Jared Anderson didn’t face much of a challenge from Ryad Merhy. In a fight that barely raised anyone’s eyebrows, Anderson brushed off Merhy with a 10-round unanimous decision in the main event last Saturday at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. The judges didn’t sweat their decision, handing Anderson victory with scores of 100-90, 100-90, and 99-91.
Merhy appeared more interested in survival than victory, managing a meager 144 punches throughout the fight. Anderson, maintaining an impressive tempo, landed 128 of his 662 attempts, including 49 power punches.
Anderson shrugged off the easy night, saying, “Just another day at work. I wanted to thrill the crowd, but it’s tough when your opponent fights like that. It’s back to the drawing board to keep sharpening up.”
“I stayed alert for all 10 rounds. That’s the main thing to take away. Sure, I took a few hits I shouldn’t have, considering he was hardly fighting back. I’m ready to take on all the big names. If you’re ranked near me, let’s get it on. We’re ready to knock out the competition.”
Ajagba Narrowly Overcomes Vianello in Tense Fight
Efe Ajagba, the Nigerian heavyweight, pulled off a 10-round split decision against Italy’s Guido Vianello in a closely contested bout between two 2016 Olympians.
Vianello sent a shock through Ajagba with a hefty right in the second round, aiming for a quick finish. However, Ajagba regained his footing and started landing solid punches by the mid-fight, notably controlling the action with well-placed uppercuts and steady jabs.
Ajagba experimented with a southpaw stance in the later rounds, which initially puzzled Vianello, though he adjusted by the end. Still, Ajagba had impressed enough to edge out on the scorecards, with two judges scoring it 96-94 in his favor, against a 96-94 for Vianello from the third judge.
Conceição Dominates Guardado with Swift Victory
Robson Conceição showed no signs of rust against Jose Guardado, dominating the fight and securing a stoppage in the seventh round. Right from the start, Conceição unleashed a barrage of punches that left Guardado struggling to keep up.
By the seventh round, a vicious left hook to the body had Guardado on the floor, and he couldn’t recover as Conceição closed the show at 2:27 with a relentless flurry.
Ahlin Beats Ryba In Close Fight, Wins WBF Intercontinental
In an intense showdown for the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental Light Heavyweight title, fans were treated to a full ten rounds of strategic and gritty boxing this Saturday night, April 13, at the Quality Hotel in Malmo, Sweden.
Contrary to expectations of a quick knockout given the powerful punching reputations of both contenders, Swedish fighter Oscar Ahlin and Czech opponent Michal Ryba delivered a closely fought marathon that went the distance. Judges at ringside delivered mixed verdicts; Ake Johansson and Mika Moisio favored Ahlin with scores of 97-93 and 96-94 respectively, while Mikael Hook saw it 96-94 in Ryba’s favor, crowning Ahlin the winner by split decision.
This victory marks a milestone for 34-year-old Ahlin, enhancing his record to 26 wins, 2 losses, with 20 knockouts, spotlighting this fight as the pinnacle of his career thus far. Meanwhile, 30-year-old Ryba, who entered the ring on an eight-fight winning streak, demonstrated skill and resilience that belied his 20-11-1 (16 KOs) record, showing he remains a tough competitor despite the loss.
The evening’s premier fight was part of an event put together by Armand Boxing Promotions, under the leadership of former WBO world champion, Armand Kranjc, providing an electrifying atmosphere for boxing fans and a significant clash in the light heavyweight division.