Deontay Wilder was patient, but he retained the WBC Heavyweight title with a 5th round stoppage over previously undefeated Gerald Washington at The Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.
It was Washington who controlled distance over the first 4 rounds with his jab. In round five, Wilder landed a booming right that sent Washington to the canvas. Washington was on shake legs, and Wilder punctuated the bout with a flurry that was capped off by a left that forced referee Micheale Griffin to stop the bout at 1:45.
Wilder is now 38-0 with 37 knockouts. Washington is 18-1-1.
DEONTAY WILDER
“I knew he was going to come in excited to fight for a world title. I just kept calm and found my rhythm. I really knew he was going to tire out, and when he did I took advantage.
“It was all about timing. I’m very smart when it comes to using different tactics in the ring.
“Fighting here in Alabama is a blessing. The people here show up to support me and I love them for it. I’m always going to support and be here for my Alabama family. To see the crowd’s response tonight meant a lot to me.
“As I’ve been saying, I’m looking to unify the division. I think it’s critical to have one fighter and one champion, and that’s Deontay Wilder. Let’s hope Joseph Parker is ready for me because I’m definitely ready for him.”
GERALD WASHINGTON
“I just got a little impatient. I was trying to go for it. It was an even boxing match. I could have kept it like that and kept it boring. I don’t know why I fell asleep there. I guess I lost a little focus.
“I caught him with one shot when he was coming in. But instead of me keeping that play going and keep pushing him back and keep him in control by keeping him in the center of the ring, I tried to get on him. I was trying to play a little counter punch role and catch him coming in. He just caught me.
“It’s just an experience. You have to follow the game plan and stay focused, stay patient. You may not get all the shots you want in the beginning, but you have to play the game all the way out and then things will start to happen.”
Jarrett Hurd came from behind to stop Tony Harrison in the 9th round to capture the IBF Junior Middleweight title.
Harrison dominated the 1st 6 rounds by boxing and moving, not letting Hurd get into any rhythm. The fight changed in round seven as Hurd landed some power shots and the body language on Harrison began to change, In round nine, Hurd landed a perfect counter right that sent Harrison to the canvas. Harrison got to his feet and spat out his mouthpiece and the fight was waved off at 2:24.
Hurd is 20-0 with 14 knockouts. Harrison is now 24-2.
JARRETT HURD
“We wanted to take our time with him because Harrison can box and move. But every time he fights he wears down toward the end.
“During the sixth round, he caught me with a good shot inside my left eye. But I managed to fight through it and get the win.
“It feels great to be a champion. I’ve never had a feeling this great before. It’s pure Accokeek power. I can finally pull my pants up now. My pants were falling down, but I finally got my belt.”
In a Heavyweight slugfest, former world title challenger stopped Izu Ugonoh in round five of a scheduled 10-round bout.
After Ugonoh dominated the 1st two frames with mainly hard body shots, Breazeale landed a left hook in round three that sent Ugonoh to the canvas. Ugonoh came back in the round to stagger and hurt Breazeale. In round four, Ugonoh jumped on Breazeale, and landed a hard right that sent the former title challenger to the canvas. When it looked like Ugonoh was back in control, Breazeale started round five with a cruunching right that sent Ugonoh to the canvas. Ugonoh was hurt, and Breazeale saw that and landed three more hard blows that sent Ugonoh through the ropes and the fight was stopped at 50 seconds.
DOMINIC BREAZEALE
“It took a little time for me to find my pace, but eventually I found my Rhythm. Izu came in in great shape and with guns blazing. He came at me with some stuff that I wasn’t expecting. Him being the lighter guy I wasn’t really expecting the power he possessed.
“I was able to connect some big shots tonight, especially with my right hand. You see what happens when I put him down and he never really recovered.
“Coming off the loss to Joshua, this win puts me right back in there. This is what I’ve always asked for. My team does an incredible job of getting me any fight I ask for, and I wanted to fight an undefeated guy like Izu. He’s a big, strong, athletic guy.
“Tonight, the story was about me having the heart of a lion, getting knocked down, but getting right back up to finish this fight.”
IZUAGBE UGONOH
“I expected that I was going to knock him out. I believed I would accomplish that, but he didn’t surprise me with anything. I was landing some good shots to both his body and his face.
“Breazeale showed a lot of heart though, and I think that his experience really helped him. I think a fight like Anthony Joshua really helped him realize that he could take anything and win the fight. He did that tonight.
“Honestly, I just got tired. I gave him what I had and then I got tired. When he came back at me I wasn’t able to keep up and finish through on my game plan.
“The plan was to really use my double jab, and I’m not making any excuses. This is the fight game. This was a great opportunity for me, a big step up, and I was hoping to get it done. I didn’t, but that is part of sports. I’m not used to losing, but that time came today. I’m still a dangerous man to fight.”
Breazeale is now 18-1 with 16 knockouts. Ugonoh is 17-1.
Tugstsogt Nyambayer remained perfect by dropping Jhon Gemino four times and finishing off in the tenth and final round of their super featherweight bout.
In round three, Nyambayer landed a perfect right that Gemno on the canvas.
In round six, it was a chopping right hand that put Gemino on the deck. Seconds later, it was another right that Gemino down. Nyambayer sent Gemino down in the tenth round. A moment later, a hard combination had Gemino in trouble and the bout was stopped at 1:05.
Nyambayer is now 8-0 with 8 knockouts. Gemino is 15-8-1.
