Former
Super-Middleweight world title challenger Edwin Rodriguez scored a thrilling
comeback third round knockout over previously unbeaten Light-Heavyweight
prospect Michael Seals on Friday night at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
in Biloxi, MS. Rodriguez came out
swinging from the outset and immediately put pressure on Seals.
The
aggressive approach by Rodriguez appeared to be showing signs of success early
in the first round as a barrage of punches sent Seals down to the canvas. Seals would respond however, by scoring his
own knockdown moments later as Rodriguez attempted to continue his assault,
dropping Rodriguez with a counter straight right hand.
Rodriguez
appeared staggered, but was able to get up from the canvas. Seals would score a
second knockdown of Rodriguez with a flush right hand in the closing seconds of
the round. Although Rodriguez was considerably more hurt than he was following
the first knockdown, he was able to survive the round and the fight continued.
Rodriguez
would respond by scoring his second knockdown of Seals late in the second round
with a right hand. Seals showed his mettle by getting up and survived the
round. In round three Rodriguez would bring the fight to a sudden conclusion
landing a flush overhand right that staggered Seals, nearly sending him through
the ropes before going down to the canvas.
This time Seals was unable to beat the count. Official time of the
stoppage was :24 of round three.
Edwin
Rodriguez advances to 28-1, with 19 Knockouts. Michael Seals falls to 19-1,
with 14 Knockouts.
Also
on this card, in the Light-Heavyweight division rising prospect Thomas Williams
Jr. scored a second round TKO over veteran Humberto Savigne. Williams scored a flash knockdown of Savigne
with a right hand in round one. Savigne quickly got up from the knockdown and
did not appear hurt.
Savigne
would score his own knockdown with a right hand of his own later in the round. Much
like Savigne, Williams did not appear hurt and was able to get up off the
canvas. In the second round Williams would score his second knockdown of
Savigne with a combination to the head. Savigne was able to get up quickly, but
moments later Williams was able to get a stoppage with a barrage of punches as
Savigne was against the ropes. Official time of the stoppage was 1:48 of round
two.
Thomas
Williams Jr. advances to 19-1, with 13 Knockouts. Humberto Savigne falls to 12-3, with 9
Knockouts.
In the
Welterweight division undefeated knockout artist Bryant Perrella scored a first
round knockout over Chaquib Fadli. Perrella
scored a knockdown of Fadli with a combination to the body. Although Fadli did
not go down, it was ruled a knockdown due to the ropes holding him up. Perrela
closed the show dropping Fadli in his own corner seconds later with a follow up
flurry forcing a stoppage of the fight.
Official time of the stoppage was 1:30 of round one.
Bryant
Perrela advances to 12-0, with 11 Knockouts.
Chaquib Fadli falls to 13-6, with 7 Knockouts.
In the
Middleweight division former world title challenger Fernando Guerrero scored a
seventh round TKO over veteran Daniel Souza Santos. After a slow start in the
first round, Guerrero took control of the fight in the second round and
consistently dished out punishment to Santos. Guerrero was able to knock Santos
down in round seven with an uppercut. Although the very “Game” Santos was able
to beat the count, the bout was stopped by Referee Keith Hughes. Official time of the stoppage was 1:45 of
round seven.
Fernando
Guerrero advances to 28-3, with 20 Knockouts. Daniel Souza Santos falls to
14-9, with 11 Knockouts.
In the
Cruiserweight division undefeated prospect Radivoje Kalajdzic scored a first
round knockout of veteran Fabio Garrido. Kalajdzic dropped Garrido with a right
hand in the opening seconds of the fight. Garrido was able to beat the count on
wobbly legs, but the bout was stopped by Referee Fred Steinwinder III just
nineteen seconds into the fight.
Radivoje
Kalajdzic advances to 21-0, with 14 Knockouts. Fabio Garrido falls to 28-5-1,
with 23 Knockouts.
In other bouts:
Middleweight
Alantez Fox (18-0-1, with 7 Knockouts) TKO4 over Todd Manuel (10-10-1, with 1
Knockout) Fight stopped at the
conclusion of round four.
Junior
Welterweight Nicholas Givhan (16-0-1, with 10 Knockouts) scored a six round
majority decision over Juan Santiago (15-15-2, with 9 Knockouts). Official
scores: 58-57, 58-56, 57-57.
Also
in the Junior Welterweight division, undefeated prospected Darwin Price (9-0,
with 5 Knockouts) scored an eight round unanimous decision over Alvaro Ortiz
(7-6-1, with 5 Knockouts). Official scores were 80-72 on all three scorecards
in Price’s favor.
This
edition of the Premier Boxing Champions series certainly provided much
excitement with six of the eight scheduled bouts on this card ending in
knockouts. The card also just might have
provided a Fight of the Year candidate as Edwin Rodriguez narrowly escaped a
knockout loss in the first round against Michael Seals to knock out the
previously undefeated prospect in round three in a thrilling encounter.
Not to
be outdone, Thomas Williams Jr. was also impressive in his stoppage of Humberto
Savigne. In a talent deep
Light-Heavyweight division it will be interesting to see what the future holds
for Rodriguez and Williams heading into 2016.
It
would not surprise this observer to see Rodriguez and Williams possibly pitted
against each other in the near future. Rodriguez is currently rated in the top ten
in both the WBC and IBF in the Light-Heavyweight division. It is not out of the
realm of possibility that Williams, who is currently not rated in the top
fifteen by either organization could view a potential fight with Rodriguez as
an opportunity to catapult himself into contention for a possible word title
opportunity.
If
Thomas Williams Jr. is not in the near future for Edwin Rodriguez, perhaps a
rematch with Michael Seals could be viewed as a possibility. After all, the premise of the Premier Boxing
Champions series has been to provide entertaining competitive fights.
The fight between Rodriguez and Seals had
fans on the edge of their seats from the opening bell right until its
conclusion. Whether or not the fight ends up in the discussion for Fight of the
Year honors remains to be seen. It was
nevertheless a great fight for as long as it lasted and a rematch between the
two would likely be welcomed by Boxing fans as well as the Premier Boxing
Champions series. The fight is certainly deserving of an encore.
“And
That’s The Boxing Truth.”
The
Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.
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