Darius Fulghum defeated the most formidable opponent of his career Saturday night, but their ugly, uneventful 10-rounder didn’t unfold how Fulghum had hoped.
The super middleweight prospect stayed undefeated, though, and beat Alantez Fox by majority decision on the Jaime Munguia-John Ryder undercard at Footprint Center in Phoenix. Judges Craig Harmon (100-92) and Dennis O’Connell (98-92) respectively scored 10 and eight rounds for Fulghum, but judge Javier Camacho strangely scored their fight a draw (95-95)
Fulghum landed in excess of 100 punches more than Fox, according to unofficial punch stats.
Houston’s Fulghum (10-0, 9 KOs) boxed beyond the sixth round for the first time and went the distance for the first time as a pro. Fox (28-6-1, 13 KOs, 1 NC), of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, took this fight on barely one month’s notice and appeared tired relatively early in it.
Fulghum tried to land the type of shot that could’ve mercifully ended this bout in the ninth and 10th rounds. The resourceful Fox clinched, moved and wrestled his way to the final bell.
Fulghum attacked a fading Fox early in the eighth round and unloaded various power shots on him.
A right hand by Fulghum buckled Fox’s legs with about 1:25 to go in the seventh round. Fox managed to withstand that trouble and made it to the eighth round.
While Fox was backed into a corner, Fulghum connected with a right hand to the side of his head during the sixth round. Fulghum later landed several hard body blows on his fatigued foe.
Like the previous round, the fifth round was beset by clinches and wrestling for position.
Fans began booing what devolved into a sloppy fight during the fourth round. Fox repeatedly tied up Fulghum on the inside, which often prevented Fulghum from letting his hands go.
An overhand right by Fox landed with about 30 seconds remaining in the third round. Fulghum landed two rights to Fox’s body several seconds earlier.
Fulghum’s right uppercut connected to Fox’s neck during the second round. Fox blasted Fulghum with a right hand that landed with just under 50 seconds to go in the first round.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.