By Jake Donovan
Featherweight contender Juan Carlos Burgos recovered from his first loss in emphatic fashion, having his way with faded veteran Frankie Archuleta en route to a second round knockout Friday night at the Million Dollar Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Burgos scored three knockdowns in the second round before the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights televised bout was waved off at the 2:33 mark.
It was the perfect comeback opportunity for Burgos, who fell short in his first alphabet title challenge when he dropped a decision against former bantamweight king Hozumi Hasegawa in their vacant title fight last November. Burgos traveled halfway around the world for the fight, but was outfought for most of the night and handed his first loss when all was said and done.
Against Archuleta, it was never a question of if, but when the fight would end.
To the surprise of most, Burgos was a bit slow and even lethargic coming out the gate, providing Archuleta the opportunity to land a few right hands, the only amount of success the 35-year old would enjoy on the night.
Burgos hit his stride in the second round and never looked back.
The beginning of the end came early in the round, when a right hand had Archuleta punch drunk before a follow up shot sent him to the canvas. It wasn’t enough to put him out, but the night certainly wouldn’t get any better.
Despite the existing temptation to move in for the kill with reckless abandon, Burgos instead collected himself and showed poise beyond his 23 years of age. The Mexican went into boxer-puncher mode, throwing in combinations, including a beauty of a left-right that deposited Archuleta into a corner.
The fight was permitted to go on, but a final flush head shot had Archuleta down and out, his head snapping back as he collapsed into the ropes, prompting an immediate stoppage.
Burgos improves to 26-1 (19KO) with a win that he hopes will mark the beginning of his next title run.
Meanwhile, Archuleta is sent yet another reminder of why retirement is clearly the best option, as he falls to 27-8-1 (14KO). Archuleta accepted the assignment on short notice, replacing former featherweight titlist Cristobal Cruz, who abruptly pulled out of the fight.
Prior to running into Hasegawa, Burgos was one of the hottest rising talents in the game in one of the deepest divisions in the sport. Included among the first 25 wins of his career were impressive back-to-back showings against Juan Carlos Martinez (which also aired live on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights) and former repeat featherweight title challenger Ricardo Castillo.
CHILEMBA SNATCHES ANOTHER “0”
On paper, the end result of the televised co-feature was a slight upset but don’t tell that to Isaac Chilemba, who continued his favorite hobby of snatching “0’s” in the ring.
The latest previously unbeaten victim to fall prey was super middleweight prospect Maxim Vlasov, who despite scoring a pair of knockdowns in the eighth round still fell short on the cards in dropping a unanimous decision in an entertaining battle.
Chilemba spent the first few rounds surveying the landscape, going punch for punch with Vlasov and never allowing the Russian to truly take the lead. The strategy transitioned well, as the once-beaten South African dominated the middle rounds, largely on the strength of body punching and sheer volume, averaging over 70 punchers per round on the night.
Falling way behind, Vlasov needed something dramatic to happen in order to work his way back into the fight. That moment came in the eighth round, when separate right hand shots caused two knockdowns approximately one minute apart.
The second knockdown appeared far more damaging, as Chilemba was stunned by a left hook before getting drilled with a straight right. He rose to his feet within the mandatory eight count, but looked to be in trouble with a lot of time left in the round.
However, Vlasov failed to employ a disciplined enough performance to close the show, instead punching himself into exhaustion and even allowing momentum to shift back in Chilemba’s favor by rounds end.
The final two rounds were competitive, but Vlasov needed to dominate. He did not, and ultimately dropped a unanimous decision by scores of 94-93 and 96-92 (twice).
Chilemba improves to 16-1-1 (8KO) with the win and is now unbeaten in his past nine fights, including a 3-0-1 stretch against four straight previously unbeaten opponents.
The 6’3” Vlasov tastes defeat for the first time as a pro, falling to 19-1 (10KO).
Simpiwe Vetyeka shared at least one thing in common with the winners in the main event and the co-feature. Much like Chilemba, he made the trek to Oklahoma from his native South Africa. And as remains the case with Burgos, the lone loss of Vetyeka’s career came at the hands of Hozumi Hasegawa.
By night’s end, he shared one more thing in common with each – a televised win, as he scored a third round body shot knockout of badly faded former strawweight titlist Roberto Leyva.
Both fights were well over the contracted limit as a bantamweight fight suddenly became a featherweight. Not the best sign for Leyva, who has spent most of his 13-year career at 115 or below and looked very fleshy in the televised swing bout.
Conversely, Vetyeka was in superb condition and fought accordingly.
The sudden end came at 2:32 of the third round, when a well placed left hook to the body put Leyva down and out for the full ten-count.
Vetyeka picks up his sixth straight win as he improves to 22-1 (13KO). Leyva loses for the seventh time in his last eight fights, falling to 27-13-1 (21KO).
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.
