WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (40-0-1, 39 KOs) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and England's Tyson “Gypsy King” Fury (27-0-1, 19 KOs) clashed Saturday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to a draw in a battle of two giants. Off to a fast start Wilder came at Fury, both fighters popped the jab but late in the round Fury finished strong landing solidly on the champ. Wilder and Fury attempted to adapt to each others style through the fight as they measure and worked off the one-two combos. A left hook by Wilder followed by a right sent Fury to the canvas in the ninth as the champ Wilder had his most convincing round. It was a close one all the way through going into the championship rounds however Wilder rallied late dropping Fury in the final round as the Englishman struggled to get up but managed to go the distance.
In the end the judges scored the bout split decision 115-111 WIlder, 114-110 Fury, and 113-113 a draw as the fight was declared a draw. Wilder retains his WBC heavyweight title.
IBF/WBA super welterweight champion Jarrett Hurd (22-0, 15 KOs) stopped Jason Welborn (24-6, 7KOs) of England with a solid body shot. After a rough start Hurd and Welborn scrapped it out but in round four during an exchange Hurd landed a shot to the body. Referee Lou Moret, who was officiating his last fight reached a ten count at 1:55 of the fourth.
Cuban heavyweight and former world champion Luis "King Kong" Ortiz (30-1, 26 KOs) stopped Travis Kauffman (32-3, 23 KOs) in ten rounds in a scheduled ten round bout. Ortiz boxed patiend through five rounds but a straight left in the sixth round dropped Kauffman as he got up and continued to fight. The Cuban stayed in control and in the eighth another straight left sent Kauffman to the canvas for a second time. A left hook by Ortiz in the tenth and final round dropped Kauffman for a third time as he got up but Ortiz finished him off as the referee Thomas Taylor stopped the fight at 1;58 of the final round.
British heavyweight prospect Joe Joyce (7-0, 7 KOs) made quick work of Joe Hanks (23-3, 15 KOs) in opening the Showtime pay per view card. A short right hand by Joyce staggered Hanks, Joyce followed up with a left dropping Hanks as referee Jerry Cantu waived at 2:25 of the first.
Other Bouts
Former world champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (34-6-1, 19KO) returned to the ring with a second round knockout over outclassed Hungarian fighter, Adam Mate 28-13 (9KO).
Cruiserweight Marsellos Wilder (3-0, 2 KOs), the younger brother of heavyweight champion Deontay, won a four-round unanimous decision over David Damore (1-5-3, 0 KOs). All three judges scored the bout 40-35.
Super welterweight title challenger Julian “J-Rock” Williams (26-1, 16 KOs) stopped Francisco Javier Castro (28-9, 23 KOs). Williams beat down Castro as the ref stopped the fight at 2:40 of the second
18-year old light flyweight Jessie Rodriguez (8-0, 4 KOs) of Texas cruised past Josue Morales (8-9-3, 0 KOs), earning a six-round shutout of 60-54 on all three scorecards.
Issac Lowe (16-0-3, 6 KOs) from England knocked out Argentinian journeyman Lucas Rafael Baez (33-17-5, 17 KOs) with a left hook to the body at 2:11 of round five.
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