BROOKLYN, NY — In the highly anticipated main event witnessed live by 12,084 fans at the Barclay’s Center, Mikey Garcia (37-0, 30KO) had no issues dealing with Adrien “The Problem” Broner (33-3, 24KO). Apart from a first round that Broner may have won on jabs alone, it was the Oxnard, CA native, Garcia, who dictated and controlled the fight for the majority of the twelve round super lightweight bout.
Early and often the 29 year old former three-division world champion, Garcia, walked down Broner, waited until him to retreat into a defensive shell, then unleashed thumping body shots and straight rights that occasionally broke through Broner’s high-guard. It was a scene that would play out time and time again over the course of the contest.
The Cincinnati native, Broner, who was previously unbeaten at 140lbs., found success in the fourth, snapping crisp jabs that would momentarily disrupt Garcia’s rhythm. But like waves lapping on a shoreline, Garcia kept plodding forward, patiently waiting for openings in Broner’s guard before unloading.
Likely sensing he was behind on the scorecards, Broner began to show urgency in the ninth round. The former four division world champ began became more aggressive, willing to meet Garcia, a super lightweight debutant, in the middle of the ring, and exchange blows with his Mexican-American counterpart. Toward the end of the ninth, Broner hammered Garcia’s body before coming back upstairs shortly after, connecting with a clean left hook just as the round came to a close.
Again in the tenth Broner found success with the left, landing another clean uncontested hook to Garcia’s jaw that stopped the former three division champion in his tracks. Garcia took the shot well, and Broner was unable to capitalize on any openings.
After stringing together two straight effective rounds, any momentum that Broner might have been building was quickly squashed by Garcia in the championship rounds. The always-composed Garcia continued to walk down Broner, working behind his jab, and getting the better of the exchanges with Broner.
At the end of twelve, it went to the scorecards. Judge Eric Marlinski scored it 117-111 and judges Don Ackerman and Steve Weisfeld saw it 116-112, all in favor for the still undefeated Garcia.
15rounds.com scored the bout 117-112, Garcia, with the first round being scored 10-10.
“This is definitely one of my best performances ever. I think I controlled the fight in the early rounds and I kept the activity up. [Broner] is a great fighter who has great skills,” Garcia said post-fight. “I was the superior fighter tonight.
He continued, “We trained for 10 weeks, we had a great training camp and great sparring. We knew it was going to be a tough fight so we had to be in great shape.”
As to what weight class he’ll fight in in the future, Garcia said, “Maybe I’ll go down to 135, stay at 140 or go up to 147.”
Broner also spoke after the fight, congratulating Garcia on his win before talking about his previous career accomplishments.
“At the end of the day I’m still a four-time world champion at four different weight classes and I’ll still be in the history books.”
Charlo Blasts Past Heiland In Middleweight Debut
In his first fight at middleweight Jermall Charlo (26-0, 20KO) walked through Argentine southpaw Jorge Sebastian Heiland (29-5-2, 16KO) en route to a fourth round stoppage. From the onset, Heiland’s legs looked stiff, his movements were jagged and robotic; and as a result, his punches lacked conviction. It would later be revealed that Heiland was suffering from a left knee injury. The veteran southpaw attempted to enter the ring with a taped left knee, but the brace was removed by the New York State Athletic Commission.
Charlo, fresh off a monumental 2016 where he outpointed Austin Trout and KO’d Julian Williams, started composed, feeling out his awkward opponent. In the second, the Texan turned up the heat and caught Heiland with a short right that exploded on his chin and collapsed him to the canvas. Heiland, whose signature win came in 2014 against Matthew Macklin, survived the round, but his inability to plant his left leg worried ringside physicians enough to examine his knee between rounds.
Once cleared, the gutsy Heiland continued on, but it was only to absorb punishment from the explosive Charlo. In the fourth, after connecting with a flurry of punches, Charlo finished the debilitated Heiland off with a crisp left hook that sent the Argentine to the mat. After initially beating referee Benjy Esteves’ 10 count, Heiland stumbled backwards and was help upright by the ropes. Esteves stepped in at that moment and immediately stopped the contest at the 2:13 mark of round four.
“My coach told me to stay behind my job like I did; continue to work and it’s going to come,” Charlo said afterward.
“I’m ready, bring on the biggest names at 160… I’m the real Tommy Hearns… I feel like it’s my turn and I’m going to go get it,” he continued.
A disappointed Heiland also spoke afterward and addressed his injury. “I turned my left knee in the first round, but I did not want to give up. I tried to give it my all, but it was not my night. I had bad luck but I am going to work harder than ever to get back and get another opportunity to achieve my dream and win a world title.”
It’s Miller Time; Big Baby Blasts Washington
Jarrell Miller (19-0-1, 17 KOs) remained undefeated by stopping former world title challenger Gerald Washington (18-2-1) after round seven of their scheduled ten round heavyweight clash
Miller came stalking and landing hard shots that had Washington on the defensive from the get-go. In round four, Miller opened up and landed several bombs that drew “Ooohs and Ahhs from the crowd. In round six, Washington mounted a furious rally where handed ten flush shots to the head and ample body of Miller. Miller was able to gain his 2nd wind, as at the end of the round he landed some head snapping punches in the corner.
Miller continued to beat down Washington until the bout was stopped in the corner after round seven.
Taylor Stays Gold In US Debut, Stops Clarkson In Three
In her US debut, former Irish Olympic Gold Medalist Katie Taylor (6-0, 4KO) made quick work of Cedar Hill, Texas’ Jasmine Clarkson (4-9) to keep her undefeated record intact. Taylor, who made her professional debut in November 2016, boxed efficiently and displayed superior skills. The Bray, Ireland native worked well behind an effective jab, which she continuously snapped in Clarkson’s direction. In the end, it was an onslaught of unchecked rights that likely drove referee Charlie Fitch’s decision to stop the lightweight contest after the third of eight scheduled rounds. In the third, Taylor backed Clarkson, a southpaw, into a corner and methodically broke her down. Taylor used pawing jabs to open Clarkson’s defense, then fired straight rights through to her target. Time and time again, Taylor found a home for her straight right. Before Clarkson could answer the bell for fourth, Charlie Fitch called a halt to the bout.
“It was a fantastic experience being my first time competing here in the U.S. There were definitely some nerves before the fight. It was great to go in there and get a stoppage,” Taylor said afterward.
She continued, “I definitely hope that I made some fans. I loved hearing the Irish fans in the crowd. I hope that there will be even more next time I fight here. The more fights I have here in the U.S., the better.
On her performance tonight, Taylor said, “I thought I performed pretty well. I definitely got caught with a few silly shots. I could have been cleaner but overall it was a good performance. I felt good and strong. I’ll be ready to get back in there as soon as possible.”
Cincy Remains Unbeaten On Night, Warren Outpoints Arroyo
Cincinnati native and Adrien Broner stablemate, Rau’Shee Warren (15-2, 4KO), earned a hard-fought unanimous decision victory against fellow veteran southpaw, McJoe Arroyo (17-2, 8KO) in a twelve round IBF junior bantamweight eliminator. Early in the contest, Warren, a former three time US Olympian, began getting the better of the two fighters. It was Warren who was getting off first, stalling Arroyo’s offense and finding homes for his own shots. In the third round, Warren rocked Arroyo with two rights that echoed on impact throughout the Barclay’s Center. To his credit, Arroyo stayed upright, and took the punches well, especially considering how flush they landed.
The middle rounds witnessed more back and forth action between the two lefties. For the most part, however, it was the Mike stablemate, Warren, who was getting off first, and evading much of what Arroyo had to counteroffer. Toward the end of the ninth, Warren landed a booming overhand left, that landed flush — but again, Arroyo, whose only other defeat came courtesy of Jerwin Ancajas, took the power well. The gutsy Puerto Rican tried time and time again to get his offense started, but the slippery Warren was able to dodge the majority of Arroyo’s shots.
After twelve rounds it went to the scorecards. Judge Robin Taylor scored the contest 118-110, while Larry Hazzard Jr. and Tony Paolillo had it 117-110, all in favor of Warren.
“I would give myself a B+ for that performance,” Warren said afterward. “I wanted to make sure to use my jab and I felt like it really helped me win the fight.”
He continued, “I feel really good at this weight. Now it’s time for me to go get a strap. I haven’t been at this weight since the Olympics. I want to get these titles and then go down to 112 pounds for another title. First I want to take care of Jerwin Ancajas.”
Murray Upsets Robles, Hands Prospect First Defeat
Barnegat New Jersey’s Dan Murray (2-1) scored a shocking majority decision victory over Mayweather Promotions prospect and former New York Golden Gloves champion, Kenny Robles (2-1, 1KO) in a four round welterweight bout. Credit Murray, who boxed efficiently, landed clean punches, and used lateral movement to evade Robles’ shots. As the fight progressed, Robles, perhaps frustrated, or perhaps sensing his undefeated record slipping away, upped pace and pressure in the third and fourth rounds. However, the more aggressive he became, the wilder the shots, and the wider the misses. At the end of four, the judges scorecards read 38-38, 39-37×2 for Murray.
Murphy Stays Undefeated, Serves Sanchez First Pro Defeat
In an eight round contest between two undefeated welterweights, it was Noel Murphy (11-0, 2KO) who scored a unanimous decision victory over Julio Cesar Sanchez (11-1, 6KO) to keep his perfect record intact. Murphy, an Irish native, who now lives and fights out of Woodlawn, NY, outworked his opponent round after round and rarely put himself in any danger. Conversely, Sanchez, who was fighting in the US for the first time, had trouble finding his rhythm and struggled to solve his southpaw foe. Although the Dominican was coming into the fight riding a five bout knockout streak, he was unwilling to press the action and engage with Murphy. Sanchez seemed content to try and counterpunch his way to victory, but the strategy was largely ineffective. At the end of the bout, all three judges scored the contest widely for Murphy: 80-72, 79-73, and 78-74.
Cincinnati Starts Night Off 1-0 As Jarmon Decisions Pettis
Cincinnati’s Desmond Jarmon (3-0, 2KO) outpointed fellow Ohio native Darnell Pettis (1-5) in a four round super featherweight bout to kick off a full night of fights from the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, NY. Throughout the contest, Jarman displayed an effective jab that kept Pettis at a distance that disabled his offense. As the second round neared conclusion, Jarman landed a sharp right that dropped Pettis, who was fighting for the third time in 30 days. Pettis, a native of Cleveland, recovered from the knockdown, but never on the scorecards. All three judges scored the bout a shutout for Jarmon, 40-35.
