GBP in LA and Top Rank in NYC

Golden Boy in LA and Top Rank in NYC

(Photos by Al Applerose)

Written by Uppercut Magazine staff

Promotional giants Golden Boy and Top Rank staged shows on both coasts with the boxing show in Los Angeles featuring two-division world champion Jojo Diaz and the New York show pitting super featherweight champ O’Shaquie Foster.

Both had significant results.

At the Commerce Casino on Thursday, Jojo Diaz (33-5-1) took two rounds to figure out the intentions of Mexico’s Jesus Ricky Perez (25-5, 18 Kos) but the slow start set the tone for the judges and that proved pivotal in the end.

Diaz opened up his attack with accurate blows to the head and body that surprised Perez. But the Mexican fighter from Tijuana proved very strong and resilient.

The muscular Perez attacked violently with a two-fisted attack. And though the blows were often wide and off the mark, he was given credit by the judges for his nonstop activity. Perez was very accurate with his blows to the body.

From the third round onward Diaz displayed his ability to snap off blows to the head and body. The skill he’s accrued over the years first in the Olympics and as a featherweight and super featherweight champion were clear. But two the judges did not favor his accuracy over Perez’s activity.

After 10 rounds one judge favored Diaz 95-94 while two others saw Perez the winner by split decision 99-90 and 96-94.

Fans booed the decision and angrily tossed items into the boxing ring. Few of the patrons agreed with one judge in particular who did not give Diaz one single round on his card.

“My ultimate respect to Jojo he’s a warrior,” said Perez.

Diaz was surprised by the decision.

“I won the fight,” Diaz said.

Also performing on the Golden Boy card is prospect Eric Tudor (10-1, 6 KOs) who dismantled Puerto Rico’s Luis Ramos (7-3-1, 7 KOs) by unanimous decision over eight rounds in a super welterweight match.

Top Rank in NYC

Inside Madison Square Garden the WBC super featherweight title remained with O’Shaquie Foster (22-2, 12 Kos) scoring a last round knockdown of Abraham Nova (23-2, 16 Kos) to win by split-decision on Friday Feb. 16.

It figured to be a tough test.

Foster won his last fight with a last round knockout over Rocky Hernandez in Mexico. Once again he relied on his power to settle the dispute with Nova. A perfect left hook delivered Nova to the canvas and was the deciding blow in the title match.

This was Foster’s first fight under Top Rank promotions. He previously was under Matchroom Boxing in his last match.

(Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank)