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Steve KimESPN
Highly touted featherweight prospect and two-time Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez evened the score against Adan Gonzales, who defeated Ramirez last year in his pro debut. This time Ramirez pitched a six-round shutout, winning 60-54 on all three cards on the Jose Pedraza-Mikkel LesPierre undercard Thursday night at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.
Now with new trainer Ismael Salas, Ramirez (4-1, 3 KOs) has shown great improvement in his past four fights, and unlike the first encounter with the rugged Gonzales (5-3-2, 2 KOs), Ramirez took the play away from him by controlling the center of the ring, being much more forceful, moving forward and throwing hard left hands and right hooks to the body.
“I wanted to put our first fight behind me, and I did that,” Ramirez said after the fight. “Ever since our first fight, I wanted the rematch. I am glad this chapter of my career is behind me now.”
Gonzales never got his attack started, and for much of the bout he was on his heels playing defense. Neither fighter was really in trouble, but it was Ramirez who landed the cleaner, more effective punches. While Gonzales was busier (out-throwing Ramirez 250 to 192 in total punches), it was Ramirez who was much more precise in his work, as he out-landed Gonzales by seven punches (62 to 55).
“A couple more rounds and I could’ve scored the knockout,” Ramirez said. “But I’ll take the win and continue to work hard on my craft. I have the best trainer in Ismael Salas.
“This fight, I did pretty much everything I wanted to do. The one thing that was missing was that one big shot.”
After the fight, Gonzales and Ramirez embraced, with Gonzales asking for “uno mas.” While we’re unlikely to see a trilogy between the two, Gonzales wasn’t content with how tonight turned out.
Rodriguez demolishes Murray
Junior welterweight prospect Elvis Rodriguez scored an impressive first-round knockout of Daniel Murray with a twisting right jab that sent Murray to the canvas near the ropes. Referee Robert Hoyle stopped the fight with Murray stuck between the ropes and unable to continue.
Rodriguez (7-0-1, 7 KOs) was seemingly content to box his way through the first part of the round, but with that single punch, he ended things in eye-opening fashion against Murray (5-4), who was nearly sent out of the ring. Rodriguez, a southpaw from the Dominican Republic who is trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, is certainly a young prospect to keep tabs on.
Bell dominates Bernaldez in one-sided decision victory
Albert Bell put forth a smart display of boxing in shutting down Mark Bernaldez to score a dominant 10-round unanimous decision victory. All three scorecards read 100-90.
Coming in at 6-foot-1, Bell (17-0, 5 KOs), used his advantages in height and reach to keep Bernaldez (20-4, 14 KOs) at bay. Bernaldez landed only 46 total punches throughout the contest. Bell, meanwhile, landed 125 punches and was able to control the action with intelligent movements and being selective with his offense.
It wasn’t always exciting, but the game plan certainly was effective for Bell, who seemed to damage his right hand in the ninth round. Bell is the consummate boxer, one who understands how to use the ring and utilize his physical advantages against his opponents.
Ibeh outlasts Mailata
Fighting for the second time in one week, heavyweight Kingsley Ibeh scored a majority decision victory over Patrick Mailata by the scores of 58-56 (twice) and 57-57.
Ibeh (5-1, 4 KOs) got off to a quick start and threw hard punches from both stances to begin the fight. Not many of them landed, but he was the more active fighter of the two during the six-round bout. What Ibeh lacks in pure technique and form, he makes up for in size and strength, and he was able to keep Mailata (4-1, 2 KOs) at bay.
But fatigue set in, and by the third round, Ibeh slowed and Mailata began to land his punches and bang away to Ibeh’s body. Down the stretch, both fighters were tired and noticeably fading but doing their best to finish strong as they leaned on one another. Ibeh, who scored a fourth-round knockout of Waldo Cortes last Thursday, got his second victory in a week.