LAS VEGAS--Mikaela Mayer retained her WBO and won the IBF Junior Lightweight titles In a classic junior lightweight unification bout at the Virgin Hotels.
The two stood inches from each other for most of the 20 minute brawl. Hamadouche was relentless as she basically attached herself to Mayer by landing good flurries on inside. On the rare occurrences that a few feet, Mayer was able to use her length and land some eye catching shots at distance. Those situations were few, as the two engaged in an action fight that was worthy of two champions.
Mayer seemed to have hurt Hamadouche in round six by landing a hard right hand. For about 45 seconds, and the only time in the fight, the French visitor took her feet off the gas. Mayer fought well on the inside, but Hamadouche seemed busier.
Mayer landed 239 of 594; punches; Hamadouche was 233 of 872.
Mayer, 129.6 lbs of Los Angeles won by wider then it seemed scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 to go to 16-0. Hamadouche, 128.2 lbs of France is 22-2.
“{I showed} I could bang it out on the inside. That wasn’t really the entire game plan,” Mayer said. “The game plan was to use my jab, but in the back of my head, I knew she was going to keep it close, keep me on the inside. Even though we trained for that, just being able to do that for 10 straight rounds taught me a lot.
“This is everything I trained for. It really hasn’t even sunk in, but I’m proud of what I did. I’m proud of my team. We’re going to celebrate this one, for sure.”
Added Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, “This was a sensational fight, one of the best fights of the year, male or female. These two ladies are a credit to the sport, and they left it all in the ring. It was a close fight, but I felt Mikaela did more than enough to have her hand raised.”
Mayer said, “I really wanted to show everyone in the division and the naysayers that I didn’t have the power and the grit to stay in there for 10 rounds with Hamadouche that I am the best in the division. I am coming to be undisputed, and I want the big fights. I’m definitely a threat.”
Luis Melendez pounded out an eight-round unanimous decision over Thomas Mattice in a junior lightweight fight.
Melendez landed 92 of 306 punches; Mattice was 131 of 408.
Melendez, 131.4 lbs of Miami won by scores of 77-75 cards and is now 17-1. Mattice, 131.4 lbs of Cleveland is 17-3-1.
Andres Cortes remained undefeated with a 3rd round stoppage over Mark Bernaldez in a scheduled eight-round junior lightweight bout.
In round three, Cortes landed a hard combination that drove Bernaldez into the ropes. Cortes followed up with seven unanswered blows and the fight was stopped at 2:32.
Cortes, 131.6 lbs of Las Vegas is 16-0 with nine knockouts. Bernaldez, 131.2 lbs of the Philippines is 23-5.
17 year-old prospect Abdullah Mason made a successful pro debut with a 2nd round stoppage over Jaylon Phillips in a lightweight bout.
In round two, Mason put together a big flurry of punches for which Phillips had no answer for and the fight was stopped at
Mason, 135.4 lbs of Cleveland is 1-0 with one knockout. Phillips, 134.6 lbs of Florida is 1-1.
Ian Green won a eight-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Tyler Howard in a middleweight bout.
Howard was deducted a point in round four for hitting on the break.
Green, 160 lbs of Paterson, NJ won by scores of 80-71 and 79-72 twice and is now 17-2. Howard, 160 lbs of Crossville, TN is 19-1.
Rowdy Legend Montgomery stopped Martez McGregor in round three of their scheduled six-round super middleweight fight.
In round three, Montgomery landed a perfect right that sent McGregor down and out at 1:10.
Montgomery, 164 lbs of Victorville, CA is now 7-3-1 with five knockouts. McGregor, 166.8 lbs of Maywood, IL is 8-6.