Verona, N.Y. – WBO light heavyweight world champion Joe Smith Jr (28-3, 22 KOs) scored a ninth round KO over late sub Steve Geffrard (18-3, 12 KOs) on Saturday night at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.
Smith had trouble getting through Geffrard’s high guard early on, but he was also far busier. Smith started connecting with his right hand in round three and began teeing off the defensive-minded Geffrard in round four. Smith had Geffrard hurt in round five. Geffrard seemingly went into survival mode after that. Smith battered Geffrard to the canvas in round nine to end it. Time was :37.
Abraham Nova shines in featherweight co-feature
Unbeaten WBO #3, IBF #11 featherweight contender Abraham Nova (21-0, 15 KOs) scored an eighth round TKO over late sub William “El Gago” Encarnacion (19-2, 15 KOs) on Saturday night in the Smith-Geffrard co-feature at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. Nova methodically broke down the very game Encarnacion and Encarnacion’s corner finally stopped the fight. Time was :55.
Junior Welterweight
Omar Rosario (6-0, 2 KO’s) from Caguas, P.R. scores a six round unanimous decision victory over Raekwon Butler (4-2, 2 KO’s) from Brooklyn, N.Y.
Rosario went to work on Butler body right away landing big shots to Butler’s head.
Butler made a strong effort in round two battling Rosario back with hard counters.
Judges official scores 58-55, 59-54 (2x).
Welterweight Jahi Tucker (6-0, 4 KO’s) from Deer Park, N.Y. finishes off Akeem Black (6-5, 2 KO’s) from Chicago, ILL. by knockout.
Tucker came out strong in the opening round tagging Black with big shots catching him with a hard upper cut dropping Black in the opening stanza.
Tucker went in for the kill jumping right on Black swarming Black with hard shots forcing referee to jump in and wave off the contest at the official time 1:18 seconds of round two by TKO victory.
Middleweight Troy Isley (4-0, 2 KO’s) from Alexanderia, VA. scores a unanimous decision win over Harry Keenan Cruz-Cubano (6-3, 2 KO’s) from Jacksonville, Florida.
Cruz came out swinging in the opening round, Isley countered with hard shots stunning Cruz in the inside. Cruz had good showing in round three counter punching against Isley who was quick in his hands and feet. In five Isley landing hard upper cuts on Cruz who is showing a huge heart in there.
Judges official scores 59-53, 59-54 (2x).
In the opening bout of the event Cruiserweight
Lyubomyr Pinchuk (14-2-1, 8 KO’s) from Lviv, Ukraine
scores an eight round unanimous decision victory over a tough customer Jose Mario Flores (8-3-2, 4 KO’s) from Washington, D.C.
Pinchuk demonstrating good boxing skills keeping the very tough Flores in the out side boxing him throughout the contest, Flores had no quit in him battling Pinchuk. Judges official scores 80-72, 79-73 (2x).
Joe Smith Jr. vs. Steve Geffrard
Turning Stone Resort Casino (Verona, N.Y.)
Top Rank in association with Star Boxing.
Photo credits: Mikey Williams (Top Rank via Getty Images) & Ed Diller
Report: Damon Gonzalez
LATINBOXSPORTS.COM 