At the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York, NY, Top Rank’s Bob Arum presented a gripping night of boxing on ESPN+ and ESPN, featuring a mix of closely contested battles and dominant performances.
The main event saw 2012 Olympian and WBC World Super Featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster, successfully defend his title by split decision against Abraham Nova, in a bout that included the evening's only knockdown amidst 12 rounds of challenging combat.
The fight between Foster and Nova started with Nova taking the initiative, but it was Foster who managed to score the crucial knockdown, making a significant difference in a match marked by moments of scrappy action. Despite the rough and tumble nature of the bout, Foster’s ability to secure a knockdown and land critical shots led to a split decision victory with scores of 115-112, 114-113 Nova, and 116-111, showing the razor-thin margins that defined the contest.
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In the co-main event, Bryan Chevalier (20-2-1, 16 KOs) faced a tough challenge against Andres Cortes (21-0, 12 KOs). Cortes displayed his power and skill, leading Chevalier's corner to stop the fight at 2:17 of the fourth round, earning Cortes a victory by stoppage in a scheduled ten-round super featherweight clash. The match was a testament to Cortes's rising status in the division, as he overpowered Chevalier with a series of effective punches.
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The undercard featured several notable performances, including a knockout victory by Bruce "Shu Shu” Carrington (11-0, 7 KOs) over Bernard “La Maquina” Torres (18-2, 8 KOs) in a fight for the vacant NABF, WBA, and WBO Inter-Continental featherweight titles. Carrington's stunning fourth-round knockout highlighted his potential as a future star in the featherweight division. Additionally, Delante “Tiger” Johnson (12-0, 6 KOs) made quick work of Paulo Galdino (13-8-2, 9 KOs), stopping him in the first round and demonstrating Johnson's prowess in the welterweight class.
Watch the official Johnson vs. Galdino highlights: Watch
The event was rounded out by a series of bouts showcasing talent across various weight classes, including a competitive middleweight draw between Sasha “The Titan” Tudor and Josias Gonzalez, and victories for Arnold “AG” Gonzalez and Ofacio “The Sniper” Falcon, among others.
Image Credit: Top Rank