Photos - Ed Mullholland/Matchroom
Championship boxing was back in the "City by the Bay" as the Bay Area's newly crowned WBC super lightweight champion and now two-division world champion Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KO’s) dominated Regis Prograis (29-2, 24 KO’s) Saturday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco to win a unanimous decision in headlining the DAZN Pay per view.
Starting off at a very fast pace, neither man didn't waste any time as Haney and Prograis let their hands do the work. Prograis missed with a chopping left in the second round as Haney caught it and boxed behind the jab and then connected with a solid uppercut. Haney floored Prograis to begin the third, connecting with a straight right. Prograis was up and stalked as Haney boxed and countered. The Rougarou's face began to marked up as Haney scored precisely with the jab and follow up boldly.
The hometown fighter Haney was in control in the fifth as he fought well behind the jab and had Prograis off balance stalking and chasing. Haney stunned Prograis in the sixth as the New Orleans fighter was cut and nearly dropped him for a second time. Haney displayed skill as he was dominating Prograis through seven. Blood began to trickle down Prograis's face in round eight as Haney continued to tag up Prograis.
Teeing off to begin the round, Haney staggered Progais in starting the ninth as Prograis's face was swollen up. It was getting late for Prograis in the tenth round fading away with his eyes shutting as he had no answer for Haney who continued to control the fight. Heading into the championship rounds despite the struggle, Prograis kept coming as Haney boxed and fought conservatively well as he appeared to be well ahead. Haney dominantly worked his way to a unanimous decision in his homecoming.
After completing twelve rounds, all three judges scored the bout 120-107 as Haney shuts-out Prograis.
Paro Stops Love in 6
In the super lightweight co-feature bout of the evening, Australia’s Liam Paro (24-0, 15 KO’s) annihilated Montana Love (18-2-1, 9 KO’s) in scoring a sixth round stoppage.
The fans showed their dissatisfaction early on as it was slowed paced and lacked the action with Paro stalking and Love keeping his distance boxing away. However in the sixth, Paron connected with an uppercut and dropped Love as he was up but the Aussie sent Love to the canvas for a second time with a combo. Continuing to fight, Paro attacked and was all over Love as the referee Thomas Taylor stepped in to stop the fight at 1:49 of the sixth.
Cruz KO's Straffon in 3
Cuba gold medalist lightweight Andy Cruz (2-0, 1 KO) stopped Jovanni Straffon (26-6-1, 19 KO’s) of Mexico in the third round. Cruz landed a huge right in to start the fight as he backed Straffon to the ropes opening round. Banging it out in the second, Cruz attacked but Straffon and began to chop him down, landing a series of punches as the referee began keeping a close eye. Closing it out in the third, Cruz continued where he left off as the referee finally stepped in to stop the fight at 53 seconds.
Yoshida Wins World Title, Defeats Blonde Bomber
Myo Yoshida (17-4) of Japan and Australia’s Ebanie Bridges (9-2, 3 KO’s) squared off for the vacant IBF bantamweight title.
Going back and forth to begin the bout, Bridges and Yoshida did not hold back trading it out on the inside in the early rounds. The Japanese fighter had her moment in the fourth as she backed Bridges and cornered her, landing a combination to close the round. Bridges slipped to begin the fifth as it appeared she was knockdown as the referee ruled it a slip Bridges continued on Yoshida connected solidly busting the Blonde Bombers nose.
The battle continued in the sixth as Yoshida kept swarming Bridges attacking on the inside and outworking the Australian. Continuing to fight on the inside, Yoshida attacked as Bridges had her work cut out through seven. Yoshida brought the fight heading into the eighth as she connected, Bridges appeared to fading and tired. Late in the fight in the ninth, Yoshida relentlessly attacked as Bridges could not keep her away. The tenth and final round, it was all Yoshida as she was all over Bridges up to the final bell.
In the end after completing ten rounds the judges scored it, 99-91, 99-91, and 97-93 as all three in favor for Yoshida as she wins the IBF bantamweight title.
Other Bouts Non PPV
Middleweight Amari Jones (10-0, 9 KO’s) stopped Quilisto Madera (14-5, 9 KO’s) of Stockton, California in five rounds. It was a battle while it lasted. Jones attacked but Madera did not back down and mixed it up. After a series of unanswered punches by Jones in the fifth, referee Thomas Taylor stepped in to stop the fight at 1:44.
Super featherweight Beatriz Ferreira (4-0, 2 KO’s) of Brazil stopped Destiny Jones (5-2, 2 KO’s) of Austin, Texas. Ferreira was relentless through the fight. Despite being cut, the Brazilian scored a knockdown in the seventh. Jones wanted to continue but the doctor stopped the fight five seconds into the eighth and final round.
In the opening bout from the Chase Center in San Francisco, featherweight Shamal Canal (7-0, 4 KO’s) won a unanimous decision over Jose Antonio Meza (8-9, 2 KO’s). It was all Canal as he felt out and boxed early on. Canal staggered Meza at the end of the third as he began to separate himself. Canal continued to work Meza, throughout the fight and finished strong dropping Meza in the final seconds of the fight, the Mexican was up as Canal worked his way to a decision win. All three judges scored the bout 60-53.
Follow Miguel on Twitter @MigMaravilla
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