FULL RESULTS
Claressa Shields (159 1/2lbs), 7-0 (2), w ud 10 Hannah Rankin (158 1/2lbs), 5-3 (1); Jarrell Miller (315 1/4lbs), 23-0-1 (20), w ko 4 Bogdan Dinu (237 1/4lbs), 18-1 (14); Brandon Rios (151 1/4lbs), 35-4-1 (26), w rsf 9 Ramon Alvarez (151 1/4lbs), 27-7-3 (16); Gabriel Rosado (158 1/4lbs), 24-11-1 (14), d pts 12 Luis Arias (159 1/4lbs), 18-1-1 (9); Anthony Sims Jnr (170 1/2lbs), 17-0 (16), w rsf 2 Colby Courter (169 1/2lbs), 13-13 (10); Nico Hernandez (112 1/4lbs), 6-0 (4), w ud 8 Josue Morales (113 1/2lbs), 8-8-3; Nikita Ababiy (159 1/4lbs), 2-0 (2), w rsf 1 Javier Rodriguez (154 1/4lbs), 3-7-1 (2); Jeremy Nichols (155 1/4lbs), 9-1-1 (3), w ko 1 Jeremiah Page (159 1/4lbs), 3-6 (2); Emmanuel Thompson (173 1/4lbs), 8-0 (5), w ud 6 Leroy Jones (181 3/4lbs), 3-5 (2).
In the co-feature at the Kansas Star Arena (promoted by Matchroom Boxing), Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller displayed admirable poise in knocking out Romanian Bogdan Dinu at 2-45 of the fourth in a scheduled 12. Miller, from Brooklyn, had warned us that it might take a couple of rounds to figure out his opponent, and so it proved.
Over the first two frames, Dinu boxed so well that the possibility of an upset was in the air. Moving side to side, he kept the plodding Miller at bay by jabbing constantly and following up with rights. Miller was targeting the body, but was unable to cut the ring off.
Miller started the third with a sense of urgency, and the fight turned. Dinu started to retreat as Miller, enjoying a massive 78-pound weight advantage, used his big body to wear down his opponent. Then, in the fourth, it all fell apart for Dinu, who was dropped for a nine-count by a right downstairs and a left to the chin. A crunching right to the head floored Dinu again soon after. Dinu, who had never been down in any
previous fight, wanted no more as he listened to referee Bill Clancy toll the 10-count. “It’s about time I knock out a Brit,” said Miller afterwards. “If I can’t get ‘AJ’ [Anthony Joshua], I want Dillian Whyte.”
Brandon Rios showed he still has something to offer by halting Guadalajara’s Ramon Alvarez after 38 seconds of the ninth (set for 10). Alvarez, who Facetimed Canelo in the dressing room beforehand, engaged Rios in an even more brutal fight than his younger brother did with Gennady Golovkin in September.
Rios, a former WBA lightweight beltholder from Oxnard, California, warmed to the task after getting hit repeatedly in the opener. From then on it was give and take of the highest order.
It was anyone’s fight until late in the eighth, when Rios exploded with a series of blows that badly hurt Alvarez along the ropes. The minute’s rest between rounds did not revive Alvarez, who sagged under Rios’ attack at the start of the next, forcing referee Taylor to step in.
Philadelphia’s Gabriel Rosado and Milwaukee native Luis Arias battled to a split 12-round draw in an entertaining contest. Mike Munoz (Rosado) and Sutherland (Arias) each turned in 116112 scores. Holderfield had it 114-114. Kevin Champion refereed.
Rosado, a two-time world title challenger who likes to brawl, switched up his tactics for this fight. He boxed from the outside, scoring frequently with jabs and hurting Arias in the ninth with a right uppercut. Rosado looked to have done enough to win, at least in my view.
For the 14th time, Anthony Sims Jnr recorded a victory within the first two rounds. The Plainfield, Indiana fighter disposed of Saint Joseph, Missouri’s Colby Courter after 0-40 of the second in a slated eight. Promoter Eddie Hearn admitted afterwards that fights like this do Sims’ learning curve little good. Jacob Villa officiated.
THE VERDICT Let’s hope the Shields-hammer matchup can be rescheduled soon.