Undefeated welterweight ‘The Dog’ Tamir Smalls won a close fight over Seantorius with an eight-round unanimous decision on Friday night at the Red Owl Boxing Arena, Houston, Texas. The scores were 77-75, 77-75 and 78-74.
In the co-feature, light welterweight Dion Jones was suddenly stopped in the sixth round in the Shadows Fight tournament by Elijah Williams.
In the main event, welterweight Smalls (12-0, 8 KOs) defeated southpaw Martin (10-1, 6 KOs) over eight rounds.
In the first round, returning after a year, Martin faced an opponent with a winning record for the first time. There wasn’t much to choose between the two. In the second round, it was more of the same, with neither getting their way for the most part. In the third round, Martin had a small cut on his right cheek, which drew some blood – a good round for Smalls, who landed a storm on points in the round.
Smalls landed the better punches in the fourth round, mostly with counter rights to Martin’s chin. In the fifth round, Smalls had another good round, with rights to Martin’s chin.
In the sixth round, Smalls managed to overcome Martin enough to take the round. In the seventh round, Martin used an effective jab in the first minute. It went back and forth the rest of the way, with Martin holding a slight lead.
In the eighth and final round, Smalls had his way until the final minute, when Martin came back well with overhand rights to Smalls’ chin. In the end it could have gone either way and put it in the hands of the judges.
The scores were twice 77-75 and 78-74.
In the co-main event, light welterweight Dion Jones (7-1, 6 KOs) was stopped by welterweight Elijah Williams (10-1, 4 KOs) in the sixth round at 1:58 of the sixth round of a scheduled eight round bout.
In the first round, Williams mostly had his way. With a minute left with his back to the ropes, Jones landed a solid left on the chin, knocking Williams down for an 8 count from referee James Green.
In the second lap, Williams came back well enough to start chasing Jones again in a close lap. In the third round, Jones would occasionally turn southpaw. Midway Williams suffered a cut to his left eyebrow.
In the fourth round, Jones would back off and suddenly come forward, taking the game from Williams throughout. In the fifth round, Williams, who was mostly coming forward, caught an overhand right from Jones on the chin midway through.
In the sixth round, a right from Williams to the chin hurt Jones, who grabbed Williams around the waist as referee James Green stepped in with Williams landing a punch when the referee suddenly stopped to everyone’s surprise.
Super featherweight Travis Crawford (7-3, 2 KOs) lost a decision to Joshafat Ortiz (13-1, 6 KOs) over six rounds, with Crawford scoring the lone knockdown in the first round.
In the first round, Ortiz had his way until, halfway through, Crawford landed a left to the side of the head, followed by a right uppercut to the chin, and Ortiz went down for an 8 count from referee Joe Rodriguez. In the second and third rounds, Ortiz came back in some close rounds to do enough to take out the rounds and land Crawford.
In the fourth and fifth rounds, Ortiz landed his rights enough to take close rounds. In the sixth and final round, both fighters mixed it up inside in a close round that Ortiz had the better of for the most part.
Scores were 58-55, 58-55 and 57-56.
Light heavyweight Dash Simmons (5-0, 5 KOs) stopped southpaw ‘Fighting Prince Nosa Divine Nehikhare (5-3) at 1:10 of the fourth round of a scheduled six rounder.
In the first round taller at 6’04”, Simmons landed a straight left on the chin of Simmons against the more aggressive Nehikhare, who landed the best punch of the round in the last minute. In the second round, Simmons stood more and landed more punches to take the round.
In the third round’s final seconds, Simmons landed a left and a possible jab, putting Nehikhare on the canvas for an 8 count from referee Green, giving him plenty of time to get to the bell. In the fourth round, a right uppercut followed by a left hook from Simmons on the chin dropped Nehikhare for an 8 count. When he stood up, he did not react to the referee calling a halt.
Middleweight Steve Cunningham Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs) won a majority decision over Rudy Reveles (1-1) over four rounds.
In the first round, Reveles continued to come forward, trying to catch the volatile Cunningham, who was returning after 15 months of inactivity, who countered when he stopped to the body. In the final thirty seconds, Reveles landed a 3-punch combination. In the corner is Cunningham’s father, former cruiserweight champion Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham.
In the third round, the taller Cunningham wasn’t as busy in a close round that ended Reveles with some rights to the head and took the round. In the fourth and final round, it was another close one with the 31-year-old Reveles still coming forward and the 21-year-old Cunningham’s hands at his side countered as he stopped moving around the ring. In Cunningham’s corner were his father, Steve, and Shar’ron Baker, who had just been inducted into the PAB HOF.
The scores were 38-38, 39-37 and 39-37.
Super featherweight Gustavo Rivera Rio (11-1, 7 KOs) defeated Joseph Cruz (9-11-1, 5 KOs) over six rounds.
In the first three rounds, Rivera concentrated Rio to the body, mostly with uppercuts, and took all the rounds.
In the final minute of the fourth round, Rivera opened Rio up with overhand rights, then pulled back in the final seconds. In the fifth, Cruz landed his best punch to this point a left uppercut to the chin from Rivera Rio.
Cruz has won his last two fights. Rivera Rios continued to go to the body. The sixth and final round was competitive, with Rivera Rios pitching a knockout.
The scores were 60-54, 60-54 and 60-54.
Welterweight Santana Draper (1-0, 1 KO), #145 ½, of Fresno, CA, Keith Foreman, 0-2-1 (0), #146 ¼, of Harlingen, TX, 4 rounds.
