Rosario Knocks Clark Out of Ring; Beats Him Up Over 10 Rounds

By Keith Idec

Jeison Rosario’s respect for Jamontay Clark was obvious after their 10-round fight Friday night.

The hard-hitting Rosario couldn’t help but admire his stubborn opponent once Clark was able to finish their bout on his feet. Rosario battered Clark during the final eight rounds of their junior middleweight match and even knocked Clark clear out of the ring in the third round.

Rosario couldn’t knock out Clark, but he won a one-sided unanimous decision in a bout FS1 televised from The Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Each of the three judges had Rosario comfortably in front after 10 rounds (99-90, 98-91, 97-92).

The Dominican Republic’s Rosario, 23, improved to 16-1-1 (11 KOs). Cincinnati’s Clark, also 23, lost for the first time as a pro (13-1, 7 KOs).

Rosario battered the courageous Clark throughout the eighth round. Rosario got perfect extension on a right hand that violently snapped back Clark’s head with 42 seconds to go in the eighth.

Clark somehow survived Rosario’s onslaught and made it to the ninth round.

A right uppercut by Rosario sent Clark stumbling across the ring just after the midway mark of the seventh round. Clark didn’t go down from that punch, but he almost exited the ring for the second time in this fight.

Clark and Rosario got tangled up and crashed to the canvas with 1:45 to go in the fifth round. They got tied right after Rosario landed a hard right hand.

Two rounds earlier, Rosario’s right hand knocked Clark clear out of the ring by landing a right hand. Clark sailed out of the ring headfirst with 1:08 to go in the third round, but luckily landed on his back, not his head.

Clark got up quickly and re-entered the ring before referee Mark Nelson’s count reached 20. Uninjured, Clark fought and held during the final 40 seconds of the third round and survived that unusual trouble.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.