In a one-sided fight, IBF lightweight title holder Robert Easter Jr. (19-0, 14 KOs) had an easy time pounding out a 12 round unanimous decision tonight over fringe contender Luis Cruz (22-5-1, 16 KOs) at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio. Cruz made a fight of it, but he didn’t have the weapons to compete on an even playing field with the 26-year-old Easter Jr.
Results: Zhanat Zhakiyanov defeats Rau’shee Warren
Fighting with his Ricky Hatton-esque style, Zhanat Zhakiyanov (27-1, 18 KOs) defeated WBA World bantamweight champion Rau’shee Warren (14-2, 4 KOs) by an impressive 12 round split decision tonight at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio. The fight was pretty one-sided. There was no reason for the contest to be a split decision, because Zhakiyanov punished the 29-year-old Warren with power shots from rounds 2 through 12.
Robert Easter Jr. defeats Luis Cruz in one-sided fight
Nearly 10,000 fans turned out for hometown hero Robert Easter (19-0, 14 KOs) as he impressively defended his lightweight world title against Puerto Rico’s Luis Cruz (22-5-1, 16 KOs) at the Huntington Center in Toledo, OH in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round on Bounce TV. The 2012 Olympic alternate used his reach and power throughout the fight, knocking Cruz down three times en route to a unanimous decision victory.
Broner-Granados quotes for Feb.18
Kelly Swanson
Thanks media for joining us. We are here today to talk about the big matchup on Saturday, February 18th, Adrien Broner versus Adrian Granados from Cintas Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati and it will headline a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING event.
The event is promoted by About Billions Promotions and Mayweather Promotions in association with TGB Promotions. Tickets for the live event start at $30 and are still available to purchase through Ticketmaster and the event is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
Wladimir Klitschko says Joshua fight is “toughest challenge I have ever had”
Is Anthony Joshua a tougher opponent for former heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko than Tyson Fury? If so, and if what Klitschko had to say about his April fight was not down to hype and nothing more, then Wladimir could be in trouble. Klitschko lost to Fury, yet he has either forgotten about that fight or he has dismissed it from his mind; because Klitschko says the Joshua fight is “the toughest challenge I have ever had.”
Hearn in favour of WBC eliminator between Luis Ortiz and Bermane Stiverne
Unbeaten Cuban heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz has plenty of options, the most appealing of which just might be the mooted WBC final eliminator between Ortiz and former WBC heavyweight champ and current WBC NO.1 contender Bermane Stiverne. Ortiz, who is currently ranked at NO.2 with the WBC, would likely take the Stiverne fight if it were indeed offered to him – so says his promoter Eddie Hearn.
Gerald Washington: If Deontay showboats, I’m going to hit him in the mouth
Unbeaten heavyweight Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington held an open workout Thursday for Los Angeles-area media as he prepares to challenge unbeaten heavyweight world champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes, Saturday, February 25 from Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama.
Televised coverage on FOX and FOX Deportes begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and also features a pair of exciting matchups as rising super welterweight contenders Tony Harrison and Jarrett Hurd meet in a 12-round world title eliminator, plus hard-hitting Dominic Breazeale battles undefeated Izuagbe Ugonoh in heavyweight action.
The Canelo-Chavez Jr. card just got even better: Lucas Matthysse will return May 6
The May 6 all-Mexican clash between big stars Saul Canelo Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is a huge fight all by itself, ensuring millions of viewers at home as well as a big, big live audience in Las Vegas. But the card just got even better, with the announcement – courtesy of Dan Rafael of ESPN.com – that Argentine monster puncher Lucas Matthysse will make his ring return on the bill.
Deontay Wilder: 2017 is all about unifications
While reigning and unbeaten WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder has gone on record as saying he doesn’t believe his February 25 challenger Gerald Washington is ready to fight him (way to build the fight!), “The Bronze Bomber” is more than ready to get busy trying to unify the heavyweight titles here in 2017.
Speaking at a presser this week, and quoted by RingTV.com, Wilder said that after he gets past the unbeaten (but yes, still very green) Washington, he wants his very next fight to be for the WBO belt; either against the current holder Joseph Parker or Parker’s next challenger Hughie Fury – who will face Parker in his maiden defence on April 1 (incidentally, Wilder picks Parker to win the fight.)
Broner vs Granados on Feb 18 – Broner Interview
Former four-division world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner opens up in an extensive interview with Sports Emmy® Award-Winning writer Mark Kriegel as he prepares for his welterweight showdown against top-rated contender Adrian Granados Saturday, Feb. 18, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from Cintas Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.
This interview is the latest in a reoccurring SHOWTIME Sports® digital series, THE REVEAL with Mark Kriegel, featuring exclusive and in-depth interviews with boxing’s emerging stars.