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Uncasville, Conn. - Augustus, 2, 2020 – Angelo Leo is the new WBO Jr. Featherweight World Champion. The 26-year-old Mayweather Promotions fighter dominated Tramaine Williams en route to a unanimous decision live on SHOWTIME Saturday night from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. in the network’s first live boxing event since March 13. Leo won by scores of 117-111 en 118-110 tweemaal.
Leeuw (20-0, 9 KO), who was originally scheduled to face Stephen Fulton, Jr. in the main event of Saturday’s card presented by Premier Boxing Champions before Fulton tested positive for COVID-19, used a dominant body attack and consistent pressure to overwhelm Williams (19-1, 6 KO), who stepped up from the co-main event to face Leo. Albuquerque’s Leo had a 248-196 edge in punches landed while landing 39 procent van zijn macht stoten. 102 zijn 248 connects were body punches.
Leeuw, who was ranked WBO’s No. 2 junior featherweight going into the fight, is now expected to defend his title against Fulton, gerangschikt No. 1 van de WBO, within the next 180 dagen.
“It still hasn’t sunk in yet, it just feels surreal,” said Leo. “The first few rounds I was just feeling him out, getting his timing, getting the feel of him. I felt him kind of loosening up and breaking down, and that’s when I started putting the pressure on him a little more.
“That was the key factor in this fight, the body work and the pressure. I’m pretty sure Albuquerque is celebrating tonight. I think they have four world champions, because you can’t exclude Holly Holm. You have Johnny [Muur], Danny [Romero], Holly and now me. There’s four champions in that city and I think I’ve made history there.”
Fulton, who watched the fight on television while quarantining following his positive test, was interviewed following the fight by SHOWTIME host Brian Custer.
“Congratulations to Leo, he did it,” said the Philadelphia native. “But listen, I’m ready for him. I’ve been ready. Just be ready to face me when it’s time. That’s all I’ve got to say.”
In de co-featured bout, a WBA Super Bantamweight Title Eliminator, 122-pound contender Ra’eese Aleem (17-0, 11 KO) kept his undefeated record intact via TKO over late replacement Marcus Bates (11-2-1, 8 KO). Aleem was originally scheduled to face Williams before Fulton’s positive test. This was a rematch of a 2018 bout in which Aleem won by unanimous decision.
The 26-year-old Bates suffered an injured right wrist and battled through the pain for several rounds. Prior to the start of the 10th ronde, Bates’ corner and referee Gary Rosato warned the fighter that the bout was in danger of being stopped. Bij 2:18 van ronde 10, Bates grimaced in pain and turned his back on the action, causing the fight to be stopped. Aleem dominated from the opening bell, out-landing Bates 193-86 in total punches, inclusief 71 landed body shots.
Met de overwinning, Aleem sets himself up for an opportunity for a 122-pound title fight.
“I would love to fight either the winner of the main event or any current world champion – Akhmadaliev has two of the belts,” said the Las Vegas-based Aleem who was born and raised in Muskegon, me. “Brandon Figueroa, Koning Vargas, or the winner of this one. It doesn’t really matter who but I want the strap.
“I didn’t know his hand was hurt, I thought he was just shaking it just to try to get me to look at it and distract me. I didn’t worry about it.”
In de opening aanval van de uitzending, undefeated light heavyweight Joe George (11-0, 7 KO) scored a stunning ninth-round stoppage of Marco Escudero (10-2, 9 KO) in a rematch of their November ShoBox showdown that saw George win a heavily-debated split decision. Watch KO HERE: https://twitter.com/ShowtimeBoxing/status/1289744838745882624.
Deze keer, George left no room for a controversial decision. Bij 3:00 of round number nine, George caught Escudero with a vicious left uppercut that sent Escudero flat on his back in a candidate for KO of the Year. Ten tijde van de onderbreking, George was behind on two of the judges’ scorecards, 79-73 en 77-75, and ahead on one judge’s card, 79-73. Prior to the one-punch KO, George was getting out-landed 127-89 by Escudero, and Escudero held a 2-1 edge in punches thrown.
“I was setting him up with the jab to the body, I had him leaning over a little,” said Houston’s George, die draaide 31 op vrijdag. “I was shooting the right uppercut, some landed and some didn’t. I wanted him to get comfortable and relaxed, and that’s exactly what he did. He was relaxed and I slipped over and just shot it. He gave it to me and I had to take it. It put him down.
“The result is self-explanatory. I don’t have to say nothing. I’m willing to fight whoever next. One fight at a time and I’ll be prepared for whatever’s on the way.”
De uitzending van SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING op zaterdag, the first of a nine-event television lineup taking place over the next five months, zal maandag om 10 p.m. ET / PT op SHOWTIME EXTREME.
Saturday’s fights were presented by Premier Boxing Champions and promoted by TGB and Mayweather Promotions in association with Kings Promotions. The main event was promoted in association with New World Sports and Warriors Boxing.
Een toonaangevend productieteam en een aankondigingsteam leverden alle bezienswaardigheden, geluiden en drama van Mohegan Sun Arena. De ervaren omroep Brian Custer was gastheer van de uitzending, versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo called the action ringside alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and three-division world champion and Olympian Abner Mares providing expert analysis for the first time on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. Twee Hall of Famers completeerden het uitzendingsteam van SHOWTIME - de onofficiële topscorer Steve Farhood en de wereldberoemde ringomroeper Jimmy Lennon Jr. De uitvoerend producent was David Dinkins, Jr. en de directeur was Bob Dunphy.
De uitzending was beschikbaar in het Spaans via secundaire audioprogrammering (SAP) met Alejandro Luna en voormalig wereldkampioen Raul Marquez het aanroepen van de actie.