MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland
Showtime Boxing
Saturday, May 20, 2017
By Minnie Larry
Gary Russell Jr. (28-1, 17KOs) retained his WBC Super Featherweight Championship with a 7th round TKO over Oscar Escandon (25-3, 17KOs) in front of the home crowd at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Russell Jr. controlled the action from the start imposing his will over the shorter Escandon. In the 3rd round, Russell Jr. dropped Escandon with a vicious uppercut. However, a combination of grit and Russell Jr. punching himself out allowed Escandon to survive the round.
Referee Harvey Dock stopped the bout 59 seconds in the 7th round, after Escandon was sent flying into the ropes by a Russell Jr. combination.
Andre Dirrell (26-2, 16KOs) won the Interim IBF Super Middleweight Championship over Jose Uzcategui (26-2, 22KOs) by disqualification in the 8th round. Uzcategui controlled the bout from the start landing concussive blows that punished the older Dirrell.
Dirrell was rocked in the 2nd round from a right. A few seconds after the bell, Uzcategui would threw a straight right for which he received a warning from Referee Bill Clancy.
Dirrell tried to mount a comeback but could not overcome the stronger Uzcategui. In the 8th round, Uzcategui backed Dirrell into the corner with a barrage of punches. A combination at and after the bell would send Dirrell to the canvass. Dirrell would sit up but would later fall back down to the canvass at the urging of his brother Anthony.
Referee Bill Clancy would immediately call for the doctor and ruled the bout in favor of Dirrell by disqualification. A riot broke out in the ring with Andre’s Uncle and Trainer Leon Lawson Jr. landing a vicious right hand to the defenseless Uzcategui.
Prince George’s County Police would restore order. At the end of the evening Lawson Jr. was being sought by the police for 1st and 2nd degree assault.
Rances Barthelemy (26-0, 13KOs) won a unanimous decision over Kiryl Relikh (21-2, 19KOs) in a WBA contender Super Lightweight eliminator bout. Relikh would control the bout from the start. dropping Barthelemy in the 5th round.
Barthelemy would return the favor in the 8th round. Relikh would recover and outwork Barthelemy for a seemingly easy win. However, the judges saw it differently scoring the bout 116-110, 115-111, and 117-109 in favor of Barthelemy, stunning the MGM audience.
Alexandru The “Spartan” Marin (13-0, 9KOs) won a unanimous decision over German Meraz (55-44, 32KOs) after a 11-month layoff which included marrying his hometown sweetheart. The scores were 60-54 3x.
Gary Antonio Russell (8-0, 6KOs) scored a 3rd knockout over Jovany Fuentes (7-9, 6KOs).
Gary Antuanne Russell (1-0, 1KOs) in his pro-boxing debut, made “Easy Work” of Josh Ross (2-4-4), sending his rival to the mat three times within the first round.
Cobia Breedy improves to (10-0, 4KOs) after going the distance with Wilfredo Garriga (4-7-1, 3KOs). The scores were 59-55 2x, and 59-56.
