December 2, 2023, Miami, FL – Don King Productions’ highly anticipated “People’s Championship” event delivered a spectacular night of fights at the Casino Miami Jai Alai Saturday night. The evening’s main event featured WBA Middleweight Continental USA champion Ian Green (18-2, 12 KOs) successfully defending his title against St. Louis, MO’s challenger Vaughn Alexander (18-8, 11 KOs). Establishing his jab early, the measured Green landed a devasting body shot that floored Alexander for a ten count in the eighth round.
The co-main event saw reigning WBA NABA Welterweight champion Tre’sean Wiggins (16-5-3, 9 KOs) score an emphatic first round TKO over Cincinnati, OH’s Chris Howard (18-3-1, 8 KOs). Stunning Howard within the first ten seconds of the first round, Wiggins quickly found his pace. Wiggins entered this bout on the strength of an impressive four straight victories.
Harrisburg, PA’s Antonio Perez (9-0, 5 KOs) and Las Vegas, NV’s Haskell Rhodes (29-6-1, 14 KOs) clashed for the WBC Vacant International Lightweight title in a back-and-forth brawl. Though a competitive bout, Perez’s speed proved to be too overwhelming for the lightweight veteran. Scoring two knockdowns in the tenth round, the newly crowned Perez was victorious via unanimous decision.
Lastly, Colombia’s Alex Castro (14-1, 11 KOs) outclassed Harry K. Cruz (14-4, 11 KOs) for ten rounds, defending his WBA NABA Middleweight title in the process.
WBA MIDDLEWEIGHT CONTINENTAL USA CHAMPIONSIP – 10 ROUNDS
Ian Green (18-2, 12 KOs) vs. Vaughn Alexander (18-8, 11 KOs)
Result: Wiggins wins by KO at 2:40 of round 8
Scorecards: 68-65, 67-66, 68-65 Green
Green on the significance of this bout: “I want to dedicate this fight to my late mother. Tomorrow is her birthday and there was a lot of pressure on me going into this fight. I want to say happy birthday mom and I hope you’re proud of me. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and raising me to the man I am today. If you’re ever going through something, keep pushing. If you’re ever depressed and don’t know what you want to do, keep pushing. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel. I ain’t where I want to be, but I’m not where I started, and that’s all that matters.”
Green on his victory: “Like I said before I’m a dog. He caught me with a good shot, so I had to show him and switch it up. I worked on that body shot every day in the gym, and I made it happen today.”
Green on what’s next: “I told Don, whoever he puts in front of me, I’ll beat them. I want champions, I want the best.”
WBA NABA WELTWERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 10 ROUNDS
Tre’sean Wiggins (16-5-3, 9 KOs) vs. Chris Howard (18-3-1, 8 KOs)
Result: Wiggins wins by TKO at 2:57 of round 1
Wiggins on his victory: “I didn’t think I would finish the fight that fast. He’s a tough opponent who’s never been stopped before, so I wasn’t expecting that quick of a fight. I thought it would be a longer night, at least that’s what he told me at the weigh-in. I felt strong out there and I was prepared for short or long night.”
Wiggins on what’s next: “I hope a title shot. If I don’t get a title shot, then I need a title eliminator.”
WBC VACANT INTERNATIONAL LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE BOUT – 10 ROUNDS
Antonio Perez (9-0, 5 KOs) vs. Haskell Rhodes (29-6-1, 14 KOs)
Result: Perez wins by unanimous decision
Scorecards: 100-88, 100-88, 100-88 Perez
Perez on his victory: “The first couple of rounds went exactly how I thought it would then he picked it up on me a bit. He has quite a few more fights than I do so that was expected but I managed to make it out and get him in the last round. I knew he was strong but not strong enough for me. It feels amazing to take out a guy like Rhodes because I know a lot of guys can’t.”
BANTAMWEIGHT ATTRACTION – 6 ROUNDS
Lawrence Newton (16-0, 7 KOs) vs. Erik Ruiz (17-9-1, 7 KOs)
Result: Newton wins by unanimous decision
Scorecards: 58-58, 56-58, 55-59 Newton
WBA NABA MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 10 ROUNDS
Alex Castro (14-1, 11 KOs) vs. Harry K. Cruz (14-4, 11 KOs)
Result: Castro wins by unanimous decision
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Scorecards: 98-92, 98-92, 99-91 Castro
Castro on his opponent: “I’ve been preparing for this for a long time. It was a tough fight mentally because I know Harry (Cruz) so I had to put that aside. I knew it wasn’t going to be a short fight because he’s a tough fighter, so I came in completely prepared.”
Castro on what’s next: “Whatever Don King wants. I’m willing to fight whoever, just give me a name and date.”
WBC VACANT YOUTH INTERCONTINENTAL SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHP – 6 ROUNDS
De Von Williams (4-0, 4 KOs) vs. Kendall Ward (1-11)
Result: Williams wins by TKO at 1:04 of round 1
MIDDLEWEIGHT ATTRACTION – 6 ROUNDS
Davan Depestre (2-0, 2 KO) vs. Yasser Zamora (0-3)
Result: Depestre wins by KO at 1:45 of round 1
