Los Angeles, The Forum.
In front of 6,143 fans Lucas Matthysse 38-4 35KO’s returned with a bang that saved him some criticism. Tewa Kiram 37-1 27KO’s, the unheralded and unheard of contender from Thailand boxed well in the early going using his jab and movement to frustrate an aging Matthysse. Holding and moving Kiram failed to land anything of note, allowing Matthysse to continue forward until connecting with a one-two jab right-hand combination sending Kiram to the deck. Kiram would beat the count and return fire when Matthysse landed a jab and whiffed with the right hand but sent Kiram down to the canvas seemingly unconscious. Referee Raul Caiz waived the fight giving Matthysse the victory by KO and the WBA welterweight title.
In between the fifth and sixth rounds Tewa Kiram’s trainer was spotted by the California State Athletic Commission holding a jar with an herbal substance to the nose of Kiram. Kiram was visibly sniffing what was in the jar before the commission member grabbed the jar from the trainer, showed it to referee Raul Caiz and then confiscated it. The contents in the jar were described to the media as “herbal” and are being tested.
“I’m really happy,” said Lucas Matthysse. “He [Kiram] moved really well, and he was really big. That’s why it was hard to cut the distance. I didn’t feel his power, but he felt mine, so that’s why I was able to find him later and stop him. I’m here for the best and biggest names. I want the rematch with Danny Garcia or Manny Pacquiao. Those are the big fights I want, though of course that will be up to Mario Arano and Golden Boy Promotions to figure that out.” Said Matthysse following the fight.
Kiram was taken directly to the hospital following the fight.
Fighting for the second time in a row at the Forum Jorge Linares 44-3 27KO’s defended his WBA title. Contender Mercito Gesta 31-2-2 17KO’s never appeared to capitalize on combinations landed sporadically throughout the fight. On scores of 118-110 (twice) and 117-111 Linares showed that he was in a different league than his opponent.
Linares lands a right hand en route to a wide unanimous decsion victory
“I didn’t really feel his power, though I hurt my hand in the fourth or fifth round. I threw my right hand without really putting too much power into it. I wasn’t touching him. There wasn’t a knockout because he was well prepared.” Said Linares after the fight.
Marcelino Lopez of Argentina 34-2-1 18KO’s and Bredis Prescott 30-12 22KO’s put on a show for the die hards at the Forum. Standing toe to toe the Argentinian was able to drop the Columbian Prescott early in the fifth round. Prescott would make it to his feet but the writing was on the wall, after an exchange of right hooks Lopez dropped Prescott again. Shaking his head no on his knees, Prescott would not beat the count to hand Lopez the victory at 2:59 of the fifth.2:59
Filipino slugger Romero Duno 16-1 14KO’s didn’t waste anytime dispatching Yardley Armenta 21-9 12KO, winning bu KO at 1:36 in the first round. Duno’s hard punching style is regularly starting to be attached to Goldnboy’s best cards as his Los Angeles Filipino fanbase grows.
Young Tenotchtitlan (T-dog) Nava 7-1 1KO of Los Angeles took the first loss of his career against Las Vegas prospect Francisco Esparza 7-0-1 2KO’s.
