Boxing News Boxing News
Saturday featured a full card of world title action and we head to the famed Manchester Arena in Emgland to kick things off.
National hero Anthony Joshua, 18-0 (18), continued his reign as IBF heavyweight champion by hammering out challenger Eric Molina, 25-4 (19), in three rounds.
America’s Molina was outgunned from the start and could do little to stop the heavy-handed Brit from running roughshod as Joshua racked up his second title defense. After the bout, it was announced that Joshua will face former unified champion Wladimir Klitschko in April of next year in London.
The WBO heavyweight title acquired a new owner at Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand as homegrown hero Joseph Parker, 22-0 (18), overcame the early charge of America’s Andy Ruiz, 29-1 (19).
Ruiz outboxed the taller Parker in the early going but lost traction when he tried to load up on his shots to take his adversary out. Parker was able to get his offense going and convince two judges to award him scores of 115-113 while the third had the pair even at 114-114.
Onto America now, Light welter ruler Terrance Crawford, 30-0 (21), played matador against the wild, bull-like John Molina, 29-7 (23), before clubbing the lanky Californian to the canvas in the eighth round at Century Link Center in Omaha.
Molina hit Crawford with a few bombs but the switch-hitting WBO/WBC champion showed took it well and speared the challenger with a complete arsenal of sharp shots that eventually wore down Molina.
In sunny California, former three weight champion Abner Mares, 30-2-1 (15), regained the WBA featherweight belt after a year out of the ring by outboxing Jesus Cuellar, 28-2 (21), of Argentina, at Galen Center in Los Angeles.
Mares refused to brawl with Cuellar and put an end to the reign of the taller South American by boxing clever and dropping his rival in the 11th frame on the way to a 117-110, 116-111 and 112-115 split decision win.
On the same bill, IBF super welter king Jermall Charlo, 25-0 (19), halted challenger Julian Williams, 22-1 (14), in the fifth round.
