Three Blind Mice! Fox Loses A Controversial Decision on Fox Sports, Collazo Gets A No Decision
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Minneapolis, Minnesota (August 8th, 2021)– Mykal Fox and promoter Marshall Kauffman should probably have never taken the last minute opportunity to fight for the interim World Boxing Association World Welterweight title against two-time Venezuelan Olympian Gabriel Maestre. Despite dropping Maestre in round two with a vicious left hook for a 10-8 round, and clearly winning rounds two through twelve behind a constant right jab while moving on his feet and not offering a stationary target, Fox got robbed by a horrible controversial 12 round decision at The Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday night, August 7, 2021, on a Premier Boxing Champions card televised on Fox Sports. The judges were three blind mice.
Real Combat Media scored the prelim to the main event bout 119-108 for 6’4″ southpaw Fox, 22-3 with five knockouts, Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Yet the judges had it 114-113, 115-112, 117-110 for the 5’10 ½” Maestre, 4-0, three knockouts, Barranquilla, Columbia. Maestre looked like a hypermodern version of Wilfredo Benitez fighting at welterweight, which was pleasant to see. It was just Maestre swung at empty air the majority of the time, was unable to cut off the ring, did not win eleven rounds, and spent all 12 rounds chasing Fox round and round in circles all night like a little wolf chasing a bigger fox. Maestre could not get inside due to Fox having superior height and reach. Fox was not exactly Thomas Hearns. Given that, Fox clearly won the last eleven rounds behind his right jab and thoroughly outworked Maestre, with exception of the close first round which Maestre appeared to win. Fox was a late sub for Cody Crowley, who tested positive for COVID-19.
If Maestre wants Terence Crawford, or the winner of Errol Spence Jr. versus Manny Pacquiao, to go for a full welterweight title as opposed to his current interim one, good luck to him. From this reporter’s viewpoint, the decision was abominable. Maestre, born in Venezuela, who was due to represent Venezuela in his third Olympic Games, opted to turn pro instead in 2019, winning a WBA regional bout at super welterweight over a 20-0 opponent in his professional debut. Maestre then stopped former world title challenger Diego Gabriel Chaves in the fourth round.
Armory Undercard Results
Lucas Santamaria Win 10 Devon Alexander, Super Welterweights
Surprise! California’s 13-2-1 Santamaria, who dropped Mykal Fox and won a 10 round decision over Fox in August 2020, scores yet another upset with a 10 round decision win over the fading 27-7-1 twice world title challenger Alexander, who has won only one of his last seven bouts. Scoring: 98-92, 98-92, 97-93 for Santamaria. In an odd boxing triangle, Santamaria lost his third professional bout by four rounds decision to Daniel Vega Cota, who got knocked out by Gabriel Maestre in the first round in December 2020. Alexander claimed to have injured his right bicep in the first round. Both fighters landed 82 punches. Santamaria landed more power shots 69 to 54, Alexander landed more jabs 28 to 13.
Ryan Karl Win 8 Edgar Ramirez, Welterweights
Former world title challenger Ryan “Cowboy” Karl of Houston, Texas is 19-3, 12 KOs.
Joahnys Argilagos KO 1 Luis Javier Valdez, Super Bantamweights
A predictable outcome with the 2016 Cuban Light Flyweight Olympic Bronze Medalist Argilagos, now fighting out of Houston, Texas, 8-0, four knockouts, leaving Mexico’s 7-10-1 Valdez, a loser of his last seven bouts, without a prayer of getting out of the first round.
Breeon Carothers (Pro Debut) TKO 2 Phillip Percy, Lightweights
Wisconsin southpaw lightweight Carothers debuts. San Francisco, California MMA fighter Percy. now 0-10, has been knocked out eight times, and should stick to MMA in the future.
EIMANTAS STANIONIS VS. LUIS COLLAZO RULED NO-DECISION AFTER ACCIDENTAL HEADBUTT INJURES COLLAZO IN ROUND FOUR OF FOX PBC FIGHT NIGHT MAIN EVENT SATURDAY NIGHT FROM THE ARMORY IN MINNEAPOLIS
Unbeaten Gabriel Maestre Edges Mykal Fox to Capture Interim WBA Welterweight Title in Co-Main Event
&
Luke Santamaria Scores Decision Victory Over Devon Alexander in
Opening Bout on FOX
Click HERE for Photos from Sean Michael Ham/
Premier Boxing Champions
(Photos to be added shortly)
MINNEAPOLIS (August 7, 2021) – Unbeaten rising welterweight
Eimantas Stanionis (13-0, 9 KOs) and former world champion
Luis Collazo (39-8, 20 KOs) fought to a no-decision after an accidental headbutt injured Collazo in the fourth round, leading to the referee calling off the bout that headlined FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday night from the Armory in Minneapolis.
The battle between the highly-regarded prospect and tough veteran contender delivered early, as Stanionis and Collazo fought at a close range and exchanged consistent power punches. Stanionis appeared to get the better of the early action, out landing Collazo 104 to 50 while connecting on over 52% of his total shots according to CompuBox.
“He was coming into me and I wanted to show that I’m strong too and I could fight him off,” said Stanionis. “It didn’t feel like a big collision, but it must have been worse for him.”
In the fourth round, which was again fought at a close distance, late action saw an accidental headbutt stun Collazo and put him on the canvas in obvious and immediate pain. While he took his time and attempted to gather himself, referee Charlie Fitch was forced to waive off the bout at the suggestion of the ringside physician, resulting in the no-decision 2:31 into the round.
“It’s disappointing of course,” said Stanionis. “He’s a tough fighter and he’s a warrior, so it’s unfortunate it had to be like this. I was just getting started. I knew he was going to come forward like that and that the headbutts would be a factor. It is what it is.
“I feel great physically. I want to get back in the ring as soon as possible. Collazo always brings a great fight so I knew it was going to be a lot of action. He’s tested a lot of young prospects and taken them into deep waters. I wanted to entertain people and give the fans a great fight.”
“Coming into the fight, we knew that we could test him,” said Collazo, who reiterated his pre-fight statements that this would be his last fight. “We were both coming in at the same time and that led to the clash of heads. It happens a lot. I love this sport and I still have the passion for it, but it’s getting frustrating. I’m blessed to have the career that I’ve had. It’s on to the next chapter of my life.”
In the co-main event two-time Venezuelan Olympian Gabriel Maestre (4-0, 3 KOs) won a close unanimous decision over
Mykal Fox (22-3, 5 KOs) to capture the Interim WBA Welterweight Title.
Maestre was able to recover from an early knockdown in round two that Fox scored with a blistering counter left hand that Maestre never saw coming.
“When I was knocked down, I didn’t see the punch coming,” said Maestre. “He didn’t really hurt me though so it was no problem to get up and keep going.”
The unbeaten Maestre was able to work his way back into the fight through the middle rounds with consistent activity as he chased the elusive Fox around the ring. The aggression led to a 119 to 108 advantage for Maestre in power punches landed, despite Fox holding an overall edge in punches landed with 157 to 131.
“The strategy was just to keep fighting him for 12 rounds,” said Maestre. “I just wanted to stay close to him and make sure I kept throwing punches. Fox definitely surprised me. He was a very good boxer. I think the key was that I was throwing multiple punches and combinations. That was the strategy from start to finish.”
Fox appeared to turn the tide in the later rounds, pot-shotting Maestre effectively as he continued to circle the ring while holding smartly to slow any offensive momentum his opponent gained.
After 12 rounds the judges all saw the fight in favor of Maestre by scores of 114-113, 115-112 and 117-110. Fox was in disbelief at the judges’ scores post-fight, while Maestre declared he was willing to give Fox a rematch.
“I was stunned by the decision,” said Fox. “There’s no way he won more rounds than me. I knocked him down. I hurt him. I don’t know what else I was supposed to do. I don’t know what the judges were looking at. Look at his face and tell me he won that fight.”
“Fox fought very well and he deserves a rematch,” said Maestre. “It was a very close fight. If my team says that’s what they want, I’ll be ready to fight him again.”
In the opening fight on FOX, Luke Santamaria (12-2-1, 7 KOs) scored a unanimous decision victory over former two-division champion Devon Alexander (27-7-1, 14 KOs) after 10 rounds of super welterweight action.
“I want to thank Devon for giving me this opportunity,” said Santamaria. “He’s a great fighter. I got the opportunity and I showed up again.”
The younger fighter, Santamaria was able to control the bout with his legs and landed more impactful shots over the 10-rounds, including moments where he appeared to stagger the southpaw Alexander with counter left hooks in rounds one and nine.
“My legs were the key for me, he was trying to catch me with the left and I was able to anticipate it,” said Santamaria. “I was too quick on my feet for him. My footwork was the key. I’m ready to keep stepping up the competition.”
Those impactful shots made the difference as the two fighters each landed 82 punches throughout the fight. While Alexander had the 28-13 edge in jabs connected, Santamaria landed 69 power punches to 54 from Alexander. After the fight, Alexander revealed that a right bicep injury suffered in the first round inhibited his ability to land effectively. After 10 rounds, the judges saw the fight by scores of 98-92 twice and 97-93.
“I hurt my right bicep in the first round and it really held me back from getting my offense going,” said Alexander. “I tried to shake it out as the fight went on but I just couldn’t get anything going. I’m disappointed.”
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Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert is the Head Boxing Correspondent for Real Combat Media Boxing since 2013. Robert is also a photographer and ringside reporter for the RCM Tri State region which includes NJ, NY and PA. Robert conducts exclusive interviews, provides historical boxing articles and provides editorial ringside coverage of major boxing events. You can contact or follow Robert on Facebook and by email at
[email protected].
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