BROOKLYN–Unified Super Lightweight champion Danny Garcia did what he was supposed to do. That was destroy Rod Salka in 2 rounds at Barclay Center in a non-title bout.
After a 1st round that saw Garcia work the body, He came out in round two with full vengeance. He landed a boomimg right hand that buckled and ultimately dropped Salka. Salka get to his feet only to be dropped a 2nd time from a 3 more hard rights. Garcia continued to batter Salka until he landed a flush left hook that sent Salka down and out just as his corner threw in the towel at 2:38 round two.
Garcia, 141.75 lbs of Philadelphia is now 29-0 with 17 knockouts. Salka, 141 lbs of Bunola, PA is now 19-4.
“I came here to purge. I told everybody tonight was going to be the ‘Danny Garcia Show.’ No matter who I fought tonight, they were going to get beat. I was going to purge. I was out to kill.
“I didn’t think this was going to be an easy fight. I thought he’d try to box me. But it is not about the opponent. When I am at my best I can beat anybody and I already proved that.”
On a potential matchup with Lamont Peterson…“I leave it up to Al Haymon, but if he [Peterson] wants it. I’ll give it to him. I show up fight night and sometimes I have good nights or bad nights, but I always find a way to win.
After the fight Salka said, “I’m good. It wasn’t a tougher fight than I expected. I got caught with a shot. What am I going to do?”
Lamont Peterson defended the IBF Jr. Welterweight title with a 10th round stoppage over Edgar Santana.
Not much happened in round’s one through three. The action picked up in round four as Santana landed a couple of hooks. Peterson came back in the 5th by landed a hard left that buckled Santana. He landed many more flush punches on the ropes but Santana took them. Peterson continued to land ripping shots in the middle of the ring but Santana stood sturdy.
The continued to battle on the inside. Santana had a few moments landing his body shots but Peterson landed more and harder and would mix body/head combinations as well as uppercuts.
In round ten, Peterson started to ramp up the attack and finally after a series of shots, Santana’s corner waved off the bout at 48 seconds of round 10.
Peterson, 140 lbs of Washington, DC is now 33-2-1 with 17 knockouts. Santana. 139.5 lbs of New York is now 29-5.
“I was able to show a lot of dimensions of my game,” said 30-year-old Peterson. “I was boxing well. I fought on the inside well. I actually think I should have gotten him out of there sooner but I give myself an okay grade.
“I think it was [round] four or five. I hurt him. I didn’t finish him. I don’t know why I didn’t but I knew I hurt him –and it was over– it was just a matter of time. I just had to get the right spot, push on the gas and go forward.”
On a potential fight with Danny Garcia…“This is the fight all the fans and the media want. I’m willing to do it. Again, I’m going to say this: ‘I’m willing to do it.’ Hopefully it gets done…It makes more sense to do it at 140 but if it has to happen at 147 I have no problem.”
On his feelings during his brother’s fight…”He [Anthony] did me a favor tonight…I had to fight but that’s my brother. I was a little nervous when he was in there. Good thing is he got him out of there in the first round so I didn’t have to worry about him for too long.”
“He came in with a good game plan. He’s tougher than I expected. His style frustrated me,” said Santana.
Daniel Jacobs won the WBA Middleweight title with a 5th round stoppage of Australian Jarrod Fletcher.
It was almost over in round as Jacobs landed a left and rocked Fletcher for most of the first frame. Fletcher came back to have a nice round three.
Fletcher was having a good round five with his right hand until he ate a hard combination that sent him reeling. Jacobs jumped on Fletcher and landed a big left hook that sent Fletcher sprawling into the ropes and on to the canvas and the fight was stopped at 2:58 of round five.
Jacobs, 159 1/2 lbs of Brooklyn is now 28-1 with 25 knockouts. Fletcher, 159.25 lbs of Queensland, Australia is now 18-2.
Jim Gray asked Jacobs if he even thought about boxing when he was on his deathbed. “My son, my baby boy, was my first priority. But getting back into the ring was my second motivation. Boxing taught me to have the mental strength to overcome anything. And that’s what I did.”
“My advice [to others fighting cancer] is to be strong. But even if you can’t beat it, be happy. Be grateful that we even have this life.
“I wanted to pace myself. I didn’t want to punch myself out. I respected him. But I didn’t see any way that he could defeat me. I was sitting down on my punches and throwing in bunches. He was a tough customer. I hope he’s okay.
“I want to fight Peter Quillin in Brooklyn right here at the Barclays Center. The Brooklyn fans deserve it and it’s going to happen soon hopefully.
After the bout, Fletcher told Gray, “I’m good. I got caught with the shot. That’s boxing. I’m going to go back to the drawing board. He’s a good fighter. I’m disappointed in my performance. It is what it is.”
Sadam Ali survived an anxious moment but remained undefeated by pounding out a 10-round split decision over Jeremy Bryan in a Welterweight battle
Bryan rocked Ali in round four to the point where he buckled and almost went down. It was at the end of the round so he could not capitalize on it. Ali came back in round five by hurting Bryan with an over hand right that had Bryan holding on. In round nine, Ali dropped Bryan with a hard over hand right.
Ali, 146.6 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores of 96-93 twice while Bryan won a card 96-93 and is now 20-0. Bryan, 145.4 lbs of Paterson, NJ is now 17-4,
Ali said, “I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I never underestimated him. I just wanted to feel strong in the ring. My legs were kind of not there, but I was good mentally. I just have to work around it.
“I just didn’t feel myself. This all falls back on my performance. I just happened to get the decision and I’m ready to go back to the gym and work on a few things. Whatever Golden Boy has planned for me is what I’m going to do.
“[The fans are] my motivation. That’s what gives me the power. I just want to perform better next time. You’ll see a better Sadam Ali.”
Zachary Ochroa fought a tough fight but won a 6-round unanimous decision over Luis Cervantes in a Super Lightweight fights.
Both guys gace as good as they got in spots as Cervantes tried to rough up Ochoa in the corner but Ochoa was able to use his boxing ability to win by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55.
Ochoa, 140 lbs of Brooklyn is now 8-0. Cervantes, 139.6 lbs of Palm Springs, CA is now 7-8-3.
“I knew he was going to come out tough, he’s a veteran so as soon as I got in there I took my time,” said Ochoa. “My legs cramped up a little bit but hey, I’m at Barclays Center let me give everybody a show. I dug down and I fought my heart out.
“I just have to go to the gym and keep working at my craft. I’m only 21 and I’m still learning.”
Former Lightweight title challenger Anthony Peterson destroyed Edgar Riovalle in round one of their scheduled 10-round bout.
Peterson floored Riovalle with a hard right to the chin and the fight was stopped at 2:41 of round one.
Peterson, 137 lbs of Washington, DC is now 34-1 with 22 knockouts. Riovalle, 144.4 lbs of Mexico City, MX is now 37-19-2.
“Tonight was a demonstration of the rust being taken off,” said A. Peterson. “I just caught him with a good shot. It’s boxing. It could have been me. Sometimes it’s the calculation of punches. You can misjudge a punch. He just got caught.”
2012 U.S Olympian Marcus Browne needed just 28 seconds to dispose of Paul Vazquez in their scheduled 10-round Light Heavyweight bout.
Browne landed a flurry of punches and the bout was stopped just as a body shot put Vazquez on the canvas.
Browne, 176.4 lbs of Staten Island, NY is now 12-0 with knockouts. Vazquez, 174.2 lbs of Oakland, CA is now 10-6-1.
“We knew he wasn’t supposed to be in the ring with me so we took care of him and handled our business. I caught him with a straight left and then he crumbled. I’m happy with my performance. You see me smiling don’t you?”
Prichard Colon scored a 6-round shutout in his Jr. Middleweight bout with Lenwood Dozier.
Scores were 60-54 on all cards for Colon, 150 lbs of Orocovis, PR and is now 11-0. Dozier, 154.2 lbs of Washington, DC is now 9-7-1.
““I wasn’t looking to just continue getting knockouts. Most importantly we just wanted to win. I learned to be patient. I’m not afraid to go the distance. I’m young with a lot of learn.
D’Mitrius Ballard scored a 1st round stoppage over Barry Trotter in a scheduled 6-round Super Middleweight bout.
Ballard landed a huge flurry in the corner and the bout was stopped at 2:35.
Ballard, 169 lbs of Temple Hills, MD is now 6-0 with 5 knockouts. Tritter, 168.4 lbs of Columbia, MD is now 2-2.
“I got him out of there,” said D’mitrius Ballard, “There are a couple of things that I need to work on but I am prepared for anything and I will be back on Monday.”
