Barthelemy, Ramirez Ends in a Split Draw in Las Vegas Battle

Photo courtesy of Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions

BOXING SCENE - By Ryan Burton

Cannery Hotel & Casino, North Las Vegas, Nevada - In a very entertaining back and forth fight, decorated amateur Leduan Barthelemy (13-0-1) battled Eduardo Ramirez (20-0-3) to a questionable split draw in their featherweight battle. The height and reach advantage that Barthelemy enjoyed was evident from the opening bell. He also had a big speed advantage was difficult for Ramirez to adjust to. Ramirez turned it on with a big fourth as he landed several hard head shots.

The give and take action continued through the fifth and sixth as Barthelemy, the younger brother of former champion Rances Barthelemy, landed softer blows while Ramirez landed heavy artillery. Barthelemy tried to turn the tide in the seventh and began to sit on his shots but Ramirez also had moments. Barthelemy had better ninth and tenth rounds to make the fight closer.

97-93 Barthelemy, 96-94 Ramirez and 95-95 were the final scores.

"I wanted to pressure him all the way through and take away his reach advantage," said Ramirez. "I felt good the whole fight and he never hurt me at any point. I believed in my skills and I performed well. I thought that I won the fight, it was a close fight but I believe that I did what I had to do to win. I would fight him again and beat him even worse."

"It was a very tough, physical fight for both of us," said Barthelemy. "I didn't feel 100 percent but I was able to work through it and I never felt hurt during the fight. He landed on me but I was able to keep my composure. I would definitely fight him again. I'll be ready for another great battle and I'll get the clear victory this time."

In a battle of super featherweight prospects, Alejandro Salinas (9-1) outworked a gritty Duarn Vue (12-1) in a barn burner. The entire fight was fought from close range and Vue endured hellacious shots all night long. Salinas landed at will but wasn't able to finish off his opponent. The final tallies were 80-72, 79-73 and a too close 77-75.

In the opening bout of the telecast, Las Vegas resident by way of Cuba Ivan Jiménez (8-1-1) was defeated by Bryan Figueroa (13-0) of México in their lightweight bout via unanimous decision. After a feeling out process, the action heated up in the third when Figueroa landed several hard shots. He was also warned for low blows for the third time.

Jiménez came out with a sense of urgency in the fourth and landed a hard shot out of the gate to try to slow down Figueroa's momentum but was largely unsuccessful. Jiménez came out with a sense of urgency to close the show strong in the sixth and final round but it was too little too late. The final scores were 58-56 on all three scorecards.

Rolando Romero Talks Upcoming Fight, Sparring Teofimo Lopez

Boxing Scene - By Ryan Burton

On Saturday, Mayweather Promotions’ prospect Rolando Romero (3-0 3 KOs) will return to the ring for his first fight of 2018.

Across the ring from him will be Alex Silva (3-5). He may not have the prettiest record but Silva’s unorthodox stance should be good for the development of Romero.

"I just know that he is a come forward southpaw. That is about all I know about him. My first two opponents I didn't have no footage on them so I didn't study them. On my last opponent I saw a video but I don't spend much time on that. I adapt and learn very quick in the ring," Romero told BoxingScene.com.

The fight takes place at Sam’s Town Gambling Hall in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather Promotions has consistently put on developmental shows for their up and coming fighters at this venue.

Romero, who’s father was a three-time national champion in Cuba, is hoping to have a busy 2018.  He hopes to be crowned a world champion by the end of next year.

"I want to get as many (fights) as I can get. I want to be 12 or 13-0 by the end of the year so I can get close to fight for a title. Maybe by the end of 2019 I can fight for a title," he explained.

There is no shortage of quality sparring in Las Vegas and Romero has gotten in great work with his friend Teofimo Lopez who is also a lightweight prospect. Lopez was a 2016 Honduran Olympian and Romero said that the intensity level rises every time they get in the ring together.

"Teofimo is my boy. He is good. Honestly I think he was the prospect of the year (last year). We bring out the best in each other in sparring. We are both very competitive people and we want to punish each other," said Romero who finished this interview with a piece of advice for his opponent. "Try not to get knocked the fuck out."

Saturday’s Mayweather Promotions card will be headlined by Sharif Bogere who will face Arturo Santos Reyes in a bout scheduled for 10 rounds.

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Tugstsogt Nyambayar Gets Off The Floor, Decisions Dela Torre

Boxing Scene - By Ryan Burton

Cosmopolitan Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas - In a battle of undefeated featherweight prospects, Olympic silver medal winner Tugstsogt Nyambayar (9-0, 8 KOs) went the distance for the first time in his career, and survived a knockdown, in winning an eight round unanimous decision over tough as nails Harmonito Dela Torre (19-1, 12 KOs). The scores were 79-73, 78-73, 78-73.

The contest started in a close and tactical manner, with both having some success. Nyambayar was landing the more solid punches and seemed to have the edge with the more accurate punches.

Dela Torre applied the pressure in the second and was getting caught by hard shots, but near the end of the round he landed a cracking hook that dropped Nyambayar down hard. King Tug made it up to his feet as the bell sounded to close the round out.

Dela Torre came out swinging in the third and looking to do more damage.  Nyambayar was looking to dig to the body. During an exchange it was Nyambayar who shook up Dela Torre with a hard combination.

The hard punches were raining down from both in the fourth. Nyambayar was landing the flashier punches. In the fifth, a cut opened up above Dela Torre's right eye. Nyambayar continued to land the better punches. They traded hard right hands near the end of the round.

Nyambayar was landing solid shots to the head and body at the start of the sixth and continued to outland Dela Torre for most of the round.

A big shot connected to Dela Torre's chin in the seventh and really shook him up. Dela Torre's mouthpiece went flying and that created a break to help him recover.

Nyambayar once again rocked Dela Torre and had him in serious trouble in the eight and final round. Dela Torre managed to stay up on his feet and survived until the last bell.

ON THE UNDERCARD

Kicking off the card, heavyweight Marlo Moore (1-0) had a successful pro debut stopping Oswaldo Ortega (3-7).

Up next was Oluwafemi Oyeleye (4-0) who won a hard fought unanimous decision over Brandon Adams (4-6-1) in their super welterweight bout.

Super lightweight prospect Darwin Price improved to 13-0 with a shutout over Angel Hernandez (12-9-2). The scores were 60-54 on all three scorecards.

Mayweather Promotions veteran Lanell Bellows (17-3-1) picked up another KO, stopping Fabiano Pena (15-9-1) in 7 rounds in their super middleweight showdown.

Super bantamweight prospect Angelo Leo (10-0) picked up a stoppage win over Basilio Nieves (10-5).

Later tonight former super welterweight world champion Ishe Smith (29-8) faces former title challenger Julian Williams (33-1-1) in the main event of a Bounce TV televised Premier Boxing Champions card. Light heavyweight veteran Lionell Thompson faces unbeaten Earl Newman (10-0-1) in the co-feature bout.

Caleb Plant: I Need a Big Name To Fight Me, Show My Skills

Boxing Scene - By Ryan Burton

Caleb Plant (16-0) may only be 16 fights into his pro career but he feels that he is ready for the big fights.

In his last fight he dominated Andrew Hernandez over 10 rounds at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.  The fight was televised by Showtime.

The Tennessee native who is now based in Sin City has called out newly crowned WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez and several other top fighters and prospects in the division with no success.

He is very confident in his skills and his ability to adapt but knows that he needs a bigger name opponent to really make a statement in the division

"I have been calling people out. The way to move up the ladder is to either fight an old big name or a new prospect. Those are the two ways to get your foot in the door. I tried to fight Julian Jackson, I tried to fight Dominic Wade, I tried to fight Jose Uzcategui. The list goes on and on," revealed Plant.

"It is because I want to be great and there is only one way to do that and that is to  fight tough opposition. There is no other way to do that. I can't show the world what I want to be until I get that opportunity but I can't do it alone. It takes two people to make a fight. It takes two people to make a good fight. If I am in there trying and someone else is just surviving that isn't a good fight. I want to make a good fight."

As for what is next, this writer asked Plant if he planned on returning to the ring before the end of the year.

"That is the plan.  We are working on something big, a name everyone knows, a tough fighter.  That is what my team is working on," Plant told BoxingScene.com.

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Caleb Plant Wants David Benavidez Showdown Next

Boxing Scene - By Ryan Burton

Up and coming super middleweight prospect Caleb "Sweet Hands" Plant (16-0) is yearning for a title shot.

At the top of the Tennessee native's wish list is newly crowned WBC champion David Benavidez who captured the title in September when he beat Ronald Gavril via split decision. Most observers thought the fight was nip and tuck and some believed that Gavril deserved the nod after he floored Benavidez in the final round.

Plant, who also fought on the card, was in agreement that the fight was close and is very confident that he can do much better than Gavril.

"I thought Ronald did great. That night after my fight I just wanted to be a fan. I am not saying that I am a fan of them but I just wanted to enjoy the fight.  I wasn't trying to score it or anything like that. I thought Ronald did really well and at times he was out boxing David Benavidez," Plant told BoxingScene.com.

"I will be honest, Ronald is not the best boxer, he's got a ton of heart, good power and is solid all the way around but as far as a skilled boxer, he is not at the top of the list and what was he doing to David?"

The 25-year-old Plant feels that his skill set is vastly superior to that of Gavril and said that he hasn't yet been pushed to put his full arsenal on display.

"No one has seen everything I have. No one has seen everything I can do. They have seen spurts. People say I can cut the ring off and move forward. They know I can throw combinations and break people down. They know I can stick and move and box and that I am good on my feet and my toes. They know I can pick and roll. It is about being well rounded. People who are well rounded make it the farthest because at some point you are going to have to pull a different aspect out (to win the fight)," Plant stated.

Benavidez will likely return to the ring in January in a rematch against Gavril so Plant will likely have at least one interim fight before he gets a crack at the title.  Both fighters are advised by Al Haymon so a future showdown is very likely as long as they both keep winning.

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