Douglas vs Soro Shobox The New Generation
The undefeated Douglas (14-0-1, 9 KOs) dominated the first half of the fight, controlling the action with a plethora of jabs against the vastly experienced former world title challenger. A rip in Soro’s gloves caused a halt in the bout midway through the fourth, but it was more of the same once the bout restarted with Douglas controlling the action.
Soro (23-1-1, 13 KOs) had a solid sixth that gave him a bit more confidence, but as he took more risks it allowed Douglas to land his power shots. A right hand followed by an onslaught of punches from Soro had Douglas dazed in the seventh, but the Frenchman stepped off the gas and allowed Douglas to escape the round. Douglas was still struggling as he entered the ninth for the first time in his career and stayed in survival mode for the remainder of the fight.
“I feel bad,” Douglas said. “After the first couple of rounds I wasn’t feeling myself. I would like to fight him again. I had to respond and find myself in the eighth round, but I made it through to the end.”
“In the first rounds I was stressed because I wasn’t at home,” Soro said. “I relaxed in the fourth and fifth rounds and I was never hurt. I know experience was the difference down the stretch. I need to be more precise and accelerate what I was doing in the eighth. This is not my real weight and I am better than that.”
Jerry Odom overcame the first cut of his career and knocked out previously undefeated prospect Vilier Quinonez in the seventh round (2:25) of a matchup of undefeated super middleweights.
“I said I was going to come out and do whatever I had to do to win,” Odom said. “I got cut and I kept fighting. Blood doesn’t discourage me or make me back down; I just keep pushing no matter what. I could have stopped him a couple of times but I paced myself like a true champion.
Welterweight prospect Cecil McCalla kept his perfect record intact with a dominating eight-round unanimous victory (79-73, 80-72 twice) over previously twice-beaten Oscar Godoy.
“He was tough and he took a lot of my shots,” McCalla said. “I dominated like I said, I had my way. I knew the right hands would come. I know I have things to work on, but I am ready to take over.”
Tony Luis handed Wanzell Ellison the first loss of his career with an eight-round unanimous decision scored 77-75, 79-73, 78-74.
“I did what I had to do to win,” Luis said. “The body shots were what worked – they slowed down his attack. I’m happy that I boxed him from the outside and fought him on the outside.”
Ellison became the 121st fighter to suffer his first loss on ShoBox.
“I don’t’ know what the judges saw but it was a good learning experience,” Ellison, said. “The world got to see it. I came up in weight and I feel I won the fight.”
Source: Showtimeboxing
Photo credit: Stephanie Trapp