Weekend Boxing Results, Apr. 29

Estrada Beats Rungvisai after Rungvisai’s Disastrous Strategy Fails

What was Sor Rungvisai thinking? That’s the only thing most boxing fans could wonder after he dropped his WBC super flyweight title in a unanimous 116-112, 115-113, 115-113 decision loss to Juan Fransisco Estrada in a bizarre but entertaining bout. While he hadn’t been fighting elite competition in Thailand and is now 32 years old, this loss wasn’t about Rungvisai’s slipping or aging, it was all about his decision to fight out of the orthodox stance.

Nobody in boxing media could figure out why the usually southpaw fighter fought out of the orthodox stance for so many of the fight’s early rounds, long after it had become clear that the strategy wasn’t working. People talked about Marvin Hagler bailing on the same strategy against Sugar Ray Leonard, others wondered about a possible hand injury, but after the fight Rungvisai explained “I know that Estrada prepared to fight a southpaw, and I can fight in both stances. That’s why I fought right-handed.”

While Rungvisai would eventually turn to southpaw, and in large part as a result of this move, the fight would become exciting like the first matchup, Rungvisai’s terrible strategy left fans and boxing media alike wondering what could have been. After the fight, Rungvisai expressed a desire for an immediate rematch. With the rivalry now 1-1 and both fighters seemingly willing, maybe we’ll get to find out.

Daniel Roman Survives Eighth-Round Scare to Beat T.J. Doheny

T.J. Doheny was dropped in the second and eleventh rounds of his unification bout, en route to a majority 113-113, 116-110, 116-110, decision loss to Daniel Roman. But while he was beaten by a better fighter, he had his chances. In the seventh round, Doheny had Roman hurt but was unable to capitalize on the moment and get either a knockdown -- Roman hit the canvas but it was ruled a slip -- or a stoppage. Some critics pointed out that he did not come out firing in the eighth either, when Roman may have been feeling the lingering effects of the seventh round.

By the start of the ninth round it was clear Roman had fully recovered and taken the momentum in the fight. He was on the verge of closing the show a few times over the last few rounds, but while that didn’t happen, he did take the decision and Doheny’s title.

After the fight, photos emerged that showed just how much of a battle it was and how much credit Doheny deserves for making it to the final bell. Next for Roman is likely a three belt, 122 pound unification fight with undefeated WBC champion Rey Vargas, who first must get past a mandatory challenger.

Robert Easter and Barthelemy Fight to a Draw in Atrocious Bout

En route to a 114-114, 115-113 for Easter Jr., 115-113 for Barthelemy split draw, many words were used to describe the fight. While the more generous among us used terms like “chess match” or “not aesthetically pleasing,” I feel it was boxing writer Adam Abrowitz who summed up the night best, tweeting “I’m not sure what I'm watching. I know that both Easter and Barthelemy are both in a boxing ring. But what is this? A dance? A ritual? A workout? A new sport with rules that are unclear to me?”

Bad fights are, for lack of a better term, bad. But as long as there’s a winner, we can accept the result, move on and never make the matchup again. Because of this, a draw was the unsatisfying result to an unsatisfying bout. Where both fighters go from here is unclear, but one notable person had an idea. Errol Spence Jr. tweeted to Easter, “time for @RobertEaster_Jr move up 135 not it brotha.”

Postol Wins Decision over Mimoune

Viktor Postol has only lost to Terence Crawford and Josh Taylor. So, while the former WBC 140-pound champion has largely been forgotten by boxing fans, there’s no question he still has the skills to back up his height. He proved that once again this weekend, beating Mohamed Mimoune via a unanimous 98-92, 97-93, 99-91 decision. After the fight, Postol called out WBC champion Jose Ramirez.

Regis Prograis Rolls Past Relikh for WBA Belt and Spot in WBSS 140-Pound Final

Regis “Rougarou” Prograis dropped Kiryl Relikh in the first round, then pummeled him for five more before Relikh’s corner stopped the beating by throwing in the towel. There’s not much to say about this one-sided affair except that Regis Prograis, and the body work he showcased in this fight, are tremendous.

With the win, Prograis took Relikh’s WBA title, which made him New Orleans’ first world champion since light heavyweight champion Willie Pastrano in 1965, and secured a spot in the WBSS 140 pound final. He will fight the winner of Ivan Baranchyk and Josh Taylor, who fight on May 18. Already the No. 1 seed, after this performance Prograis will likely be the favorite no matter who wins that matchup.

Nonito Donaire KOs Late Replacement Opponent

There was a time when Nonito Donaire was a top pound-for-pound puncher whose power was feared by every opponent that stepped into the ring with him. While those days are gone, against late replacement opponent Stephon Young we saw a Filipino flash of the old Donaire when the 36-year-old knocked Young out with a huge left hook on the chin.

With the win Donaire booked a spot in the WBSS bantamweight final, where he will face the winner of the May 18 bout between Emanuel Rodriguez and Naoya “The Monster” Inoue. Inoue will be the favorite in that fight, which would set up a huge match in the final. Because of Donaire’s age and Inoue’s reputation, Inoue would be the overwhelming favorite. But, watching the old KO master face the new breed in an all-Asian matchup would be a whole lot of fun.

Dubois Earns Fourth-Round KO to Move to 11-0 With 10 KOs

In a bout that saw a wild Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Robots-inspired third round, Daniel Dubois knocked out Richard Lartey in the fourth round to move to 11-0 with 10 knockouts. All credit to Richard Lartey; the 6-foot-5 fighter from Ghana was supposed to lose this bout, but clearly went out there and tried for the win. That’s all we can ask of overmatched opponents.

Jessie Vargas Stops Humberto Soto in Six Rounds

Going into his fight with Brandon Rios, Humberto Soto was talking about calling it a career soon. After getting stopped by Jessie Vargas in the sixth round of their fight this weekend, it’s time for the 81-fight veteran from Mexico to call it a career.

Vargas was too big, too strong, too young and too good for Soto, whose win over Rios was a controversial one. For Vargas, this was a nice win. He is now 2-0-2 since a 2016 loss to Manny Pacquiao, and should be in line for a big name opponent.