 Oliver McCall - Fres Oquendo |
The weather wasn’t the only link to the “Windy City”. Oquendo’s camp tried to address the judges’ decision in true Chicago fashion: launching a full-fledged donnybrook that spilled out of the ring.
Indeed, Oquendo’s corner from the 5th St Gym (should we call it the South Side?) continually yelled “NO DECISION!” to their man throughout the bout to express their desire for a stoppage victory. Unfortunately for “Fast” Fres, the heavier blows came from McCall’s (North Side?) gloves. Fortunately for Oquendo, McCall saved his more damaging stuff for the last few rounds when he started to follow his thudding jab with the right hand.
Oquendo stuck to his game plan of boxing and moving away from the bigger man. He landed repeated one-two combinations to McCall as “The Atomic Bull” stubbornly walked him down. That plan nearly imploded in the eighth round when McCall connected solid rights to Oquendo’s head and torso that wobbled his legs. Oquendo continued circling away and escaped further damage.
McCall stepped up the attack throughout the championship rounds; opening a small cut under Oquendo’s left eye in the 10th. “The Atomic Bull” accelerated his aggression, but the effectiveness didn’t necessarily follow as he dislodged Oquendo’s cup with a low blow to start the 12th. However, he displayed newfound vigor and continued to press in championship fashion.
Judge Bill Ray scored it 115-113 for Oquendo while Judge Michael Pernick had it 115-113 for McCall. Judge John Rupert saw things even more in favor for McCall with a score of 116-112.
The victory appeared to recharge the 45-year old McCall at this late stage of his quarter-century long career, and counting.
In the co main event, fellow heavyweight and Heavyweight Factory stable mate Cedrick Boswell (32-1, 25 KOs) claimed the vacant NABA heavyweight crown by 9th round KO victory over Owen Beck (29-7, 20 KOs). Boswell couldn’t miss with continual straight right hands that eventually put Beck to the canvas at 2:29 in the round.
Referee Frank Gentile counted the full 10 seconds as Beck tried to gather his wits.
Welterweight sensation Brad “The King” Solomon (16-0, 7 KOs) successfully defended his WBA International welterweight title for the second time this year. Solomon survived the most rigorous test of his young, undefeated career against Anges Adjaho (25-4, 14 KOs) but held on to win an 8 round unanimous decision.
Solomon started the fight with his trademark speed but soon found himself timed with counter right uppercuts from his determined Ghanian foe. Solomon started to mix his shots up and move away from Adjaho in order to potshot him more effectively.
The change worked to earn Solomon scores of 98-92, 99-91 and 97-93 from the judges.
Solomon’s fighting style reminds many observers of Roy Jones Jr; who provided ringside color commentary of the bouts for his company and co-sponsor, Square Ring Promotions. When asked what he thought of Solomon’s performance, Jones Jr. commented:” he had to adjust to win the fight and that’s exactly what he did.”
In undercard action, Cuban heavyweight Yasmany Consuegra (4-0, 2 KOs) knocked out Watson Pierre (1-1, 1 KO) at 49 seconds of round 2. Undefeated Cuban junior middleweight Inocente Fiz (5-0, 3 KOs) stopped Anthony Woods (7-15, 3 KOs) by TKO victory 23 seconds into the 6th round. Heavyweight Eric Leander (9-1, 6 KOs) notched a unanimous decision victory over Larry Slayton (1-3-1). Featherweight Yoandris Salinas (4-0, 1 KO) won by split decision against spirited Mexican challenger Danny Aquino (5-1, 1 KO). Magomed Abdusalamov (9-0, 9 KOs) added another TKO victim to his undefeated record, stopping Jerry Butler (8-9-1, 8 KOs) at 2minutes, 39 seconds of the second round. Cuban heavyweight Luis Ortiz (5-0, 4 KOs) stopped tough Puerto Rican challenger Francisco Alvarez by TKO victory at 1:27 of the 8th round.
(The Richard Abril-Miguel Mungia bout was postponed until Friday for the card scheduled at the Kissimmee Civic Center due to Mungia not providing medicals in time for tonight’s card.)
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