Hyun Mi Choi continued to fight in entertaining fashion Friday night, but she entirely abandoned defense during her debut in the United States.
South Korea’s Choi was so effective offensively, however, she soundly defeated Calista Silgado and retained her WBA super featherweight title in their 10-round, 130-pound title fight in Hollywood, Florida. Judges Fernando Barbosa (97-93), Fred Fluty (99-91) and Carlos Sucre (98-92) each scored their fight for Choi by wide distances on the Gennadiy Golovkin-Kamil Szeremeta undercard at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Choi, 30, remained undefeated (18-0-1, 4 KOs). Colombia’s Silgado, 32, slipped to 19-12-3 (14 KOs).
Silgado unloaded a right hand that blasted Choi barely 30 seconds into the 10th round. They traded hard shots in the final minute of their fight
A left hook by Silgado landed flush just before the ninth round concluded. Choi was more active and accurate in that round, but again fought poorly defensively.
Silgado caught Choi with a right uppercut late in the eighth round. Choi continued pressing the action in that round, but she was reckless at times and ate punches unnecessarily.
Silgado drilled Choi with a right hand with 45 seconds to go in the seventh round, but Choi just kept coming forward. She made Silgado reset her feet after landing her own right hand 15 seconds later.
Silgado and Choi unloaded power punches on each other in the opening minute of the sixth round.
A right hand by Choi backed up Silgado with 45 seconds left in the fourth round.
Choi caught Silgado with a left hook and a right hand in the third round. Silgado came back to land a left hook and a right hand of her own to show she still was in the fight later in the third.
Choi hurt Silgado with a body shot 40 seconds into the second round. The champion attempted to follow up and finish off her vulnerable opponent, but the two-minute round oddly ended after one minute.
Choi rocked Silgado with a right hand that knocked her off balance a minute into the opening round. Choi connected with several other overhand rights in a one-sided first round.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.