Boxing News Boxing News
In the co-featured bout to Sam Peter vs. James Toney 2 last night in Florida, ex-WBA Light Middleweight Champion Travis Simms got a stoppage win over the reigning WBA Champion, the very tough Jose Antonio Rivera.
The bout must have seemed like the third ring of hell for the champion. Simms would thoroughly outbox, outclass, and out punch the always hardnosed Rivera. Utilizing excellent footwork and ring generalship, not to mention a laser guided straight left that could not miss, Simms beat Rivera from pillar to post.
In the second round, blood would begin to trickle down from the nose of Rivera, no doubt caused by the thudding lefts that seemed to reach their mark as if magnetized to him. Rivera was also ruled down in the same round as Simms looked to take it to the champion.
In the ninth, Rivera was down again and it looked as if he wanted to stay down but his pride would not allow him to be counted out and he rose valiantly before the count of 10. It was of little difference as Simms jumped all over the weak and bloodied Rivera, prompting referee Frank Santore to call a halt to the bout at 2:00 into the ninth.
The win is of sweet redemption for Simms as he was coming of a two year layoff due to what he describes as ongoing litigation with one of the alphabet organizations “I’m usually not known as a power puncher,” Simms said. “I’m a stick and move guy, but I proved I got power tonight.”
