Boxing In America: Weekend Results

ByRichard Eberline

There were three fights of note taking place this weekend in The States and we kick things off with an IBF lightweight title fight which took place last night at Energy Arena in Laredo, TX.

Battling it out for the vacant IBF crown were a pair of lanky 23 year old boxers; Mexico’s Miguel Vasquez and South Korea’s Ji Hoon Kim.

The smaller but heavy-handed Kim had previously held the Korean featherweight and IBO super feather belts and was coming off an IBF lightweight title eliminator victory over Ameth Diaz in May.

Vasquez, who had previously lost a light welter contest to Timothy Bradley and a welter clash to Saul Alvarez, was engaging in his first bout as a lightweight after coming off the canvas to post a split decision win over Breidis Prescott a year ago.

The time away from the ring was apparent early for Vasquez, who was under pressure from Kim in the initial rounds.

But the bigger, stronger and better skilled Mexican soon took control of the proceedings, handing out a boxing lesson to the overseas visitor who was just unable to land his vaunted power shots.

Despite an attempted rally during the middle rounds, Kim was never able to get on track against Vasquez, who won the IBF crown via scores of 120-108, 119-109 and 118-110.

Vasquez goes to 26-3 (12) while Kim’s record now stands at 21-6 (18).

There was an IBF featherweight title eliminator on the undercard, won by Miguel Angel Garcia, 23-0 (19), who gunned down southpaw Cornelius Lock, 19-6-1 (12), in the eleventh frame.

In other action last night, ex-two time heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, 48-7-2 (39), KO’d Damon Reed, 45-14 (32), in the sixth at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, VA.

Also on the bill, light heavyweight Henry Buchanan, 20-2 (13), stopped super middle Bobby Jordan, 8-3-1 (4), in the ninth of a scheduled ten rounder.

On Friday, former heavyweight world title challenger Chris Arreola, 29-2 (25), got back on track by dropping Manuel Quezada, 29-6 (18), twice enroute to posting a wide 12 round UD at Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, CA.