Denis Beranchyk, Brian Norman Jr. and Ricardo Torrez Jr. Score Upsets on San Diego Card

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

 San Diego, CA (May 21st, 2024)– In Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California, on Saturday, May 18, 2024, upsets occurred in the three main event bouts on an eight bout card, with three significant titles at stake.

 In the main event, Emanuel Navarrete, 38-2-1 with 21 knockouts, San Juan Zitlaltepec, Mexico, the World Boxing Organization World Super Featherweight champion, got upset by 12 round split decision by Denis Berinchyk, 19-0 with nine knockouts, Kiev, Ukraine, who won the vacant World Boxing Organisation World Lightweight title. Scoring went 116-112, 115-113 Berinchyk. 116-112 Navarette.

 “This is my friend (undisputed World Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk),” Denis Berinchyk said of Oleksandr Usyk. “This is great. Great boxing. It’s a great night for all people of Ukraine because we have (the) undisputed heavyweight world champion and (now we have a) lightweight world champion, it’s amazing.”

 Brian ‘The Assassin II’ Norman Jr., 26-0 with 20 knockouts, Conyers, Georgia, ahead on all scorecards, knocked down 32-0 San Diego southpaw Giovanni Santillan, then knocked him out in his hometown in the tenth round, to claim the interim World Boxing Organisation World Welterweight title. A left hand-right uppercut combination at close range dropped Santillan coming forward, who arose with a bloody face and nose. A lead right hand-left uppercut combination sent Santillan down and out on his back knocked out for good at 1:33 of round ten. No count by referee Ray Corona, as Santillan was down and out. Norman rose to the number nine worldwide ratings position on BoxRec among welterweights with this win.

 Southpaw heavyweight Ricardo Torrez Jr., 10-10 with 10 knockouts, Tulare, California, won the vacant North American Boxing Federation Junior Heavyweight title with a fifth round stoppage of 14-0 Floridian Brandon Moore. Moore went down on his back in round five for a nine count, got up and tried to run. Torrez finished Moore, whose legs were gone, on the ropes with a power shot flurry.

 Pechanga Arena San Diego Undercard Results

 Jonathan Lopez KO 8 Edgar Ortega, Featherweights (2:39)

15-0 Orlando, Florida featherweight prospect Lopez knocked out 18 bout Mexican veteran Ortega with a picture perfect left hook down and out cold on his back. Brutal Knockout.

 Alex Garcia Win 8 Wilfredo Flores, Lightweights

13-0 Kansas lightweight prospect wins every round against 14 bout Puerto Rico vet Flores.

 Emiliano Vargas KO 6 Angel Varena Urena, Super Lightweights (1:01)

Las Vegas 10-0 super lightweight prospect stops 10-3 Mexican Urena on his feet.

 Jonathan Mansour (Pro Debut) Win 4 Anel Dudo, Lightweights

Pro debut for Mansour, from La Mesa, California. Scoring: 40-36, 40-36, 40-36 for Mansour.

 Art Barrera Jr. Win 4 Levy Josue Garcia Benitez, Super Lightweights

5-0 California super lightweight prospect Barrera wins by scores of 40-35, 40-35 and 40-35. Opening bout on card.



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Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
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].