WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KOs) made a statement to fellow heavyweights Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua Saturday night, delivering the 40th knockout of his career in devastating fashion when he sent mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale (20-2, 18 KOs) flat on his back with a trademark right hand in front of a raucous crowd at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.
“Everything just came out of me tonight,” said Wilder. “I know it’s been a big buildup, there’s been a lot of animosity and a lot of words that were said and it just came out of me tonight. That’s what makes boxing so great."
Wilder appeared to stun Breazeale earlier in the round, but the challenger was able to withstand Wilder’s first onslaught by returning fire with a wild counter shot or two. Shortly thereafter, Wilder connected flush on the chin with a massive right hand, crumpling Breazeale to the canvas. Breazeale failed to beat referee Harvey Dock’s 10-count.
"This was a situation where he landed the big right hand before I did,” said Breazeale.
Breazeale, whose only two defeats have now come against both Wilder and Joshua, was disappointed he wasn’t allowed to continue the fight.
“I think the ref stopped it a little early because I could hear him saying seven and eight, but that's boxing,” said Breazeale. “He did his job and kept us safe for our next fight.
After the fight, Wilder addressed the question on everyone's mind. Specifically, when will he fight Joshua or Fury?
“I understand what Fury did,” said Wilder. “When you get dropped on the canvas like that I understand you have to get yourself back together. But the rematch will happen, like all these other fights will happen. The great thing is all these fights rare in discussion. The big fights will happen. I just want you to have patience.”
The Undercard
WBC Featherweight World Champion Gary Russell Jr. (30-1, 18 KOs) put on yet another impressive display, successfully defending his belt for the fourth time against a valiant Kiko Martinez (39-9-2, 28 KOs). Due to a gash that opened up over Martinez’s left eye, referee Ricky Gonzalez stopped the fight in the fifth round upon the advice of the ringside physician, resulting in a technical knockout.
"It was a good stoppage for a very tough fight,” said the former world champion Martinez. “I'm definitely a visual fighter so the cut made it tough. Gary was in great physical condition and it was a very hard fight.
Russell, who was fighting for the first time in a year, showed no signs of ring rust and displayed his full skillset including his trademark lightning quick hands. The 30-year-old Capitol Heights, Md. native was dominant from the opening bell and landed on a remarkable 40% of his power punches.
In an all-action fight with little downtime, Martinez did more than enough to play his part. The Spaniard constantly came forward but Russell continued to target the cut that opened up over his eye after a right hook in the second round. The ringside official called for the stoppage of the fight at 2:52 of round number five.
“I did pretty good,” said the 2008 U.S. Olympian Russell. “We stayed behind the jab and he couldn’t get past it. We knew that intellect over athleticism would get it done.
Russell, who has not fought a "name" opponent for some time, made it known he's ready to step up his level of competition for his next fight.
“We want [WBA Featherweight Champion] Leo Santa Cruz,” Russell said, while wearing a shirt that read ‘Leo Next.’ “We want to make this fight happen. The fire is all the way hot on this side of the field. You will get burned. I would love for that fight to happen this year. Let’s make it happen.”
In the telecast opener, undefeated prospect Juan Heraldez (16-0-1, 10 KOs) and former world champion Argenis Mendez (25-5-2, 12 KOs) fought to a highly competitive majority draw. Two judges scored the fight 95-95, while a third had Mendez winning 97-93.
Fighting in front of his mentor Floyd Mayweather, Las Vegas’ Heraldez controlled many of the early rounds by setting the pace and establishing his jab. Heraldez outlanded Mendez 126-108 in total punches, and 70-30 in jabs throughout the 10 rounds.
Falling behind early, Mendez, a seasoned veteran and 2004 Dominican Republic Olympian, used his experience to get back into the fight. The tempo picked up in the fifth round, as both fighters landed several heavy blows, but the momentum shifted towards Mendez. The 32-year-old Mendez, who has fought seven current or former champions, closed out the fight exceptionally strong, winning the final round on all three judges’ scorecards. Without doing so, Mendez would have lost the fight.
“I thought I won the fight,” said a disappointed Mendez. “He didn't do anything to me. How did he win the fight? If I have to prove I beat him in a rematch, I'll be ready. I won't leave it up to the judges.
"My speed and my power made it difficult for him. I thought my counterpunching was really good. He tired toward the later rounds and that let me get a little closer to him to get my offense going.”
Similarly, Heraldez thought he did enough to win the fight, which he viewed as a potential coming out party.
"I thought I won a close decision,” Heraldez said. “I didn't think it was a draw. He didn't do anything that hurt me at any point.
News and Notes
It was announced in the Showtime telecast that undefeated WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Gervonta Davis will defend his title against mandatory challenger Ricardo Nuñez on Saturday, July 27 live on Showtime in Baltimore.
The bout will be a championship homecoming for the 24-year-old star, who will fight for the first time as a world champion in front of his hometown fans. The youngest U.S.-born world titlist in boxing has knocked out 20 of his 21 professional opponents, including KOs in all five of his world championship fights.
Davis is coming off a first-round knockout of former world champion Hugo Ruiz in February.
By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com
