Gervonta Davis moved up to lightweight and captured the WBA title with a 12th round stoppage over Yuriorkis Gamboa in front of over 14,000 fans at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
In round two, Davis dropped Gamboa with a straight left hand. Gamboa got to his feet, and looked like he had a problem with his leg, but in between rounds it was determined had an issue with his right shoe.
In round eight, Davis seemed to be slowing down until he landed a left hand that sent Gamboa down for a 2nd time. Over the next five rounds, Davis landed many hard power shots that somehow Gamboa was able to absorb. That all changed in the final round, when Gamboa landed a crushing uppercut that sent Gamboa down for a 3rd and final time and the fight was stopped at 1:17.
“Coming into this fight I knew Gamboa was a tough opponent,” said Davis, who went past the ninth round for the first time in his career. “I knew he was a vet. As you see in the ring, I was catching and hurting him but he was still there. I knew he was better than anyone I had fought before. I was mainly focused on catching him with clean shots. I was catching him with clean shots and wasn’t hurting him, so I knew I was in for rounds tonight.”
When asked by SHOWTIME reporter Jim Gray to grade his own performance, Davis replied with “C-plus.”
“It was a great experience. I’m only 25 years old. I’m learning each and every day. 2020 will be a big year. I feel comfortable at both weights. I feel I could fight at 130 or 135. I’m the top dog. Bring ‘em on.”
“I feel OK, but I think I ruptured my Achilles tendon before I fell in the second round,” said Gamboa. “I’m a warrior and I kept going, but as soon as I felt it I knew it was ruptured. I couldn’t put pressure on it. I wanted to keep going. I told my corner it was a problem but I wanted to keep going because I’m a warrior. I’m going to keep going. 135 is my weight. I want to stay there.”
Davis, who originally was about 1.5 pounds over the lightweight limit and later came back to the scale at 134 3/4 lbs is 23-0 with 22 knockouts. Gamboa, 134 3/4 lbs of Guantanamo, CUB is 30-3.
Jean Pascal retained the WBA Light Heavyweight title with a split decision over Badou Jack.
It was a very entertaining fight with both guys getting in solid punches throughout.
In round four, Pascal landed a perfect counter right that rocked and ultimately put Jack on the canvas.
In round twelve, Jack created drama as he landed a big right that set up a punishing flurry that put Pascal down to the canvas.
It was too-little, too-late as Pascal won two cards 114-112 and Jack taking a card 114-112.
Pascal, 174 3/4 of Port ou Prince, HAI is 35-6-1. Jack, 174 1/2 lbs of Stockholm, SWE is 22-4-3.
“I won this fight, it was a close fight but I won it,” said the 37-year-old Pascal. “Badou is a great fighter but no one can say he was robbed. I won that fight. I’m the champ. I think I was in control the whole fight. I kept the middle of the ring most of the time. Badou is a great fighter, but I won the fight.
“I can finish every round very strong. I’m a strong, pressure fighter. Badou – thanks for the fight. I know the crowd enjoyed the show. I’ll do the rematch any time”
“Of course I feel I won the fight, but it is what it is,” said Jack, who has now had six of his last eight fights end in draws, split decisions or majority decisions. “He’s got a hell of a chin, he’s a tough warrior and I want to thank him for the opportunity. I thought I was winning but maybe I’m wrong. I would love a rematch.”
“I think he caught me up here (on top of head),” he said when asked by Gray about the fourth-round knockdown. “I didn’t really see the punch. I wasn’t that hurt but it was a good punch.”
Lionell Thompson won a 10-round unanimous decision over former world champion Jose Uzcategui in a super middleweight bout.
At the end of round one, Thompson landed a perfect right hand that sent Uzcategui down for the canvas. In round three, Thompson was cut over his right eye. In round four, Thompson was deducted a point for holding.
Thompson, 168 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 96-92 twice and 95-94 and is now 24-5. Uzcategui, 167 3/4 lbs of Tijuana, MX is 29-4.
Malik Hawkins stopped Darwin Price in round five of a scheduled 10-round fight of undefeated super lightweights.
It was a good fight that saw Price winning early rounds. In round five, Price seemed to have stumbled and hurt his leg. Hawkins saw that and landed hard in the corner. Price was limping badly and the fight was stopped at 1:18.
Hawkins, 139 1/2 lbs of Baltimore is 18-0 with 11 knockouts. Price, 140 lbs of Saint Louis is 16-1.
“Moving down to 168 (pounds), I was a little worried for my first fight but I felt great,” said the 34-year-old Thompson. “I still had the power at this weight and I hurt him a few times. This is my weight class now and I think I have a real chance at becoming super middleweight champion and putting my city on the map as the first world champion from Buffalo.”
“I thought the decision was fair,” said the 29-year-old Uzcátegui, who has now dropped two of his last three fights. “I don’t want to make any excuses. He came to fight. The distance from my last fight definitely showed. I was very rusty. I need to get back in the gym train harder and hopefully get another fight in the next few months.”
Angelo Leo stopped former world title challenger in round 11 of a scheduled 12-round super bantamweight elimination bout.
Juarez began to bleed from his right nostril in round four.
In round six, Leo landed a big left hook that rocked Juarez. Juarez ate several hard blows before going down. Seconds later, a bug uppercut rocked Juarez. Leo followed up and what looked like push sent Juarez down for a 2nd knockdown. In round 11, Leo landed a big right that sent Juarez to the canvas. Juarez got to his feet, but the fight was stopped at 1:12.
Leo, 121 1/2 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is 19-0 with nine knockouts. Juarez, 121 3/4 lbs of Mexico City is 24-8.
