(Boxing Writers Assc.)
Bryant Jennings took on the veteran and former champion Sergei Liakhovich as he attempted to take a major step forward toward a championship bout. Both fighters fought a fast pace for heavyweights in the first round as Jennings quick hands may have given him the advantage but Liakhovich managed to land a few body shots to the shorter and quicker Jennings. Jennings opened a cut over Liakhovich’s left eye and just as he did in the first round, Jennings jab and follow up rights were the major scoring points.
The fourth round began with a vicious exchange as Jennings nailed Liakhovich with left hooks and power right hands but Liakhovich managed to connect a few solid shot including a right hand. Jennings moved around the ring, which allowed him to throw successful combinations as Liakhovich followed the faster Jennings around the ring. Jennings punctuated the round with right hand and left hook. Jennings continued his domination of the fight as he exploded over the final minute of the fifth round with a five punch combination. A Jennings upper cut in the seventh round told the story of the first seventh rounds as Jennings lifted Liakhovich’s head and may have busted Liakhovich’s nose, Going into the final three rounds, Liakhovich nose and eyes were swollen. The eighth and ninth round repeated the pattern of the previous rounds as Jennings faster hands were landing with impunity and there were times that Liakhovich was ready to go but only his will kept him up. Liakhovich’s corner ended the fight after the ninth round since their fighter was getting pounded and there was no way he was going to stop Jennings. Jennings showed that he could become the next great American heavyweight.
Tomasz Adamek fought Nagy Aguilera in the second event as Adamek was trying to get back into the heavyweight contention after losing to Vitali Klitschko. Adamek used his superior boxing skills to win the first round against Aguilera but in the second round, it was Aguilera who walked the Polish fighter down as he managed to land some solid overhand right hands that forced Adamek to retreat. Adamek began the third round by jabbing and combinations but in the middle of the round, Aguilera right hand found a home over Adamek’s jab but with ten seconds left, Adamek nailed Aguilera with a left hook and right hand nearly knocked Aguilera down but the bell saved Aguilera from further punishment.
Adamek tried to end the fight in the fourth but after an initial burst, Aguilera found a way to punish Adamek with a right hand of his own. For the final two minutes, both men exchanged punches and took turn hurting each other.
Adamek boxed and scored with effective combinations in the fifth round as he moved away from Aguilera but in the last minute of the sixth round, Aguilera timed one of Adamek’s jab with a solid right hand and left hook that got Adamek attention. From the seventh round through the ninth, Adamek superior boxing skills took control of the fight as he landed jack hammer jabs and right cross that open up cuts over Aguilera’s right eye. With one round left, Adamek simply chose to box and peppered Aguilera with combinations just as he did in the previous three rounds and while Aguilera was game, he showed that he was not in Adamek’s class.
Zab Judah found himself in the ring against a hungry fighter ten years his junior, Vernon Paris. Fighting in his hometown of Brooklyn, Judah was hoping to win a big fight against an undefeated prospect and get one more shot at a title. In the first round, Judah drew first blood with a solid combination that hurt Paris and forced Paris into the rope. Paris managed to escape but Judah won the opening stanza. Over the first three rounds, Judah power became obvious as he could hurt or stun Paris with his straight left.
Judah looked sharp as he started to tee off on Paris throughout the bout, who looked confuse and unable to response to Judah’s speed and power. Paris started the eighth round with body shots and connected on two solid right hands after going to the body. This lasted for one minute before Paris succumbed to Judah power as he took control of the round just as he done the previous seven rounds. In the opening seconds of the ninth round, Judah landed another straight left that buckled Paris knees and forced Paris to corner. Judah unleashed a six punch barrage that forced the referee to stop the fight as Paris was trapped and unable to escape. Judah showed that he is still a very good fighter and still angling for another a junior welterweight title while Paris showed that he was not yet in Judah class.