanuel Navarrete will defend his 130-pound belt against former champ Oscar Valdez in Arizona while Emmanuel Rodriguez and Melvin Lopez fight for a vacant 118-pound title in Maryland. Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua’s fight is up in the air.

ANTHONY JOSHUA (25-3, 22 KOs) VS. ROBERT HELENIUS (32-4, 21 KOs)

Editor’s note: This article will be updated when the status of Anthony Joshua’s fight on Saturday is announced.

  • Date: Saturday, Aug. 12
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: O2 Arena, London
  • TV/Stream: DAZN (in U.S.)
  • Division: Heavyweight (no limit)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: NA
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Filip Hrgovic vs. Demsey McKean; Heavyweight; Johnny Fisher vs. Harry Armstrong; Heavyweight
  • Prediction: Joshua UD
  • Background: Joshua was supposed to have faced Dillian Whyte in a rematch but Whyte was pulled from the card after failing a drug test. Organizers were searching for replacement at the time this item was posted. Longtime contender Robert Helenius agreed on Tuesday to step in. Joshua, the former heavyweight champion, is coming off a one-sided unanimous decision over Jermaine Franklin this past April. That was his first fight since back-to-back decision losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and last year that cost him his titles and damaged his reputation. The Englishman has been working with American trainer Derrick James. He reportedly has been in talks to face former titleholder Deontay Wilder in his next fight. Helenius will have fought on consecutive weekends. He knocked out Mika Mielonen in three rounds on Aug. 5 in Finland, which obviously wasn’t a physically taxing fight. Helenius was stopped by Wilder in the first round last October.

 

EMANUEL NAVARRETE (37-1, 31 KOs)
VS. OSCAR VALDEZ (31-1, 23 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Aug. 12
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona
  • TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
  • Division: Junior lightweight (130 pounds)
  • At stake: Navarrete’s WBO title
  • Odds: Valdez 1½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Raymond Muratalla vs. Diego Torres, lightweights; Lindolfo Delgado vs. Jair Valtierra, junior welterweights; Richard Torrez Jr. vs. Willie Jake Jr., heavyweights
  • Prediction: Valdez UD
  • Background: Navarrete will be making the first defense of the title he won by knocking out Liam Wilson in the ninth round of a wild fight in which both men went down this past February in the same venue. The volume-punching Mexican, a former 122- and 126-pound titleholder, has been undefeated since he lost a decision in a four-rounder in his sixth professional fight. Valdez, also Mexican, is on the comeback trail after he was outclassed in a 130-pound title-unification bout against the gifted Shakur Stevenson in April of last year. Stevenson won a one-sided decision. Valdez bounced back to defeat capable Adam Lopez by a wide decision this past May, which earned him a shot at Navarrete’s title. Valdez also held the WBO 126-pound title between 2016 and 2019.

 

EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ (21-2, 13 KOs)
VS. MELVIN LOPEZ (29-1, 19 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Aug. 12
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino, Oxon Hill, Maryland
  • TV/Stream: Showtime
  • Division: Bantamweight (118 pounds)
  • At stake: Vacant IBF title
  • Odds: Rodriguez 5½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Gary Antuanne Russell vs. Kent Cruz, junior welterweights; Travon Marshall vs. Gabriel Maestre, welterweights; Marcus Browne vs. Adrian Taylor, cruiserweights
  • Prediction: Rodriguez UD
  • Background: Rodriguez had an outstanding 2018, when he easily outpointed Paul Butler to win the vacant IBF title and then narrowly outpointed Jason Moloney in his first defense. Then came disaster. He lost his perfect record and belt to Naoya Inoue in May 2019, when the Japanese star put him down three times and stopped in the second round. That was followed by a split-decision loss against to Reymart Gaballo and a no-contest against Gary Antonio Russell (as the result of a cut). Then the 30-year-old Puerto Rican reasserted himself as a top fighter. He stopped Roberto Cantu in one round this past March and easily outpointed Russell to win an impressive 10-round technical decision in another fight cut short by a cut in October. Lopez is a formidable boxer-puncher from Nicaragua who will be taking part in his first title fight. He has won eight consecutive fights since he was stopped by Jose Velasquez in 2019. Rodriguez is a significant step up in opposition for Lopez.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY

  • Otar Eranosyan vs. Roger Gutierrez, junior lightweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)

FRIDAY

  • Albert Bell vs. Presco Carcosia, junior lightweights, Atlanta (DAZN)

[lawrence-related id=35413]

Fight Week: Joshua-Helenius and Navarrete-Valdez, Rodriguez-Lopez title fights

Fight Week: Anthony Joshua will face Robert Helenius. Plus, Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez and Emmanuel Rodriguez-Melvin Lopez title fights.

FIGHT WEEK

Emanuel Navarrete will defend his 130-pound belt against former champ Oscar Valdez in Arizona while Emmanuel Rodriguez and Melvin Lopez fight for a vacant 118-pound title in Maryland. Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua’s fight is up in the air.

ANTHONY JOSHUA (25-3, 22 KOs) VS. ROBERT HELENIUS (32-4, 21 KOs)

Editor’s note: This article will be updated when the status of Anthony Joshua’s fight on Saturday is announced.

  • Date: Saturday, Aug. 12
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: O2 Arena, London
  • TV/Stream: DAZN (in U.S.)
  • Division: Heavyweight (no limit)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: NA
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Filip Hrgovic vs. Demsey McKean; Heavyweight; Johnny Fisher vs. Harry Armstrong; Heavyweight
  • Prediction: Joshua UD
  • Background: Joshua was supposed to have faced Dillian Whyte in a rematch but Whyte was pulled from the card after failing a drug test. Organizers were searching for replacement at the time this item was posted. Longtime contender Robert Helenius agreed on Tuesday to step in. Joshua, the former heavyweight champion, is coming off a one-sided unanimous decision over Jermaine Franklin this past April. That was his first fight since back-to-back decision losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and last year that cost him his titles and damaged his reputation. The Englishman has been working with American trainer Derrick James. He reportedly has been in talks to face former titleholder Deontay Wilder in his next fight. Helenius will have fought on consecutive weekends. He knocked out Mika Mielonen in three rounds on Aug. 5 in Finland, which obviously wasn’t a physically taxing fight. Helenius was stopped by Wilder in the first round last October.

 

EMANUEL NAVARRETE (37-1, 31 KOs)
VS. OSCAR VALDEZ (31-1, 23 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Aug. 12
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona
  • TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
  • Division: Junior lightweight (130 pounds)
  • At stake: Navarrete’s WBO title
  • Odds: Valdez 1½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Raymond Muratalla vs. Diego Torres, lightweights; Lindolfo Delgado vs. Jair Valtierra, junior welterweights; Richard Torrez Jr. vs. Willie Jake Jr., heavyweights
  • Prediction: Valdez UD
  • Background: Navarrete will be making the first defense of the title he won by knocking out Liam Wilson in the ninth round of a wild fight in which both men went down this past February in the same venue. The volume-punching Mexican, a former 122- and 126-pound titleholder, has been undefeated since he lost a decision in a four-rounder in his sixth professional fight. Valdez, also Mexican, is on the comeback trail after he was outclassed in a 130-pound title-unification bout against the gifted Shakur Stevenson in April of last year. Stevenson won a one-sided decision. Valdez bounced back to defeat capable Adam Lopez by a wide decision this past May, which earned him a shot at Navarrete’s title. Valdez also held the WBO 126-pound title between 2016 and 2019.

 

EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ (21-2, 13 KOs)
VS. MELVIN LOPEZ (29-1, 19 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Aug. 12
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino, Oxon Hill, Maryland
  • TV/Stream: Showtime
  • Division: Bantamweight (118 pounds)
  • At stake: Vacant IBF title
  • Odds: Rodriguez 5½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Gary Antuanne Russell vs. Kent Cruz, junior welterweights; Travon Marshall vs. Gabriel Maestre, welterweights; Marcus Browne vs. Adrian Taylor, cruiserweights
  • Prediction: Rodriguez UD
  • Background: Rodriguez had an outstanding 2018, when he easily outpointed Paul Butler to win the vacant IBF title and then narrowly outpointed Jason Moloney in his first defense. Then came disaster. He lost his perfect record and belt to Naoya Inoue in May 2019, when the Japanese star put him down three times and stopped in the second round. That was followed by a split-decision loss against to Reymart Gaballo and a no-contest against Gary Antonio Russell (as the result of a cut). Then the 30-year-old Puerto Rican reasserted himself as a top fighter. He stopped Roberto Cantu in one round this past March and easily outpointed Russell to win an impressive 10-round technical decision in another fight cut short by a cut in October. Lopez is a formidable boxer-puncher from Nicaragua who will be taking part in his first title fight. He has won eight consecutive fights since he was stopped by Jose Velasquez in 2019. Rodriguez is a significant step up in opposition for Lopez.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY

  • Otar Eranosyan vs. Roger Gutierrez, junior lightweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)

FRIDAY

  • Albert Bell vs. Presco Carcosia, junior lightweights, Atlanta (DAZN)

[lawrence-related id=35413]

Deontay Wilder weighs in at trim 214½, Robert Helenius at hefty 253¼

Deontay Wilder weighs in at a trim 214½, Robert Helenius at a hefty 253¼ for their pay-per-view fight Saturday in Brooklyn.

Deontay Wilder evidently decided that added weight isn’t going to help him in the ring.

The former heavyweight titleholder weighed in at 214½ pounds for his pay-per-view fight against veteran Robert Helenius on Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

That’s Wilder’s lowest weight since his first fight against Tyson Fury in 2018, when he weighed in at 212½. The 6-foot-7 Alabaman weighed a career high 238 for his third meeting with Fury a year ago, a fight he lost by 11th-round knockout.

Helenius weighed in at 253¼, the most he has weighed since he came in at 262¼ when he fought Ganzalo Omar Bazile in 2016. Helenius weighed 246 for his second a fight with Adam Kownacki, a sixth-round knockout on the Wilder-Fury card a year ago.

In another featured bout on Saturday’s card, former titleholders Caleb Plant and Anthony Dirrell made weight for their super middleweight titleholder eliminator. Plant weighed 167¼, Dirrell 167¾. The division limit is 168.

Also, Frank Sanchez and Carlos Negron weighed 247¾ and 244½, respectively, for their heavyweight fight.

And bantamweights Gary Antonio Russell and Emmanuel Rodriguez weighed 116½ and 117¾. The division limit is 118.

[lawrence-related id=33307,33300,33298,33295,33279,33202,33271]

Deontay Wilder weighs in at trim 214½, Robert Helenius at hefty 253¼

Deontay Wilder weighs in at a trim 214½, Robert Helenius at a hefty 253¼ for their pay-per-view fight Saturday in Brooklyn.

Deontay Wilder evidently decided that added weight isn’t going to help him in the ring.

The former heavyweight titleholder weighed in at 214½ pounds for his pay-per-view fight against veteran Robert Helenius on Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

That’s Wilder’s lowest weight since his first fight against Tyson Fury in 2018, when he weighed in at 212½. The 6-foot-7 Alabaman weighed a career high 238 for his third meeting with Fury a year ago, a fight he lost by 11th-round knockout.

Helenius weighed in at 253¼, the most he has weighed since he came in at 262¼ when he fought Ganzalo Omar Bazile in 2016. Helenius weighed 246 for his second a fight with Adam Kownacki, a sixth-round knockout on the Wilder-Fury card a year ago.

In another featured bout on Saturday’s card, former titleholders Caleb Plant and Anthony Dirrell made weight for their super middleweight titleholder eliminator. Plant weighed 167¼, Dirrell 167¾. The division limit is 168.

Also, Frank Sanchez and Carlos Negron weighed 247¾ and 244½, respectively, for their heavyweight fight.

And bantamweights Gary Antonio Russell and Emmanuel Rodriguez weighed 116½ and 117¾. The division limit is 118.

[lawrence-related id=33307,33300,33298,33295,33279,33202,33271]

John Riel Casimero outpoints Guillermo Rigondeaux in snoozer

John Riel Casimero outpointed Guillermo Rigondeaux in a snoozer Saturday night in Carson, Calif.

Having trouble sleeping? Watch a replay of Saturday’s fight between John Riel Casimero and Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Casimero was pleased to leave the ring at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., with a split-decision victory and his 118-pound title but it wasn’t a particularly good night for anyone, most notably the fans.

The fighters combined to land 91 total punches in the 12-round fight, an average of 7.6 per round, according to CompuBox. Neither fighter landed in double digits in any round.

The pattern of the fight was the same throughout, the fit 40-year-old Rigondeaux pedaling around the ring on his well-oiled bicycle and throwing punches only here and there as those on hand booed. Casimero, normally a busy fighter, chasing the defensive wizard from Cuba but never really able to cut off the ring and unload his dangerous combinations.

In the end, the judges had as difficult a time as Casimero as it was impossible to predict who might win after the final bell. This is what they decided: Tim Cheatham scored it for Rigondeaux 115-113 but Robert Hoyle (117-111) and Daniel Sandoval (116-112) thought Casimero won.

Cheatham obviously thought Rigondeaux (20-2, 13 KOs) landed just enough counter punches to eke it out. Hoyle and Sandoval evidently rewarded Casimero (31-4, 21 KOs) for his aggression.

Casimero, who had stopped his previous six opponents, was happy – and apparently relieved – when the decision was announced.

“My expectations were for a knockout,” he said. “Me and all my fans wanted that. I did my best to knock him out, but he was just running and not fighting.”

Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic champion who has never been an entertaining fighter, understands that his style isn’t pleasing but he believes it’s effective. He thought he deserved to win the fight, which would’ve given him a third world title.

“Nobody wants to fight with me because I frustrate them in the ring,” said Rigondeaux, who has no plans to retire. “I landed the punches that I needed to in order to win the fight tonight. This is how I win. I have these God-given skills and this is the way I display them.

“I’m a unique fighter. It’s my style and it’s the only one I know. You can see I’m still better than anyone else in the lighter weight classes and I’m going to keep fighting.”

Casimero can now move on from the Cuban nightmare. He had a three-man hit list going into the fight, including Rigondeaux and two fellow titleholders.

“I had a three-fight plan,” he said enthusiastically. “First was Rigondeaux, and I beat him. Next is Nonito Donaire and then finally Naoya Inoue.”

Casimero used fingers to count down Rigondeaux and the other two prospective foes, saving his middle finger for Inoue.

Those watching on Saturday night might’ve given the same to Casimero and Rigondeaux.

In preliminary fights, Gary Antonio Russell (18-0, 12 KOs) vs. Emanuel Rodriguez (19-2, 12 KOs) was declared a no-contest after the fighters’ heads collided and injured Rodriguez seconds into the bantamweight title eliminator. The bout ended after only 16 seconds.

And, in the Showtime opener, former titleholder Rau’shee Warren (19-3, 5 KOs) stopped Damien Vazquez (15-3-1, 8 KOs) in the second round to re-assert himself as a viable 118-pound contender.

 

John Riel Casimero outpoints Guillermo Rigondeaux in snoozer

John Riel Casimero outpointed Guillermo Rigondeaux in a snoozer Saturday night in Carson, Calif.

Having trouble sleeping? Watch a replay of Saturday’s fight between John Riel Casimero and Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Casimero was pleased to leave the ring at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., with a split-decision victory and his 118-pound title but it wasn’t a particularly good night for anyone, most notably the fans.

The fighters combined to land 91 total punches in the 12-round fight, an average of 7.6 per round, according to CompuBox. Neither fighter landed in double digits in any round.

The pattern of the fight was the same throughout, the fit 40-year-old Rigondeaux pedaling around the ring on his well-oiled bicycle and throwing punches only here and there as those on hand booed. Casimero, normally a busy fighter, chasing the defensive wizard from Cuba but never really able to cut off the ring and unload his dangerous combinations.

In the end, the judges had as difficult a time as Casimero as it was impossible to predict who might win after the final bell. This is what they decided: Tim Cheatham scored it for Rigondeaux 115-113 but Robert Hoyle (117-111) and Daniel Sandoval (116-112) thought Casimero won.

Cheatham obviously thought Rigondeaux (20-2, 13 KOs) landed just enough counter punches to eke it out. Hoyle and Sandoval evidently rewarded Casimero (31-4, 21 KOs) for his aggression.

Casimero, who had stopped his previous six opponents, was happy – and apparently relieved – when the decision was announced.

“My expectations were for a knockout,” he said. “Me and all my fans wanted that. I did my best to knock him out, but he was just running and not fighting.”

Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic champion who has never been an entertaining fighter, understands that his style isn’t pleasing but he believes it’s effective. He thought he deserved to win the fight, which would’ve given him a third world title.

“Nobody wants to fight with me because I frustrate them in the ring,” said Rigondeaux, who has no plans to retire. “I landed the punches that I needed to in order to win the fight tonight. This is how I win. I have these God-given skills and this is the way I display them.

“I’m a unique fighter. It’s my style and it’s the only one I know. You can see I’m still better than anyone else in the lighter weight classes and I’m going to keep fighting.”

Casimero can now move on from the Cuban nightmare. He had a three-man hit list going into the fight, including Rigondeaux and two fellow titleholders.

“I had a three-fight plan,” he said enthusiastically. “First was Rigondeaux, and I beat him. Next is Nonito Donaire and then finally Naoya Inoue.”

Casimero used fingers to count down Rigondeaux and the other two prospective foes, saving his middle finger for Inoue.

Those watching on Saturday night might’ve given the same to Casimero and Rigondeaux.

In preliminary fights, Gary Antonio Russell (18-0, 12 KOs) vs. Emanuel Rodriguez (19-2, 12 KOs) was declared a no-contest after the fighters’ heads collided and injured Rodriguez seconds into the bantamweight title eliminator. The bout ended after only 16 seconds.

And, in the Showtime opener, former titleholder Rau’shee Warren (19-3, 5 KOs) stopped Damien Vazquez (15-3-1, 8 KOs) in the second round to re-assert himself as a viable 118-pound contender.

 

Reymart Gaballo defeats Emmanuel Rodriguez … or does he?

Emmanuel Rodriguez seemed to give the untested Reymart Gaballo a boxing lesson yet lost a split decision on Saturday in Uncasville, Conn.

Sometimes you just have to shake your head.

Emmanuel Rodriguez seemed to give the untested Reymart Gaballo a boxing lesson yet lost a split decision on Saturday at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.

Judge David Sutherland scored it 118-110 for Rodriguez, which seemed to reflect what happened in the ring. However, Don Trella and John McKaie had Gaballo winning 116-112 and 115-113, respectively, giving the Filipino the “interim” WBC bantamweight title.

Rodriguez (19-2, 12 KOs) was coming off a second-round knockout loss to Naoya Inoue in May of last year. Still, the Puerto Rican is seen as a fine technician.

And it showed against Gaballo, a 24-year-old slugger with no experience at an elite level. Rodriguez seemed to control the fight with his superior ability and landed the cleaner punches.

Here is the official scoring for the Reymart Gaballo-Emmanuel Rodriguez fight.

Gaballo, who fought aggressively most of the might, had his moments and probably deserved to win a few rounds. However, it seemed everyone was shocked when the winner was announced.

Rodriguez showed no emotions when he left the ring but the expression on his face made it clear that he couldn’t believe what had happened.

“It was a good fight, but he only won about two or three rounds,” said Rodriguez. “There were two punches from me for every punch he landed. He knows he lost. Everyone knows we won.

“My team told me to go out and keep boxing him in the late rounds. We knew he needed a knockout in the twelfth round. That was his only chance to win.”

Of course, Gaballo, a relative unknown going into the fight, was elated.

“I am very happy and blessed to win this belt,” Gaballo said. “I was always moving forward and controlling the pace, so I thought it was a close fight that either of us could have won.

“I’m waiting for my team to tell me what they have planned for me next. I’m going to keep training hard so I’m always ready for the opportunity when it comes.”

[lawrence-related id=16581]

 

 

Reymart Gaballo defeats Emmanuel Rodriguez … or does he?

Emmanuel Rodriguez seemed to give the untested Reymart Gaballo a boxing lesson yet lost a split decision on Saturday in Uncasville, Conn.

Sometimes you just have to shake your head.

Emmanuel Rodriguez seemed to give the untested Reymart Gaballo a boxing lesson yet lost a split decision on Saturday at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.

Judge David Sutherland scored it 118-110 for Rodriguez, which seemed to reflect what happened in the ring. However, Don Trella and John McKaie had Gaballo winning 116-112 and 115-113, respectively, giving the Filipino the “interim” WBC bantamweight title.

Rodriguez (19-2, 12 KOs) was coming off a second-round knockout loss to Naoya Inoue in May of last year. Still, the Puerto Rican is seen as a fine technician.

And it showed against Gaballo, a 24-year-old slugger with no experience at an elite level. Rodriguez seemed to control the fight with his superior ability and landed the cleaner punches.

Here is the official scoring for the Reymart Gaballo-Emmanuel Rodriguez fight.

Gaballo, who fought aggressively most of the might, had his moments and probably deserved to win a few rounds. However, it seemed everyone was shocked when the winner was announced.

Rodriguez showed no emotions when he left the ring but the expression on his face made it clear that he couldn’t believe what had happened.

“It was a good fight, but he only won about two or three rounds,” said Rodriguez. “There were two punches from me for every punch he landed. He knows he lost. Everyone knows we won.

“My team told me to go out and keep boxing him in the late rounds. We knew he needed a knockout in the twelfth round. That was his only chance to win.”

Of course, Gaballo, a relative unknown going into the fight, was elated.

“I am very happy and blessed to win this belt,” Gaballo said. “I was always moving forward and controlling the pace, so I thought it was a close fight that either of us could have won.

“I’m waiting for my team to tell me what they have planned for me next. I’m going to keep training hard so I’m always ready for the opportunity when it comes.”

[lawrence-related id=16581]

 

 

Jaron Ennis-Chris van Heerden cut short as result of bad gash

The fight between Jaron Ennis and Chris van Heerden was ruled a no-decision after the latter was cut early and couldn’t continue.

Jaron Ennis didn’t get much of a chance to show off his ability.

Ennis, a fast-rising welterweight contender, was giving Chris van Heerden a shellacking in the opening round of their fight on the Emmanuel Rodriguez-Reymart Gaballo card Saturday in Uncasville, Conn, when disaster struck.

The fighters’ heads collided violently with about 20 seconds remaining in the round, causing a ghastly cut on van Heerden’s forehead.

The referee stopped the action, the ring doctor took a look and the fight was stopped immediately. The official time was 2:39. It was ruled a no-decision because the cut resulted from an accidental headbutt.

Ennis (26-0, 24 KOs) looked formidable for 2½ minutes, fighting mostly from a southpaw stance. The uber-quick, powerful Philadelphian landed punishing shots from a variety of angles and to all legal targets.

Van Heerden (28-2-1, 12 KOs) tried to stand his ground and fight back but he seemed to be somewhat overwhelmed by Ennis’ attack.

Then came the end. Ennis missed a straight left with van Heerden’s back against the ropes. Van Heerden reacted by lunging forward in an attempt to throw a right hand.

That’s when their heads collided. They both brought a glove to their heads and were experienced pain. However, only Van Heerden was cut.

Ennis had hoped to make a big statement, which he believed would lead to a matchup with one of the big-name 147-pounders. Obviously, that could still happen.

However, no one was happy about the way the fight ended on Saturday.

 

Jaron Ennis-Chris van Heerden cut short as result of bad gash

The fight between Jaron Ennis and Chris van Heerden was ruled a no-decision after the latter was cut early and couldn’t continue.

Jaron Ennis didn’t get much of a chance to show off his ability.

Ennis, a fast-rising welterweight contender, was giving Chris van Heerden a shellacking in the opening round of their fight on the Emmanuel Rodriguez-Reymart Gaballo card Saturday in Uncasville, Conn, when disaster struck.

The fighters’ heads collided violently with about 20 seconds remaining in the round, causing a ghastly cut on van Heerden’s forehead.

The referee stopped the action, the ring doctor took a look and the fight was stopped immediately. The official time was 2:39. It was ruled a no-decision because the cut resulted from an accidental headbutt.

Ennis (26-0, 24 KOs) looked formidable for 2½ minutes, fighting mostly from a southpaw stance. The uber-quick, powerful Philadelphian landed punishing shots from a variety of angles and to all legal targets.

Van Heerden (28-2-1, 12 KOs) tried to stand his ground and fight back but he seemed to be somewhat overwhelmed by Ennis’ attack.

Then came the end. Ennis missed a straight left with van Heerden’s back against the ropes. Van Heerden reacted by lunging forward in an attempt to throw a right hand.

That’s when their heads collided. They both brought a glove to their heads and were experienced pain. However, only Van Heerden was cut.

Ennis had hoped to make a big statement, which he believed would lead to a matchup with one of the big-name 147-pounders. Obviously, that could still happen.

However, no one was happy about the way the fight ended on Saturday.