FOTO: HERBERT DIAZ LV.
It was competitive while it started but , once it got going the back and forth exchange between the two talented 154-pound stars headlining for the first time in Sin City molded into a fantastic inside fight game courtesy of one Jarrett Hurd (17-0 w/11 KOs) that resulted in him handing Frank Galarza (17-1-2) his first pro loss thanks to a TKO at 59 seconds of Round 6. The main event for the latest installment of Showtime’s Shobox series, an all too familiar staple in the boxing community as a showcase and proving ground for tomorrow’s stars to prove their worth , today. For the first two rounds or so Galarza controlled the distance, pace and rhythm of the match behind solid foot work. Gradually using his jab as he floated around the ring not letting his opponent find his range or pose many threats. The New Yorker also implemented a sneaky and long jab that he threw from all angles, momentarily keeping his foe at bay.
Then Hurd had enough and began slipping and ducking then using his own jab to get inside Galarza’s chest. It was as pretty as it was fun to watch, double everything in close breaking down his formerly undefeated opponent. What was for the opening rounds an excellent exchange of action now was Hurd doing some magnificent work to the body taking away Galarza’s legs during rounds 3 and 4. His highlight reel started in the middle of the ring when he connected flush with a left uppercut that rocked the Brooklynite sending him down to a knee. Galarza beat the count but was a dead man walking.
In the 5th he mustered everything that he could shooting some wide shots at Hurd who saw them coming a mile away. Countering with a step back counter right that pierced like a dart. Galarza survived being picked apart for those 3 minutes but the inevitable came in Round 6. Hurd was firing on all cylinders landing whatever he wanted and making it count, Galarza’s legs and body were gone, he was operating on pure heart at this point and seasoned referee Russell Mora knew it as he jumped in to stop it.
The triumph came at (0:59) of Round 6 giving Jarrett Hurd his latest TKO win simultaneously handing Frank Galarza his first loss, via stoppage. Ironically enough Galarza sported some colorful trunks and gloves into the ring and long puzzle patterned socks. He truly was puzzled this evening from The Joint arena in Las Vegas as Hurd put on a crowd pleasing performance that will surely grant him other headlining spots in the not too distant future.
DEREVYANCHENKO HAS TARGET PRACTICE BEFORE ENDING NICKLOW IN 3 ROUNDS
If there was an award for “The Most Fitting Nickname” for the month of November it would undoubtedly go to Sergiy “The Technician” Derevyanchenko (7-0 w/5 KOs) for his masterful performance opposite a tough as nails, Jessie Nicklow (25-8-3). In boxing you can’t always judge a book by its cover but the more solid, muscular built, Ukraine native looked all the part of a future star as he systematically took apart Maryland’s Nicklow minute by minute. Derevyanchenko came at him with everything that he had for all of the 3 stanzas that it lasted launching body to head and body-body-head combos that would make Roy Jones Jr proud, if not he was circling out of the pocket ripping away at his opponent with viciously violent hooks. When Nicklow appeared to mount some sort of offense, the undefeated technician circled out, then doubled up his hooks. Or, if he was close to being tagged he crowded his opponent before sliding around using great footwork then returning back to the head landing effectively via straight shots that made Nicklow cover up and back away only to bring his hands down after the attack and nod at his opponent as if to say “no, it does not hurt”.
Going into the 3rd Round Sergiy would show his foe that even if it did not hurt it wouldn’t be good for his health to keep absorbing such punishment. The Ukrainian sniper said the reply though with his fists, unloading now 4 and 5 punch combinations in succession to the point that he had his man along the ropes and if you squinted your eyes it looked more like someone going hard on the heavy bag. Nicklow covered up likely waiting to counter but the barrage was as unforgiving as it was beautiful; straights, hooks, power blows and some uppercuts landed freely before referee Jay Nayde luckily called an end to the bout.
The official time of the 3rd Round TKO came at (2:18) giving Sergiy Derevyanchenko the fifth stoppage in what should one day be a very promising career.
DAVID BENAVIDEZ TAKES OUT ROMERO IN 60 SECONDS
The latest promising youth of the squared circle, in every sense of the world since he is the youngest to ever appear on a Shobox telecast, David BENAVIDEZ (11-0 w/10 KOs) needed all of one minute to dispatch of Felipe Romero (15-10-1) as the opening bout of the main card from The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Vegas. Romero moved along the ring as best as he could, slipping and bending over to try and land a clean counter against his man’s faster, crisper punches. Within about 15 seconds of the round as they were fighting at close range, Benavidez doubled up his menacing left hand landing flush on the body of his foe. The near perfect hook sent Romero down to the canvas and when he got up after beating the count it looked like he never really recovered. He backpedaled out of danger but Benavidez smelled blood in the water setting up another pair of left hooks off of a right hand and a jab. Again went the Mexican fighter down to the canvas from the Benavidez body assault. Yet again he beat the count but Romero looked no better in comparison to his earlier trip to the canvas. As expected Benavidez closed the distance using his missile-like left hook that was landing with scary accuracy as they battled along the ropes. The Arizona native backed his man up landing the crackling shot and Romero tumbled to the canvas again, cringing over in pain as the referee jumped in to call a stop to the action.
The official time of the TKO victory for Benavidez over Romero came at exactly (2:00) of the 1st round as he improves to 11 triumphs with 10 of those coming by way of KO or TKO.
