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Friday night live on ESPN2 from the Gaylord Texan Hotel, Grapevine, Texas, Top Rank promoted an IBF heavyweight eliminator. Former WBC champion Samuel ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ Peter 33-3 (26) scored a second round stoppage of Nagy ‘Dominican Dynamite’ Aguilera 15-2 (10) hailing from Newburgh, New York. The short bout demonstrated the difference between an ‘A’ heavyweight and a ‘B’ heavyweight.
Round one looked even, as both men felt each other out and exchanged jabs and counter jabs. However, Peter came forward the whole round backing up Aguilera, who couldn’t land any effective punches and seemed to have no answer to his opponent.
Peter, who appeared relaxed, picked up the tempo a notch in round two, moving forward and backing up Aguilera, while cutting off the ring. Peter began to load up on the right hand, and looked to find the range on his limited opponent.
Finding a punch ‘hole’ in Aguilera’s defense, an overhand right followed by an overhand left from Peter sent Aguilera off the ropes and out on his feet. He beat the count, and appeared okay, but still had no answer. Peter continued landing overhand rights and lefts.
Peter began landing at will on a helpless Aguilera on the ropes, giving referee Lawrence Cole no choice but to stop the bout at 2:24 of the second round.
In the post fight interview, Peter looked forward to an IBF title opportunity. “I have the IBF, I’m ready, I’m there. Abel Sanchez is a great coach. He made the right choice for me, and you see the results right now. Tonight was my night.”
In a preliminary Middleweight bout between unbeatens, O (Omar) Henry of Houston, Texas, went to 8-0 (7) with a first round stoppage of Francisco ‘Pantera’ Reza 6-0 of Mexico. Henry came forward and scored two quick knockdowns in the first, sending him down and out on the ropes at 33 seconds of the first. Reza, who upset 7-0 Wilford Scypion Jr. in his last bout, was outgunned in the brief slugfest, which featured a no defense power punch exchanges.
Freddie Roach Prospect Benevidez Wins By Kayo!
In a super lightweight bout, former seven time U.S National champion Jose Benevidez of Phoenix, Arizona, with trainer Freddie Roach at ringside, scored a third round stoppage of Bobby ‘Hitman’ Hill, of Gulfport, Mississippi.
Benavidez, now 3-0 (3) came forward landing a fast right jab on southpaw Hill, now 1-4, who looked to counter with his right, as Benavidez held his left hand low. Near the end of round one, Hill trapped Benavidez in a corner on the ropes and finally did land the right near the bell.
But in round two, Benavidez began using his reach advantage to his favor, landing left and right hand exchanges with power, finding range and dropping Hill with a right to the body followed by a right to the head. Hill beat the count, and was forced to finish the round with a cautious defense.
In round three, Benavidez landed overhand power lefts, dropping Hill twice. Hill arose for the second time after the count reached nine, but was finished, forcing referee Jesse Reyes to stop the contest at 2:59. Benevidez appears to have a bright future, though Roach still has a lot more work to do with his ‘prospect’.
Filipino Flyweight Mepranum Upsets 27-0 Hernan Marquez!
In a major upset in the super flyweight division, an unknown but happy, excited and enthusiastic 22 year old Richie Mepranum of Sarangani, Philippines, scored a ten round decision upset victory over Hernan ‘Tyson’ Marquez, Sonora, Mexico.
The bout was fought in a center of the ring technical war between southpaws trading jabs and throwing an occasional power shot. The ropes were never touched during the bout by either fighter. Both fighters kept their range distance.
Mepranum, now 16-2-1 (3) won a world a title shot by setting the tempo in this bout, and never letting Marquez, now 27-1 (20) get off. Mepranum, who appeared to win nearly every round, dominated the fifth by rocking Marquez several times with left and right hand power shots that got through, in an exciting technical war.
Marquez, who knocks out opponents with power, still had the power, but for the first time, none of his shots could do damage whatsoever! One of Top Rank’s top prospects was reduced to ‘B’ fighter status by a hungry Filipino.
The seventh and the eighth were great center of the ring wars, with Mepranum getting through frequently with power counter lefts and rights. Mepranum had a spectacular enthusiasm for this fight, and appeared thrilled to do his best and have this opportunity.
In the ninth, Marquez swung for the knockout in desperation, but got hit with bombs. The tenth looked even, with Mepranum landing a few more left hand bombs in the last thirty seconds to seal a unanimous decision victory. This ten round bout was for the WBC USNBC Super Flyweight Title. Scoring: 99-91, 96-94 and 98-92.
Through a translator, a thrilled Mepranum stated “I was very confident I could win tonight, I was very relaxed. I want to fight for the championship; this was a big fight for me. Marquez hit strong, but I can take it. There were a lot of Filipino people screaming Richie for me, I thank all of the Filipinos here tonight who came for me. I want to fight for the championship next time!”
