during the OTX X Fight Night on Friday, August 30, 2024 at OTE Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Adam Hagy/Overtime)
The OTX junior middleweight tournament final is set.
Brandon Adams scored a takedown en route to a hard-fought unanimous decision win over Francisco Veron Friday on DAZN from Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The scores were 98-91, 96-93 and 95-94 for Adams, who improved to
Adams will face Andreas Katzourakis, who defeated Robert Terry by split decision earlier on the card.
The clash between Adams and Veron was competitive and even early. Veron—who represented Argentina in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics—relied on his youth and athleticism to outbox Adams.
It was a flawed strategy that Adams exploited and hit his offensive stride in the fourth.
Veron boxed from distance in the fifth. The 25-year-old landed a series of right hands, but Adams’ punches slowly took their toll. Towards the end of round six, Adams landed a left hook to the body that hurt Veron.
Adams landed a right cross behind a jab one minute into round seven. Veron faltered for a moment, but managed to get away from Adams or cling to avoid getting hurt. Later in the round, a barrage of punches sent Veron to sit on the ring ropes, prompting referee Ansel Stewart to administer an eight count.
Adams continued to punish Veron, boxing out and landing to the head and body over the next two rounds. Sensing that he wasn’t on the scorecards, Veron attacked and sent Adams against the ropes. However, Veron did little to get anything meaningful going during the round.
Adams (25-3, 16 KOs), 35, earned his semifinal berth with a third-round knockout of Ismael Villarreal on April 19. In the same performance, Veron (14-1-1, 10 KOs) defeated Angel Ruiz by decision in their quarterfinal bout.
Katzourakis and Terry picked up quarterfinal wins on a May 31 OTX show to set up Friday’s semifinal. Katzourakis (14-0, 10 KOs) won a majority decision over Kudratillo Abdukhakorov and settled for a split decision victory on Friday. The Houston native of Greece won by matching scores of 98-92 on two cards. They defeated Terry (12-1-1, 4 KOs), who had previously defeated Estevan Villalobos, by a 98-93 score to earn his spot here.
One judge scored the bout 98-93 for Terry, but the other two judges scored the bout 98-92 for Katzourakis, who improves to 14-0, 10 KOs.
Katzourakis was effective with his lead left hook, which Terry took well. Terry was the busier fighter between the two. There were instances where Terry landed more punches and combinations during exchanges.
However, it was the late surge by Katzourakis that sealed the victory. The 26-year-old has increased his punch output over the last three rounds. Katzourakis put Terry on the defensive, with vicious hooks and crosses to the head and body.
Adams and Katzourakis will now meet in the tournament finals at an OTX show later this year.
Katzourakis won the semifinal against Terry on May 31 by winning a short majority decision over former world welterweight contender Kudratillo Abdukakhorov. He is managed by David McWater.
Terry, who lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, falls to 12-1-1, 4 KOs. In the opening round tournament, Terry defeated Estevan Villalobos by decision, which also took place on May 31.
PIERCE SURVIVES GUT CHECK
Elijah Pierce overcame another tough challenge to continue his winning ways.
The Ring’s no. 9-rated junior featherweight knocked out Jose Sanmartin to win a unanimous decision. The scores were 97-93, 97-93 and 99-91 for Pierce in the DAZN main event.
Colombia’s Sanmartin did his best to make things uncomfortable for Pierce in the early rounds. Based in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Pierce adapted and also avoided the canvas, unlike his last outing at this venue as well. Pierce was dropped in the second round, but composed himself and knocked out Arthur Villanueva in the fourth round on March 29.
That’s not to say this fight was without drama. Villanueva overcame a low blow in the fourth to rock Pierce with a left hook later in that same round. Pierce quickly recovered and even took the lead from that point.
The win was the 11th in a row for Pierce (20-2, 16 KOs). In the opposite direction, Sanmartin (35-9-1, 21 KOs) has now lost four of his last six.
PROVISIONAL BOTTOM MAP
Junior lightweight Maliek Montgomery knocked out former world title challenger Oscar Escandon in the second round.
Montgomery, who lives in Macon, Georgia, improves to 19-0, 17 KOs.
The taller Montgomery rained punches on the game Escandon. Montgomery walked Escandon down to the ropes, with Escandon trying to counter with looks to the head.
About a minute into round two, Montgomery backed Escandon into a corner. Moments later, Montgomery unleashed an uppercut to the head that produced blood from the nose. A combination from Montgomery forced Escandon to take a knee, where he remained as Ansell Stewart counted him out at 1:39.
Escandon, originally from Ibague, Colombia and now living in San Jose, California, fell to 27-8, 18 KOs. The 40-year-old has now lost seven of his last 10 fights.
Super middleweight Donte Layne of Elmont, New York improved to 4-0, 4 KOs and knocked out Noah Kidd (8-11-2, 5 KOs) of Jefferson City, Missouri at 1:52 of the opening round. A left hand, followed by a right hook to the top of the head, dropped Kidd to the canvas, where referee Malik Waleed counted him out
In the opening match of the OTX 10/ Cold Summa card, junior lightweight Gustavo Rivera Rio overcame a knockdown in round one to defeat Brazil’s Carlos Dos Santos Rocha (3-6, 2 KOs) by unanimous decision. All three judges scored the fight 58-54 for Rivera, who improved to 10-1, 7 KOs.
Rivera, who is originally from Acapulco, Mexico and now lives and trains in Houston, Texas, dropped Rocha with a left hook to the body in the second round.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at (email protected)
