IBA official/Hall of Fame referee Steve Smoger presented Nico Hernandez with the IBA flyweight title belt

(picture by Tony Scvhock / GS Memorymaker)

PARK CITY, Kan. (Februari 11, 2018) – US. Olympian and hometown favorite Nico Hernandez captured the vacant International Boxing Association (IBA) Americas flyweight title in his fourth professional fight, headlining last night’s “KO Night Boxing” Guld & Glory” kort, på Hartman Arena i Park City, Kansas.

Presenteras av “KO Night Boxing LLC,” the card was taped live to be shown at a later date on CBS Sports Network. “KO Night Boxing” Guld & Glory” kort, presented by KO Night Boxing LLC,

Den 22-åriga Hernandez (4-0, 3 Kos) stopped last-minute replacement, spel Victor “The Bull” Torres, i den femte omgången.

Hernandez’ ursprungliga motståndare, Hungarian champion Joseph Ajtai (19-9, 12 Kos), never made it to Wichita due to a series of unfortunate circumstances. Ajtai lost one day in Frankfurt, Tyskland, after leaving his passport on the plane he took from Budapest. Once he landed in Chicago på onsdag, he was tied up by a visa issue at U.S. Customs. He missed his connecting flight to Wichita and because of snowstorms that grounded numerous flights, including those to Wichita, Ajtai never made it out of O’Hare Airport, stranded there for several days.

The IBA granted a special exception for Hernandez to fight Torres, due to these unforeseen problems, with the agreement that Hernandez would next fight Ajtai for an IBA title.

“It was an electric night,” promotor John Andersen sa. “Än en gång, Nico made the proper adjustment that can be credited to his amateur pedigree. In the amateurs, opponents often change at the last moment and Nico has overcome many obstacles during his boxing career. We’re going to give Josef another title shot against Nico in April or May. They have unfinished business together!

“I was very pleased with Nico’s performance. It’s the best I’ve seen him. He was unbelievable in every way, on point throughout the fight. We also want to give Torres credit for accepting the fight on such late notice.”

Hernandez came out fast from the start, battering Torres’ body with tremendous combinations, and he never let up. Torres absorbed punishment but remained upright, but IBA referee Steve Smoger halted the action in the fifth round for Torres’ säkerhet.

“I’m not leaving this belt,” Hernandez commented at the post fight press conference as he handled his IBA Americas belt. “It’s going everywhere with me. I was looking forward to this fight and I’m ready to continue my success. This is the first (title belt) of many. I got what I worked hard for. I want to thank my coaches, all the work paid off, and now I have this (title belt).”

I co-featured händelse, Minneapolis weltervikt Javonte Starks (13-2, 7 Kos) and Mexican veteran Cesar Soriano (28-36-2, 17 Kos) fought to a six-round majority draw.

Bakersfield, CA pro-debuting Derrick Clayton upset Milwaukee junior welterweight Akeem Black (3-2, 1 KO), registering a second-round technical knockout.

Wichita mellanvikt Jeff Sturm (2-0, 1 KO) förblev obesegrad, stopping intrastate rival Brian Clements, av Topeka, halfway through the opening round.

Another pro-debuting California fighter, junior weltervikt Chazz Macias, endast behövs1:20 to knockout Omaha’s Corey Roberts.

Fighting for the first time in 5 ½ år, Washington DC. tungvikt Maurice “Godståg” Brerm (14-2-1, 10 Kos) took out 300-pounder Richard “Silver” Carmack (15-13-1, 12 Kos) i omgång ett.

https://www.hartmanarena.com/events/upcoming-events/1.html, www.internationalboxingassociation.com

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