Beltran Becomes WBO Belt-holder. Finally.
Ray Beltran 34-7 21KO’s stalked forward eating two punches, then launching returns to the body of Namibian Paulus Moses 40-4 25KO’s until the final bell. Exchanging punches for twelve rounds, Beltran and Moses put on a good show that exceeded expectations for the 135 pound WBO title.
The story coming in was that Beltran would finally get his title and achieve his dream of gaining a legal status in the US as an “immigrant with an extraordinary ability”. Moses didn’t read the memo. The early rounds saw Beltran stalk patiently, as Moses began to warm up the fight took an exciting turn with Moses landing one-two combinations and Beltran pounding to the body.
In the ninth round Moses landed a right hand, buckling the knees of Beltran in a major momentum swing. Beltran would keep pressing forward landing left hooks to the body appearing to hurt Moses as the two traded until the final bell. On scores of 117-111 twice and 116-112 Beltran achieved what was denied in a robbery against Ricky Burns and became a world champion. A sweet ending to the night in an exciting fight that has become the calling card for Beltran.
“Mean Machine” Stops Avenesyan in 6
Egidijus Kavaliauskas 19-0 16KO’s starched David Avenesyan 23-3-1 11KO’sin the sixth round of the co- main event, winning a big step-up in competition. Kavaliauskus goes by the name “Mean Machine” and proved the moniker true, battering Avenesyan with a hard right hand counter and aggressive punching. Avenesyan couldn’t reach the longer Kavaliauskas with his offense and was rocked bad in the third round. Kavaliauskus landed a right hand around the glove in the sixth staggering Avenesyan and followed up with a flurry of hard punches that prompted referee Tony Weeks to call a halt to the fight as Avenesyan fell to his knees.
After the fight Kavaliauskas answered the question of who he wants next with. “I want to fight Terrance Crawford, I think that’s best fight”.
Shakur Stevenson wins first 8 rounder
Olympic Silver Medalist Shakur Stevenson 5-0 2KO’s went the eight round distance for the first time in his young career dominating Juan Tapia 8-2 2KO’s. Tapia started with energy, attempting to press the action against the young Phenom but would slow before the end of the first half of the fight. Stevenson’s speed and superior skills coasted to a unanimous decision victory on scores of 80-72 on all three cards.
