Photos by Stephanie Trapp/Mayweather Promotions
On a special Thursday edition of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights, Mayweather Promotions featured a card from The Pearl at Palms Casino and Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The main event of the evening featured Ishe Smith (27-7, 12 KOs) scoring a unanimous decision victory against Cecil McCalla (20-2, 7 KOs).
From the first bell, both fighters exchanged and landed great body shots. Smith found more success to the body and delivered a powerful left hook that sent McCalla stumbling at the end of the second round.
McCalla then stepped on the gas and fired off a strong jab, but Smith continued to press forward, and used good lateral movement to create openings against McCalla.
This success for Smith continued throughout the rounds, and as the fight went on it was clear McCalla needed a knockout to win.
The judge’s score cards read 97-93 twice and 98-92, putting Ishe Smith back into the winning circle.
Opening up the telecast was Ashley Theophane (38-6-1, 11 KOs) who won a split decision victory against Mahonri Montes (30-5-1, 21 KOs).
Theophane established his jab early on, keeping Montes from landing combinations. Montes had good defensive head movement, but Theophane was still able to land a high amount of jabs followed with a good left hook.
As the rounds continued, Theophane slowed down on his movement and gave Montes the opportunity to pick up his punch output. Montes was able to bust up Theophane’s nose in the eighth round, and score a knockdown in Round 9.
With only a few seconds left in the final round, the bell rang and Montes was unable to finish his attack.
Judges scorecards read 96-93 for Montes, and 96-93 for Theophane, giving Theophane the split decision victory.
