PALM CITY, Kansas (Septiembre 24, 2017) – The name of last night’s “KO Noche de Boxeo: Step Up” event certainly was appropriate as 2016 medallista de bronce olímpico Nico Hernandez had to overcome a major obstacle to remain undefeated at Hartman Arena in Palm City, Kansas.
“KO Noche de Boxeo: Step Up!” was a presentation of KO Night Boxing LLC., en asociación con Roc Nation Deportes y Hartman Arena, sponsored by Mort’s Cigar Bar, Jimmy Egg and Twister City Harley-Davidson. The action was taped live for future airing on CBS Sports Network.
St. Louis southpaw Kendrick “Uprising” Latchman outweighed regular flyweight Hernandez by more than 10 pounds when the two fighters entered the ring because Hernandez’ scheduled opponent, Basyzbek Baratov (2-1-2), abruptly pulled out of the fight after the weigh in due to a contractual disagreement. Hernandez weighed in at 113 libra, Baratov was 112, which was the contracted weight. The Kansas Athletic Commission, sin embargo, automatically allows one-pound over for all non-title fights. Baratov refused to fight but Latchman agreed to fight at a 125-pound catchweight. Hernandez gained four pounds and the fight was on.
Wichita hero Hernandez was unmoved by the late change, largely due to his standout amateur career, in which his opponents often changed at the last moment. Latchman (1-5-1, 1 KO) is a pro boxer-MMA hybrid fighter who is 6-3 (5 KOs) en MMA, including a 55-second stoppage of 14-7-1 Cody Land en julio pasado.
Latchman buzzed Hernandez in the first round, much to the chagrin of the Hernandez’ loud hometown crowd. Los Estados Unidos. Olympian displayed a good chin and went on to win a six-round unanimous decision to improve his pro record to 3-0 (2 KOs).
“They (his corner and fans) were nervous,” the 21-year-old Hernandez said after the fight, “pero no estaba. Mi entrenador (father Lewis Hernandez) told me to feint and go in, but I lunged a little too much. ¡Eh, I’m staying in my division (peso mosca) before moving up in weight.”
“Nico had to step up, fighting a new opponent on 24-hour notice, along with the difference in their weights,” promotor John Andersen comentado. “Everything turned out okay but it wasn’t an easy fight. My palms were a little sweaty in the first round when he got hit hard, but Nico pulled out the win and he’ll be an even better fighter because of this experience. His father said Nico had never been hit like that before. It was a good card and the crowed was really into it.”
KO Night Boxing LLC announced that Hernandez would return Diciembre 2 to headline another show at Hartman Arena.
USBA No. 2- rated featherweight Tramaine “The Might Midget” Williams (13-0, 5 KOs), luchando fuera de New Haven (Connecticut), cruised to his 13º victoria sin derrota, taking a one-sided 10-round unanimous decision over Derrick Murray (13-3, 5 KOs), En el evento co-estelar.
Key West, FL welterweight Armando “La Caballero: Alvarez (17-0, 11 KOs) permanecido invicto, winning a 10-round unanimous decision against Hungarian champion Gabor “Squirrel” Gorbics (23-8, 14 KOs) in a competitive Special Welterweight Attraction. Alvarez is the WBC Latino welterweight title holder.
Undefeated Chinese heavyweight prospect Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang (18-0, 14 KOs), the reigning WBO Oriental champion, sólo necesitaba 2:28 to stop veteran Byron “El Oso” Polley(30-22-1, 13 KOs). Zhang, as well as Williams, are promoted by Roc Nation Sports.
In the most dramatic fight of the night, Peso pesado de los angeles Scott Alexander (13-2-2, 7 KOs) rebounded from being decked, as well as a pre-fight cut, to knockout 361-pound Ricardo “Silverback” Carmack (15-12-1, 12 KOs) en la segunda ronda. Alexander suffered a cut on his shin that resulted from a step breaking as he entered the ring.
Milwaukee junior middleweight akeem Negro (3-1, 1 KO) won three of four rounds on all three judges’ scorecards for a four-round unanimous decision over Marcus Neal (2-2, 2 KOs).
Wichita light heavyweight Jeff Strum pitched a shutout in his pro debut against Topeka’s (Kansas) previamente invicto Chris Ortega (3-1-1), winning all four rounds in impressive fashion.
Los resultados completos de abajo:
RESULTADOS OFICIALES
MAIN EVENT – Pesos pluma
Nico Hernandez (3-0, 2 KOs), Wichita
WDEC6 (60-54, 59-55, 59-55)
Kendrick Latchman (1-5-1, 1 KO), St. Louis, MO
Co-estelar – Pesos pluma
Tramaine Williams (13-0, 5 KOs), New Haven, Connecticut
WDEC10 (98-91, 98-91, 97-92)
Derrick Murray (13-3, 5 KOs), St. Louis, MO
SPECIAL WELTERWEIGHT ATTRACTION
Armando Alvarez (17-0, 11 KOs), Key West, Florida
WDEC10 (100-90, 98-92, 96-93)
Gabor Gorbics (23-8, 14 KOs), Budapest, Hungría
PESOS PESADOS
Zhilei Zhang (18-0, 14 KOs), Las Vegas, Nevada
WKO1 (2:28)
Byron Polley (30-22-1 (13 KOs), Saint Joseph, MO
Scott Alexander (13-2-2, 6 KOs), Los Angeles, TAL COMO
WKO2 (1:45)
Richard Carmack (15-12-1, 12 KOs), ciudad de Kansas, MO
Semipesados
Jeff Strum 1-0), Wichita, Kansas
WDEC4 (40-36, 40-36, 40-36)
Chris Ortega (3-1-1), Topeka, Kansas.
JUNIOR pesos pluma
akeem Negro (3-1, 1 KO), Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wdec4 (39-36, 39-36, 39-36)
Marcus Neal (2-2, 2 KOs), ciudad de Kansas, MO.
INFORMACIÓN:
Gorjeo: @KONightBoxing
Siga @Nicomhernandez en Twitter e Instagram
|