ANOTHER VICTIM
Joyce adds Kiladze to the growing list of ghters he has KO’D
BUMPED up to headline status after the cancellation of the Victor Ortiz-john Molina Jnr fight, Putney heavyweight
Joe Joyce maintained his 100 per cent KO ratio with a fifth-round knockout of Los Angeles-based Georgian Iago Kiladze at the Citizens Business Bank Arena (Ringstar Sports and TGB Promotions).
From the opening bell, Joyce displayed improved footwork and scored with neat single shots. Whenever Kiladze connected, the 2016 Olympic silver medallist would respond with hurtful one-twos to the body. Joyce decked Kiladze in the second, third and fifth rounds, before finishing him ruthlessly after 41 seconds of the session. It had been set for 10. Jerry Cantu refereed.
In the dressing room after the bout, Joyce’s new trainer, the esteemed Abel Sanchez, said to his fighter: “I’m satisfied with your performance tonight, although you need to make sure that your jab is always a driving force.”
Next up for Joyce could be an appearance on the Deontay Wilder-tyson Fury bill on December 1 in Los Angeles.
Pontllanfraith southpaw Kody Davies, who is coached by former WBA superlightweight champion Gavin Rees, produced a good performance in what was his first eight-rounder, winning 80-72 on all three scorecards (Fernando Villarreal, Max Deluca and Alejandro Rochin). Davies’ opponent, Las Vegas’ Jerhed
Fenderson, was no pushover, as he forced the unbeaten Welshman to fight on the back foot at times. Fenderson was, however, hurt in the final seconds of the fight by a flurry of punches while trapped in the corner. Lou Moret officiated this light-heavyweight contest.
Fighting just above the superbantamweight limit, undefeated Texan Brandon Figueroa showed that he is a vicious and clever operator, attacking the body from all angles and unleashing clever combinations. Ibague, Colombia’s stocky Oscar Escandon, meanwhile, was game but slightly outclassed.
Ignoring a cut which caused blood to pour from his right eyebrow in the later rounds, Weslaco’s Figueroa hit the target with a crushing uppercut to knock the EX-WBC featherweight title challenger out at 1-42 in the 10th and final frame. Mr Moret was the referee.
In a clash of unbeaten heavyweights over six, athletic Nigerian Efe Ajagba immediately took control of the centre of the ring with his impressive jab. Okmulgee, Oklahoma’s Nick Jones circled his rival, attempting to find angles to land shots. Out of nowhere, Ajagba dropped Jones, who was deemed in no position to continue by referee Rudy Barragan at 2-25. The Stafford, Texas-based African competed at the same Olympics as Joyce, and looks like one to watch.
Boxing in a near-empty arena early on in the show, Harlesden southpaw James Degale dominated Fidel Monterrosa Munoz – a Colombian living in Ecatepec, Mexico – in a keep-busy bout. The former two-time IBF super-middleweight king finished things with a powerful uppercut with just three seconds left in the third round (slated for eight). Mr Barragan was the man in the middle.
THE VERDICT Joyce marches on, while Degale keeps busy.