Brian Vera threw his name in the middleweight title mix by scoring an entertaining 10th round stoppage over former Jr. Middleweight champion Sergiy Dzinziruk to retain his NABO Middleweight title at the Turning Stone Resort Casino.
In round one, Vera dropped Dzinziruk two times. The first one was a flash knockdown when a left sent Dzinziruk down. That knockdown was more of a trip and the second one was from a hard right. Vera closed the round by battering Dzinziruk from more hard right hands. Vera continued to get through with right hands while Dzinziruk fought hard to stay in the fight behind a hard right jab.
In round eight, Vera was all over Dzinziruk before the former world champion showed a lot of mettle by fighting out of the corner. Dzinziruk came back to have a solid round nine.
In round ten, Vera landed a pair of right hands that set off an onslaught of punches that crumpled Dzinziruk to the canvas. Dzinziruk got to his feet but referee Benji Esteves stopped the bout at 1:50 of round 10.
Vera, who is ranked #3 by the WBO is now 22-6 with 13 knockouts. Dzinziruk is now 36-2-1
Jose Hernandez scored an eighth round stoppage over previously undefeated Tony Luis in a scheduled ten round Jr. Middleweight bout.
It was a terrific back and forth brawl with both guys landing hard shots at close range. Hernandez started to take control as he landed a plethora of head shots while Luis was very effective landing thudding body blows.
In round eight, Hernandez rocked Luis several times before sending him to the canvas. Luis showed tremendous courage as he continued to throw shots but that only left him exposed to eat more shots which had previously bloodied his mouth which prompted his father/trainer Jorge to throw in the towel at 2:43 of round eight.
Hernandez of Fort Worth, Texas is now 14-6-1 with 6 knockouts. Luis of Cornwall, Ontario loses for the first time and is 15-1.
Good looking Middleweight prospect Antoine Douglas scored a four round unanimous decision over Emanuel Medina.
Scores were 40-36 on all cards for Douglas of Burke, Virginia and is now 4-0. Medina of Quincy, Massachusetts is now 2-3-1.
In the opening bout, WBO #11 Light Heavyweight Jackson Junior Dos Santos scored an explosive first round stoppage over former U.S. Olympian Dante Craig.
Dos Santos dropped Craig with a hard combination midway through the first frame. Dos Santos followed that up by blasting a right hand to the chin of Craig that sent him flat on his back and the fight was waved off immediately at 2:43 of round one.
Dos Santos of San Paulo, Brazil is now 14-0 with 12 knockouts. Craig of Cincinnati, OH is now 20-15-1.
On the strength of 2nd round knockdown, Jose Saenz scored a four round split decision over Jermell Tyson in a Lightweight bout.
Scores were 38-37 on two cards for Saenz while Tyson took a third card 38-37.
Saenz of Kansas City is 4-0. The gritty Tyson is now 3-9-1.
Local favorite Ryon McKenzie took out Rayshawn Myers after two round of their Light Heavyweight bout.
McKenzie dropped Myers twice in round two. First from an uppercut followed by a right hand and then scored a hard knockdown from a hard left hook. Myers made it out of round two but his corner pulled the plug on the fight between rounds.
McKenzie of Syracuse is now 12-0 with eleven knockouts. Myers of Cleveland is now 4-16-1.
