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Jorge Linares successfully defended his WBA lightweight title with a 12 round unanimous decision victory over Mercito Gesta. Gesta was taking a significant step up in competition facing Linares. The Filipino fighter entered the Linares bout unbeaten, but had only beaten modest opposition.
INGLEWOOD - Leading up to Saturday's fight, Lucas Matthysse vowed that boxing fans would again see 'The Machine.' It took seven-plus rounds for that to happen. 'The Machine' also won a vacant world title belt. Matthysse (39-4, 36 knockouts) ended a boring, and at times sloppy, fight in round eight, dropping Tewa Kiram twice to win by knockout before an announced and partisan crowd of 6,143 at The Forum.
INGLEWOOD - In the opening bout of the Golden Boy Promotions card, featherweight Javier Martinez survived a first round knockdown to win a hard-fought six round unanimous decision over Danny Flores (11-10-1, 5 knockouts). Scores were 58-55, 58-55, and 59-55 for Martinez, who goes to 5-0, 3 KOs.
Tonight’s bout between Lucas Matthysse and Tewa Kiram could go in many directions. Sure, Lucas Matthysse is the significant favorite over Kiram when they finally square off in a 12 round bout at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The Matthysse-Kiram fight, along with the Jorge Linares-Mercito Gesta lightweight clash will air live on HBO (10:30 p.m. ET/ 7:30 p.m. PT).
Junior flyweight contender Felix Alvarado returns to action tonight in a stay-busy fight. Alvarado will take on Sebastian Sanchez of Mexico in a 10 round bout at the Puerto Salvador Allende in Managua, Nicaragua. Alvarado (30-2, 26 knockouts), who resides in Managua, knocked out Teeraphong Utaida in the third round of his last bout n Oct. 14. The bout was an IBF elimination bout.
Welterweight contender Cesar Barrionuevo is demonstrating more punching power in recent fights. It has allowed him to win more fights convincingly, especially against those he has faced before.
The clash and rematch between Danny Valdivia and Vladimir Hernandez could play out in either direction tonight. The eight round bout will take place at the Tachi Palace Casino in Lemoore, California, about a 35-mile drive from Fresno.
The winter break is over. No more hangovers. No more rotten holiday cake. No more visits from weird in-laws. If 2018 is anywhere near or better than 2017, boxing fans will rejoice match-ups between the best in boxing. That will remain to be seen, though. There are some promoters that will not work with other promoters or advisors (You can fill in the obvious blanks), unless they are mandated by sanctioning bodies for a world title fight.
Fringe bantamweight contender Roberto Domingo Sosa won a stay-busy bout Saturday night, decisioning Carlos Farias over six rounds at the Escuela de Ensenanza Secundaria Numero 2 Genaro Persico in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Scores were 59.5-56.5, 59-57, and 58.5-56.5 for Sosa, who has now won his last three bouts.
Portlaoise super-bantamweight TJ Doheny will have a world title shot to look forward to in the New Year after winning his IBF title eliminator in Bangkok on Wednesday. Doheny defeated Pipat Chaiporn (aka Mike Tawatchi) of Thailand via unamious decision to bring his fight record up to (18-0). He will now look towards facing current champion Ryosuke Iwasa of Japan in a mandatory defence bout, according to Irish Boxing.com.