Last night in France, unbeaten heavyweight contender Tony Yoka was taken the full ten rounds for the first time in his career, as durable and experienced pro Christian Hammer took him the distance.
Bienvenue, Tony: French Olympic Gold Medalist Tony Yoka Returns Against Christian Hammer Friday LIVE and Exclusively on ESPN+ – Live stream from Nantes, France, to begin Friday at 2:55 p.m.
Unbeaten heavyweight prospect/contender Tony Yoka of France scored an impressive and fast stoppage win over countryman Johann Duhaupas on September 25th, stopping the former WBC title challenger (Duhaupas extending Deontay Wilder into the 11th round back in 2015) inside a round.
Luis Ortiz took a few shots, he was backed up on occasion and he bled from the nose, yet the 39 year old (officially, some say Ortiz is older) pounded out a wide, near shut-out decision win over a game and tough Christian Hammer last night.
Heavyweight slugger Luis Ortiz (31-1, 26 KOs) earned a unanimous decision victory over a game Christian Hammer (24-6, 14 KOs). Although the judges scored the fight 100-90 and 99-91 twice, both men fought through bloody noses at different points in the fight and both were stunned in a back-and-forth second round.
In an exciting fight from start to finish, WBA ‘regular’ junior middleweight champion Brian Castano (15-0-1, 11 KOs) fought to a 12 round draw against former WBA Super World 154 lb champion Erislandy Lara (25-3-3, 14 KOs) on Saturday night on Premier Boxing Champions on SHOWTIME at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
WBA Super Welterweight World Championship
Erislandy Lara – 153 ½ pounds
Brian Casta̱o Р154 pounds
Referee: Ricky Gonzalez; Judges: Julie Lederman (N.Y.),
Former world champion Erislandy Lara and WBA Super Welterweight Champ Brian Castaño went face-to-face Thursday at the final press conference before they headline action this Saturday live on SHOWTIME from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™, and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
Former 154-pound world champion Erislandy Lara seeks to return to the championship ranks when the Cuban star challenges undefeated contender Brian Castaño for his WBA Super Welterweight World Championship on Saturday, March 2 live on SHOWTIME and presented by Premier Boxing Champions from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.
According to a news bit from El Nuevo Herald (as picked up by BadLeftHook), Cuban dangerman Luis Ortiz will appear in what must be looked at as a stay-busy fight against Christian Hammer on March 2nd.