TALE OF THE UNEXPECTED
Ito stuns Diaz to lift the WBO title, writes Jack Hirsch
THE coronation began even before Christopher Diaz entered the ring to face Masayuki Ito for the WBO super-featherweight title that had been vacated by Vasyl Lomachenko. Already the unbeaten and charismatic Diaz was being compared to the great Puerto Rican boxers of the past. Top Rank, who promoted the show, made sure that Diaz’s victory lap would be extra sweet by holding the event at the Kissimmee Civic center which the fighter described as a second home. So heavy underdog Ito, boxing outside of Japan for the first time, had no chance. No chance until the fighting began, that is.
As they say you have to fight the fight, which Ito did in turning in the performance of his life, winning a unanimous 12-round decision which might be the biggest upset of the year so far. Even the judges’ had a good night, drowning out the crowd noise for Diaz and trusting their eyes over their ears. Robin Taylor 117-110, Paul Wallace 118109, and Rocky Young 116-111 were spot on. Frank Gentile refereed.
Ito established himself from the start, surprising Diaz by taking the fight to him. Ito charged in behind a long jab, banged the body, then smothered Diaz on the inside. Diaz’s left eye started to swell by the third round, ultimately affecting his vision.
In the fourth the man from Tokyo took a firm foothold on the contest when a right-left-right combo dropped Diaz. Ito tried to finish it but Diaz, although hurt, bravely rallied back.
Diaz was not lacking in effort. He continued to punch hard and fast with both hands. By the middle rounds Ito looked like he was tiring as Diaz came on. Ito, though, was recharging for a big finish. His firepower was up to the task and his blows were cleaner. At the end of the ninth round, both men hugged in appreciation of the effort of the other.
Diaz went all out for a knockout in the final round, but missed widely as Ito smartly countered. Diaz’s corner lifted him in the air at the final bell and he held his hands aloft. It was familiar hocus pocus, though. Reality set in while the scores were being announced. Diaz turned to Ito and applauded in tribute to the new champion.
“I knew in the first round that my power was getting to him” said Ito who is now the sixth boxer from Japan to currently hold a world championship.
The chief support saw another huge upset as 37-year-old Brooklyn veteran
Gabe Bracero revived his career by knocking out Californian Artemio Reyes at 2-43 of the fifth round of a scheduled 10.
Bracero was brilliant, moving around the ring and picking the plodding Reyes apart. Bracero had taken the contest on only 10 days’ notice, but was in good shape having acted as a sparring partner for Robert Easter and Devon Alexander as they prepared for their upcoming fights.
Outside of a one-punch knockout of Danny O’connor, Bracero’s power has been limited throughout his career, but you couldn’t tell that by the way he disposed of Reyes with a hard left to the body and a slashing right to the chin. In a delayed reaction Reyes turned around, took a knee and was counted out by referee Emil Lombardi.
Michael Conlan has been put on notice by Vladimir Nikitin, the Russian who was given a debatable decision over him in the 2016 Olympics. Nikitin making his pro debut says he signed with Top Rank because they also promote Conlan, who he wants to box somewhere down the line.
On this night Nikitin was far too strong for Boston-based Ugandan,
Edward Kakembo, dropping him in both the fourth and sixth rounds to win a unanimous decision by scores of 60-52 twice and 60-51. Nikitin was relentless and nearly had Kakembo out when the final bell came to his rescue.
Bayamon’s Luis Melendez started his pro career in explosive fashion, stopping San Antonio’s Vicente Laredo at 1-19 of the first round of a four. It ended in disturbing fashion with referee Gentile unable to get between the fighters when he tried to stop it. With Laredo completely defenceless against the ropes and his hands down, Melendez unleashed a pair of powerful hooks, knocking him unconscious and nearly out of the ring. Fortunately, Laredo recovered and was able to leave the ring under his own power.
THE VERDICT Ito hijacks Diaz’s party.