WBA International Middleweight title: Caoimhin Agyarko (10-0) v Juan Carlos Rubio (18-1)
OBSTINATE Mexican Rubio taught Caoimhin Agyarko that he won’t be able to blow everyone away with a backs-to-the-wall rearguard action over 10 rounds but Belfast’s ‘Black Thunder’ was a mighty impressive points winner in the chief support on Saturday night.
Up against a southpaw for the first time in his pro career, Agyarko speared a right hand through Rubio’s high guard and took the centre of the ring made the running in a cagey opener. Long-levered Rubio was awkward and negative and Agyarko had wait for an opening which didn’t materialise in the second and when the Belfast man tried to force the pace in the third he was tagged with a left-hand counter from the Mexican.
He landed a few left hooks of his own to stay on top and his best shot came towards the end of the fourth when he trapped Rubio on the ropes and caught him with a crisp straight right.
Rubio was reluctant to engage and Agyarko, keen to impress and entertain the crowd, threw caution to the wind at times as he went after him with booming uppercuts.
Rival fans from opposite sides of the packed Arena were trading chanted insults before the end of the sixth and Agyarko looked frustrated as he slumped down on his stool. He continued to attack and midway through the eighth finally caught up with Rubio with a series of thumping left hooks. In fairness, his obstinate opponent took them well.
Agyarko greeted Rubio in the centre of the ring with a warm smile and then proceeded to try to take his head off throughout the round. Rubio was going nowhere and Agyarko goes to 11-0 after a good night’s work.
Two of the judges ruled it a shutout 100-90, the third somehow gave Rubio a couple of rounds.
Lightweight: Gary Cully bt Miguel Vazquez KO5
MC David Diamantae, fully recovered from his recent motorcycle crash, introduced the fight as “a special lightweight aaaaaaa-traaaaax-shonnn” in his inimitable style.
Vastly-experienced former IBF lightweight champion Vazquez had the better of it for most of the opener although Naas southpaw Cully did find the target with a straight left near the end of the round.
Cully landed a well-time right hand counter early in the second and out-worked the Mexican over the round which ended with Vazquez cut over the left eye. Two minutes the third he walked into a straight left and his glove touched the canvas (referee Steve Gray correctly ruled it a knockdown) as he just about stayed on his feet.
Vasquez recovered some ground in the fourth but Cully kept it long and used his reach to club him as he tried to close the distance and he finished it 41 seconds in the fifth with a sweetly-timed left hook. Vazquez went down and couldn’t beat Steve Gray’s count. Cully who looked ready for bigger and better things, moves to 14-0.
Heavyweight: Thomas Carty bt Michal Boloz (2-3-2)
CARTY handed out a battering to Boloz to move to 3-0 as a pro. The Dubliner was on top from the start and Boloz was unable to match his strength or workrate. With the swelling under his left eye worsening, the ringside doctor was bought in and the referee called off a one-sided beat-down at 2.27 in the fifth. Next up for Carty could be a shot at the Irish heavyweight title.
Vacant World Boxing Association Inter-Continental Female Lightweight title: Terri Harper bt Yamila Belen Abellaneda pts
TECHNICALLY excellent, Doncaster favourite Harper was sharper and slicker and earned a unanimous decision win over 10 competitive rounds to win the WBA lightweight title.
Mexican Abellaneda was game and brave but Harper remained composed and her left hand scored repeatedly throughout an entertaining tear-up. All three judges scored it 99-91 to Harper.
Super-lightweight: Sandy Ryan lost to Erica Anabella Farias SD
Light-heavyweight: Thomas Whittaker Hart bt Thomas KO (43 seconds)
Featherweight: Nico Leivars bt Jose Hernandez pts (debut win for Leivars)
