Raphael Akpejiori, Armani Almestica score early KOs in Orlando

ORLANDO — Florida-based prospects Raphael Akpejiori and Armani Almestica made brief work of their opponents Friday evening, whereas a few out-of-town fighters suffered their first defeats.

Akpejiori (11-0, 11 knockouts), a 6’8″ heavyweight from Miami by means of Nigeria, was outweighed considerably by his opponent Brandon Spencer (9-19-3, 6 KOs), 249 kilos to 338 kilos, nevertheless it was clear early on that his physique was extra prepared for competitors.

Akpejiori backed Spencer to the ropes repeatedly, touching him to his ample physique and touchdown with combos as Spencer coated up and swung away with the occasional Hail Mary counter. Spencer was out of breath after the primary spherical, and collapsed nearly out of exhaustion early into the second. The struggle was stopped shortly after when Spencer turned his again to his opponent.

Heavyweight Raphael Akpejiori (11-0, 11 KOs) of Miami remained undefeated with a second spherical TKO of Brandon Spencer (9-19-3, 6KOs) in Miami. Spencer got here in at 338 kilos pic.twitter.com/MwIQhoCpib

— Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) June 12, 2021

Promoter Christy Martin, a 2020 Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame inductee, was happy with the present, which befell on the Avanti Palms Resort. The present was her fifth for the reason that pandemic started final yr. Martin has one other present on the similar venue on September 18, that can be headlined by Christian Camacho, the son of the late Hector Camacho Sr., and one other on July 28 in Myrtle Seashore, S.C.

“My factor was, if I may survive throughout this time, I can do that. That’s what I feel I’m proving to myself, and hopefully to everybody else,” stated Martin.

“It’s somewhat bit like my boxing profession: I’m right here to remain.”

Almestica, a 21-time beginner champion from Orlando, wasted no time eliminating Weusi Johnson (3-19-1), punishing the Delaware fighter till he turned his again on the 59-second mark of spherical considered one of their four-round light-weight bout.

The southpaw Almestica (3-0, 3 KOs) turned skilled final July, and has but to see the second spherical in his profession.

Armani Almestica (3-0, 3 KOs) blows away Weusi Johnson (3-19-1) in 59 seconds in his hometown of Orlando. The light-weight Almestica, 19, is a member of the Puerto Rican nationwide group. pic.twitter.com/ogGNLHzQIC

— Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) June 12, 2021

Almestica was a rising star within the U.S. beginner scene however has since taken to representing the Puerto Rico nationwide group with the purpose of competing on the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo.

“Slick” Nick Sullivan (3-0, 1 KO) ended an almost two-year layoff with a unanimous determination win over a tricky Venezuelan named Gabriel Chacon (0-3). Two judges had it scored a shutout at 40-36, whereas a 3rd discovered a spherical to offer to Chacon, scoring it 39-37 for Sullivan.

Sullivan, a 2018 Nationwide Golden Gloves runner-up from Norfolk, Va., got here out swinging arduous with overhand rights and left hooks to the physique earlier than settling right into a boxing rhythm.

Sullivan didn’t reduce himself any slack, even after scoring a shutout on two playing cards.

“After two years I felt type of sluggish. I usually struggle method higher than that. I’m glad I obtained the ring rust off and I’ll be again in motion subsequent month,” stated Sullivan, who had 120 beginner fights.

Sullivan, who was lately launched from his contract with Golden Boy Promotions, says he can be within the ring on July 3 in Dubai, July 24 in Philadelphia and August 28 in Myrtle Seashore, S.C.

The evening kicked off with an upset as Matt Gaver (2-5, 1 KO) dropped the beforehand unbeaten Daiyaan Butt (7-1, 3 KOs) 4 occasions en path to a sixth spherical knockout. 

Full highlights: Matt Gaver (2-5, 1 KO) scores an upset knockout of Daiyaan Butt (7-1, 3KOs), dropping him 4 occasions en path to a sixth spherical stoppage in Orlando pic.twitter.com/HtdAeyBb3m

— Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) June 11, 2021

Gaver of Santa Maria, Calif. scored two knockdowns in spherical two, adopted by one other within the fourth and yet one more within the sixth to attain the stoppage of the Philadelphia prospect on the 2:13 mark. 

“The distinction between this fights and the earlier fights is, I couldn’t depart it within the arms of the judges,” stated Gaver, who’s coming off a 4 spherical draw with the unbeaten Nicky Vitone in April.

“I’ve been getting robbed in my earlier fights preventing throughout the nation in folks’s hometowns.”

Native favourite Derrick Jackson (3-0, 1 KO) saved his undefeated report intact with a 40-36 shutout on all three scorecards in opposition to the tall and awkward Bryant Costello (1-3). “Diesel Energy” Jackson, a Haitian-American, was cornered by former light-weight champion Nate Campbell.

In what could be described because the Barrera-Morales of the Florida membership circuit, Benigno Aguilar (5-0, 3 KOs), a Mexican-American from Crescent Metropolis, Florida, went to warfare with professional debut Brandon Sandoval, a Mexico native. 

The unanimous determination for Aguilar – 40-36 on one card and 39-37 on the opposite two – didn’t mirror the competitiveness of the struggle, which turned heated on the weigh-in after Sandoval missed weight by over 5 kilos. Aguilar took the struggle nonetheless, however his feelings had been clear within the struggle.

“We knew it was gonna be a warfare as a result of we’re Mexicans,” stated Aguilar, who claims Sandoval was 11 or 12 kilos heavier on struggle evening.

Aguilar is considered one of two Martin-promoted fighters in motion on the cardboard.

The opposite, Victorino Gonzalez (5-1, 2 KOs), was not as lucky. The 28-year-old featherweight from South Carolina misplaced a hard-fought cut up determination to Marcello Williams (1-9) of Brazil. Two judges scored the struggle for Williams – 59-55 and 58-56 – whereas a 3rd had it 58-56 for Gonzalez.