Nordine Oubaali (15-0, 11 KOs) defeated Rau’shee Warren (16-3, 4 KOs) to obtain the vacant WBC Bantamweight by scorecards of 115-113, 116-112, 117-111 at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, January 19.
This was Oubaali’s first fight in America, and he proved to belong in the spotlight and on the top of the Bantamweight division. Oubaali relentlessly pressured Warren the entire fight and didn’t let him breath for 12 rounds. Oubaali effectively used his power punching and timing to offset Warren’s advantage in hand speed.
Oubaali fought a perfect fight, utilizing volume and working behind a jab, and a short right hook that landed at will. His gameplan didn’t change, and he executed it to perfection for 12 rounds. He brought the fight to Warren and made this a forgettable night for Warren and his team.
Warren didn’t fight to his potential in this bout. It might have been the pressure that Oubaali brought that broke Warren. There were no adjustments made throughout the fight, Warren seemed complacent with how the fight was playing out.
Warren stood in the center of the ring, and only wanted to trade jabs. After a good start, Warren stopped throwing the jab and was in survival mode for the rest of the fight. The gameplan went out the window, and Warren couldn’t adjust to Oubaali’s style or attack.
Oubaali becomes the champion in a stacked division. The Bantamweight champions are as follows; WBA Naoya Inoue, IBF Emmanuel Rodriguez, WBO Zolani Tete who are all currently fighting in the WBSS.
The WBC belt is one of the most sought-out belts by boxers so this will surely bring the likes of another champion knocking on the door of Oubaali.
Nordine Oubaali showed the world on Showtime PPV who he is and will be a force in the division that could make great matchups going forward. His action-packed style would be great for a unification fight with any of the aforementioned champions in the division.
