Barthelemy captures Lightweight crown with decision over Shafikov

Rances Barthelemy captured the vacant IBF Lightweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Denis Shafikov at the Palms in Las Vegas.

It was a close and action filled fight early as Shafikov came out throwing many punches in bunches and got an early lead.  Shafikov suffered a cut around his right eye in round seven.  That gave Barthelemy a traget and he became more active and took the second half of the fight and won by scores of 119-109 and 116-112 twice.

Barthelemy of Cuba is now 24-0.  Shafikov of Russia is 36-2-1.

Murat Gassiev and Isiah Thomas fought to a no-contest after three rounds when a punch from Gassiev landed after the bell and Thomas could not continue.

Gassiev landed two right hands with the latter landing after the bell.  Thomas staggered to his corner and referee Jay Nady ruled that he was in diminished condition to continue.

In a terrific back and forth brawl, Eric Walker sprung a minor upset by winning an 8-round  decision over Chris Pearson in a battle of previously undefeated Super Welterweights.

Thomas of Detroit is 15-0.  Thomas is 22-0.

In round four, Walker landed a huge uppercut that was followed by a right that hurt Pearson.  Pearson came back to land some solid shots that snapped the head back of Walker.  the two exchanged power shots with Walker getting the better of the action.

Walker of Louisiana won by scores of 80-72, 79-71 and 78-74 and is 12-0.  Pearson is 13-1.

Good looking prospect Gervonta Davis scored a sensational 9th round stoppage over Luis Sanchez in a scheduled 10-round Lightweight fight.

It was a competitive fight until round eight when Davis landed a left uppercut that sent Sanchez to the canvas.  It was the same punch but a much more wicked uppercut that sent Sanchez down face first and bloody.  Referee Kenny Bayless stopped the bout at 2:05 for round nine.

Davis, 133 lbs of Baltimore, MD is 14-0 with 13 knockouts.  Sanchez, 131.3 lbs of Cancun, MX is 17-5-1.