Rashidi Ellis lived up to his “Speedy” nickname on Saturday, scoring the quickest ever stoppage of former titleholder Javier Fortuna at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Ellis, 28-1 (18 KOs), dropped the southpaw in the third with a left hook to the body, and then was declared the winner at 1:53 of the following round after Fortuna took a knee, citing a shoulder injury.
“I wish the fight ended differently, but I got the victory,” said Ellis, 32, of Lynn, Massachusetts.
“Everyone at 154 is nervous now: Vergil Ortiz, Erickson Lubin, ‘Boots’ Ennis, Charlo, whoever. I’ll fight anyone."
The 36-year-old Fortuna, 39-7-1 (28 KOs), of Braintree, Massachusetts, has now been stopped four times, with the second fastest being his sixth round knockout loss to Ryan Garcia in 2022.
In the co-featured bout of a CES Promotions card, Kevin “The King” Walsh, 19-0 (10 KOs), remained undefeated with a unanimous decision victory over Brooklyn’s Jose Sosa, 8-2 (6 KOs), in an eight-round lightweight fight. The scores were 77-74 on two cards and 76-75 on the third. There was only one knockdown in the bout, Sosa being dropped by a right hand at the end of the fourth round, which proved the difference on one scorecard.
“Hats off to Jose Sosa and his team," said Walsh. "He’s a tough kid, but there’s only one king. I’ve got these silver titles – now I want gold. I’m 19-0 and ready for a world title. Nick Ball, Stephen Fulton – let’s go!”
In other action, Polish prospect Slawomir Bohdziewicz, 7-0 (6 KOs), of Stamford, Connecticut kept his unbeaten run intact, stopping Cesar Ugarte, 6-6 (6 KOs), at 1:21 of round two with a body shot.
