Yes, there were other boxing matches this weekend
Other boxing matches of note from the week ending August 27, 2017
Roberto Meza loses for the first time
In a battle of unbeaten junior lightweights, it was Chicago’s Giovanni Cabrera (9-0, 2 KOs) keeping his undefeated record intact with a unanimous decision victory over one of our local favorites Roberto “Ram” Meza (8-1, 4 KOs) from right here in Temecula, Calif.
PHOTO CREDIT: CARLOS BAEZA / THOMPSON BOXING PROMOTIONS
Throughout their six-round bout, Cabrera showed solid boxing skills behind what you’d have to call an awkward style. The turning point came in the final round when Cabrera, ahead on the scorecards by a single point, scored a knockdown in what everyone felt was an extremely close fight. Up until that knockdown, the judges’ totals added up to 48-47 favoring Cabrera. The added 10-8 round for Cabrera helped him cement the close victory with the final scores of 58-55 on all three scorecards.
PHOTO CREDIT: CARLOS BAEZA / THOMPSON BOXING PROMOTIONS
In the Ken Thompson Boxing Promotions Main Event, they had undefeated heavyweight LaRon Mitchell (16-0, 14 KOs) delivering yet another dominating performance. The southpaw from San Francisco dropped challenger Michael Bissett (14-10, 8 KOs) four times in round two while making a statement early in his first Jr. NABF title defense. Mitchell knocked the smaller Bissett out at the 1:15 mark of the third round after using several punishing combinations that sent the Florida native to his knees.
PHOTO CREDIT: CARLOS BAEZA / THOMPSON BOXING PROMOTIONS
In the second championship defense of the night, they had featherweight Erick Ituarte (18-1-1, 2 KOs) successfully defending his Jr. NABF title by winning a split decision over Alberto Torres (10-1-2, 4 KOs). Ituarte controlled the fight with an aggressive jab and opportunistic body punching, while Torres was more content to counter punch. Scores in this one: 78-74, 78-74 for Ituarte and oddly enough one judge had Torres winning (77-75).
Local heavyweight Matt McKinney gets the call he’s been waiting for
The heavyweight bout where 36-year-old Matt McKinney of Tijuana, B. C., Mexico by way of Oceanside, Calif. (5-2-2, 2 KOs) is scheduled to travel east to the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island to face 29-year-old Joey Cusumano of Richmond, Virginia (12-1-0, 10 KOs) ranked #56 in the U. S., has now been confirmed. Prior to this date, it had been a 50-50 arrangement until Mr. Cusamano had first defeated Robert Dunton, a journeyman boxer with an inglorious record of 11-17-1 and the victim of 16 knockouts. With both McKinney and Cusumano having winning records and standing the same 6’4″ tall and packing quite a wallop, their upcoming fight should be a much different scenario, a much more-anticipated bout that viewers will want to see.
Still, you get that feeling that something’s missing. What’s missing? Of course, it’s all the hype. Where are Conor McGregor and Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. when you need them? They would surely conjure up something, some ridiculous insults, an endless parade of profanities, name-calling, a shove here and there.
Now here’s what we have heard thus far: McKinney: “I heard your mother wears galoshes!” Cusumano: “And your’s wears a hair net!” “Oh, yeah?” “Oh, yeah!” All kidding aside, I heard these two gentlemen will be putting on quite a performance.
These are two powerful but quiet spoken gentlemen and when they collide on September 16th, they’ll let their hands do all the talking.
Addendum: In their six-round heavyweight bout on Saturday, September 16, 2017, the 29-year-old Joey Cusamano from Richmond, Virginia (13-1, 11 KOs, 238 lbs.) scored a TKO victory over the 36-year-old Matt McKinney (5-3-2, 2 KOs, 260 lbs.) at the 2:31 mark of the second round.
On Tuesday morning came word Mixed Martial Artists 30-year-old, 5’7″ tall Ronda Rousey (UFC 12-2, 135 lbs. bantamweight) from Riverside, Calif. who fights out of Venice, Calif. and 35-year-old, 6’7″ tall heavyweight Travis Browne (UFC 18-7-1, 255 lbs.) from Honolulu, Hawaii, who fights out of San Diego, tied the knot on Saturday in Hawaii and in addition, Mr. Browne sent along this photo of the happy couple on their wedding day. It was sent by way of Instagram.
Mr. Browne’s take on their beautiful day: “What an amazing day!! She is so perfect in every way. She makes me so happy. She is my other half!” Rousey hasn’t officially retired from the UFC, but she’s certainly off the radar ever since she went Hollywood. Her loss to Amanda Nunes by way of a first-round TKO in her first bout in more than a year at UFC 206, may have also been a push in that direction.
It was learned later that UFC President Dana White had been invited to the ceremony but was unable to attend because it conflicted with something he had going on in Las Vegas. Oh, I guess that would be that Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor fiasco where someone eventually ran out of gas.
