Morrell batters Gavronski, Montiel KOs Kirkland
In a non-title bout, WBA interim super middleweight champion David Morrell Jr. (4-0, 3 KOs) scored a brutal third round TKO over WBA #11 Mike Gavronski (26-4-1, 16 KOs) on Saturday night at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. 50:1 favorite Morrell teed off on Gravonski immediately and dropped him at the end of round one. After more punishment in rounds two and three, referee Jack Reiss waved it off at 2:45 of round three. The bout was switched from a world title defense to a 170lb limit non-title ten-rounder at the last minute.
Hard-punching middleweight Juan Macias “Juanito” Montiel (22-4-2, 22 KOs) destroyed fan favorite James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland (34-3, 30 KOs) in the first round. Kirkland started aggressively, but walked into a punch and was dropped. Montiel then floored the 36-year-old Kirkland two more times before the bout was waved off at 1:56. Impressive win for Montiel, who was a slight -130 favorite. He is the nephew of former world champion Fernando Montiel.
In a swing bout, unheralded super bantamweight Travon Lawson (4-0, 3 KOs) upset highly regarded Angel Barrientes (4-1, 3 KOs). Lawson dropped Barrientes in round four with a barrage of punches. Barrientes beat the count, but looked wobbly and the bout was waved off. Time was :55.
Unbeaten 19-year-old super lightweight Jesus Ramos (14-0, 13 KOs) impressively battered Naim Nelson (14-5, 1 KO) for four rounds. The big-punching Ramos dropped Nelson in rounds three and four. The bout was halted by Nelson’s corner after round four.
6’4 super middleweight Alantez Fox (27-2-1, 12 KOs) outboxed Marcos “Madman” Hernandez (14-4-1, 3 KOs) over ten tactical rounds. Scores were 96-94, 97-93, 98-92.
Undefeated super bantamweight prospect Chavez Barrientes (5-0, 4 KOs) scored a third round TKO over Paul Carroll (4-2, 4 KOs). Barrientes dropped Carroll in round three and Carroll’s corner pulled him out after the round.
In a clash of unbeaten welterweights, Radzhab Butaev (13-0, 10 KOs) knocked out Terry Chatwood (9-1-1, 5 KOs) in round three. A left to the body put Chatwood down and out. Time was 1:01. Butaev fought for the WBA welter title last year, dropping a unanimous decision to Alexander Besputin. Besputin then failed his drug test so the result was changed to a no-decision and Butaev got his 0 back.
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