Photo by Stephanie Trapp/Mayweather Promotions
On Saturday, April 30, 2016 Showtime presents a championship boxing doubleheader that begins at 10:00 pm, EST and features a pair of super middleweight world title fights, as WBC champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack takes on former champion Lucian Bute, and IBF champion James “Chunky” DeGale battles perennial spoiler, Rogelio “Porky” Medina.
Also on the card will be Mayweather Promotions fighters Chris “Young King” Pearson (16-1, 11 KOs) and Sharif “The Lion” Bogere (27-1, 19 KOs) competing in separate bouts from the DC Armory in Washington D.C.
Additional action inside the arena will feature unbeaten Washington, D.C.-born Latondria Jones (2-0, 1 KO) in a four-round super welterweight bout against Virginia’s Kamika Slade, undefeated Ecuadorian Carlos Gongora (6-0, 3 KOs) in a light heavyweight match and the pro debut of D.C. product Keegan Grove in a four-round lightweight scrap.
Join us ringside for up-to-the-minute results for each fight on the card.
Don’t forget to “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @RBRBoxing for even more updates, videos and photos.
RESULTS:
Badou Jack vs. Lucian Bute
In an entertaining championship fight that saw a lot of give an take from both participants, unfortunately it ended in controversy. The early rounds had a timidity to them, based on both fighters trying to feel each other out. As the fight progressed, Jack came on in the middle rounds with great body punching and utilizing the left hook to disrupt Bute’s offense. While Bute, took a few rounds to adjust, it seemed like he refused to throw his best punch: his left uppercut. A punch that has helped him overcome adversity many times before in the past. In the championship rounds, it seemed that Bute really put it all on the line, coming out aggressively and landing his staple “left uppercut” early and often. Because there were so many close rounds in the fight, despite Bute’s late three round push, the fight was scored a majority draw. With one judge scoring a lopsided 117-111 for Jack, the other two judges saw the fight 114-114, allowing Jack to retain his title.
James DeGale vs. Rogelio Medina
This successful title defense saw James DeGale in many situations that could’ve easily been avoided. A cavalier DeGale stuck his tongue out and spoke to Rogelio Medina throughout the fight. DeGale “allowed” Medina to pressure him and put his back against the ropes, while landing combinations all fight long. DeGale clearly believed he was in control, and it’s understandable; considering how DeGale undoubtedly landed the hardest shots of the fight. He would rock Medina with lead uppercuts, and great combination punching after it was obvious he hurt Medina.
Still a weird outing that saw Medina spit at DeGale, making accusations of foul play on DeGale’s part. While Medina fought hard with a high work rate and pressure, it was surprising to see DeGale allow the fight to take this course. With this unanimous decision victory, DeGale now raises his record to 23-1. The judges scored the fight 115-113 and 117-111 (twice).
Christopher Pearson vs. Joshua Okine
While this gritty middleweight scrap had lots of back and forth action, Chris Pearson (17-1) seemed to land the blatantly cleaner punches. Joshua Okine (22-6) suffered a severe low blow in the third; but he soon recovered and seemed to try and take the fight to Pearson to no avail. Though Okine scored some solid blows, Pearson seemed to be the more effective fighter with crisp counter punching and solid technique. The judges all scored the bout 98-92 in Pearson’s favor.
Sharif Bogere vs. Samuel Amoako
From the onset Bogere focused his attack on Amoako’s midsection, and mounted an offense off of impressive body punching. Amoako landed some hard pot shots and counters, but Bogere dictated the pace. Down the stretch, Bogere pressed his relentless body attack. Although Amoako landed crisp punches at times, the persistant work and aggression from Bogere proved too much for Amoako. Bogere walked away with a unanimous decision victory, raising his record to 28-1 (19 KOs). All three judges scored the fight 100-90.
Latondria Jones vs. Kamika Slade
Latondria Jones (2-0) dismantled Kamika Slade quickly by TKO, to remain undefeated spoiling Slade’s pro debut aspirations. Slade got hit by one punch from Jones, then immediately turned away causing the referee to intervene at only 18 seconds after the first bell. Jones moves to 3-0 (2 KOs).
Keegan Grove vs. Antoney Napunyi
DC’s Keegan “The Sandman” Grove makes a succesful pro debut against Florida’s Antoney Napyuni (10-16). Grove applied pressure from the onset, peppering Napyuni with combinations to the body and head. A game but struggling At one point, it seemed Napyuni spit out his mouthpiece, to get a breather from Grove’s constant pressure. All three Judges scored the bout 40-36.
Moshea Aleem vs. Martez Jackson
The two undefeated fighters faced off in this junior middleweight four rounder, Aleem (4-0-1) and Jackson (2-0-2) with Jackson’s right hand becoming the punch of the fight. Jackson used it to blugeon Aleem, starting late in the first round, to which Aleem tried to make adjustments. In a rough and tumble affair, that had many explosive exchanges to close out the final round, all three judges scorecards had it 38-38, for a draw.
Chordale Booker vs. TBA
Carlos Gongora vs. Zacharia Kelley
The undefeated Carlos Gongorra (7-0) looked sharp in his six round, light heavyweight scrap against Zacharia Kelley (5-14). Gongorra landed hard punches in combination to end the first round. He then followed up in the second, almost sending Kelley through the ropes, before finally dropping him late. The ref stopped the bout at 1:50 in the second round. Gongorra remains undefeated, raising his record to 7-0 with 4 KOs.
