KSI Decisions Logan Paul in Crazy YouTube Battle, Saunders and Haney Retain Titles
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Los Angeles, CA (November 10th, 2019)– In the crazy YouTube inspired main event of a DAZN eight-bout card at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on Saturday night, November 9, 2019, cruiserweight boxer KSI (Olajide William Olatunji) won a most controversial six-round split decision Logan Paul in the professional rematch battle of YouTubers, the pro debut for both combatants. The two previously fought to an amateur draw. Millions of Youtubers watched the spectacle live.
KSI, now 1-0, London, United Kingdom, fought wildly for all six rounds, throwing more punches than Paul, now 0-1, Los Angeles, California. Paul landed more punches, however, and knocked KSI down in the fourth round. The turning in the bout came when Paul got deducted two points by referee Jack Reiss for hitting KSI behind the head after he was on the canvas. Paul felt there should have been only a one-point deduction, which would have created a draw with three different scorecards. If it were a warning, Paul would have won. “I don’t feel like I lost,” said Paul after the match, ignoring the fact KSI knocked him down ( a legitimate knockdown according to noted referee Steve Smoger who was providing commentary for the bout) but was fortunate to have it ruled a slip.
The strange YouTube grudge match bout itself was perhaps the bizarre main event in boxing history. YouTube, Twitter and Instagram have become the talk of the town, and the grudge match, a professional rematch of their amateur draw, was one of controversy. A KSI knockdown of Paul was considered a slip, and Paul felt only one point should have been deducted instead of two when he hit KSI behind the head. The two embraced after the bout with good sportsmanship. Paul wants a third bout with KSI. There was good sportsmanship after the bout. Logan Paul called KSI “the toughest guy I’ve ever faced.”
Result: KSI Win Split Decision 6 Logan Paul, Cruiserweights
Scoring: 56-55 Paul. 57-54, 56-55 for KSI.
KSI was knocked down in the fourth round. Paul was deducted two points in round four for hitting KSI behind the head after knocking him down.
Referee: Jack Reiss.
In the first of two world title bouts which preceded the unique YouTube ‘main event’, Billy Jo Saunders, ahead on two of three scorecards with the bout still on the table, staged a dramatic eleventh round knockout of previously undefeated Marcelo Esteban Coceres to retain his World Boxing Organization World Super Middleweight title.
The bot was a technical chess match, with Saunders outboxing Coceres in the early rounds, and Coceres outboxing Saunders in the later rounds. There was a great deal of jab and power shot give and take, with Saunders doing quality body work, and Coceres countering well. In the tenth round, Cocers had his best round and his worst round, outboxing Saunders and dropping his hands at times. At the end of the round, Coceres raised his hands, sensing he had the momentum. His jubilance was short lived, as Saunders broke him don and suddenly dropped him three times in the eleventh round. Coceres got up all three times, but the bout was stopped. If it had continued, Coceres would have lost at least 10-6 on all three scorecards, putting the bout out of reach.
Coceres, the WBA Fedebol champion, fell to 28-1-1 with 15 knockouts, San Jorge, Argentina. Like the late World Middleweight champion Carlos Monzon, Coceres was a virtual unknown outside of his native Argentina. Both Coceres and Saunders were fighting for the first time out of their native countries. Saunders, 29-0 with 14 knockouts, Hatfield, United Kingdom, remained in contention for a future mega payday bout with World Light Heavyweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in 2020.
World Boxing Council World Lightweight champion Devin Haney dropped courageous challenger Alfredo Santiago in the fifth round and went on to win a unanimous 12 round decision to retain his title. Haney believed he dislocated his right shoulder early in the bout and fought through it. Santiago, 12-1 with four knockouts, Fajardo, Puerto Rico, a WBC Fecarbox champion, had gone ten rounds four times, but has not fought outside of Puerto Rico before this world title bout.
Santiago had height and reach advantage, and did best keeping out of Haney’s range and throwing precise counters. Unfortunately, Haney was ahead on punches landed. The oonly time Santiago tried to get inside of Haney and assume the role of aggressor he got dropped. Santiago returned to countering, and also tried switching off from the orthodox stance to southpaw. Unfortunately, Santiago, who trained seriously for this bout, lacked the professional experience of Haney, 24-0 with 15 knockouts, Las Vegas Nevada. All three judges had the bout 120-107. Real Combat Media scored the bot for Haney 117-110. Santiago won at least two or three rounds, though he did not get them he still put on a good accounting of himself, given he had only 12 pro bouts before fighting for a world title.
Middleweight prospect Nikita ‘White chocolate’ Ababiy, age 21, 8-0 with six knockouts, Brooklyn, New York, won by disqualification after one round of action over Jonathan Batista, age 35, 19-16 with 12 knockouts, San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. Referee Ray Corona took a point away from Ababiy near the end of round one for hitting Batista behind the head. After a break in the action for Batista to recover, the final seconds ticked off. After the round ended, Batista punched Ababiy, resulting in a disqualification.
While attacks after the first round resulting in a disqualification are rare, they still happen on occasion when tension and emotions flare, and Batista’s poor retaliatory choice provided boxers with an education on what not to do in response to getting fouled. As in the case of James Butler sucker punching Richard Grant at Roseland Ballroom after their bout ended some years ago, there can also be legal consequences as well for not following the rules of the ring inside the ring.
Other Results at Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Ronny Rios KO 4 Hugo Berrio, Super Bantamweights (2:56)
World Boxing Association Gold Super Bantamweight title
Hugo Berrio was cut from a legal punch in round two. Barrio was down in round four, arises, but referee Thomas Taylor ruled him unable to continue. California rules: KO.
Diego Pacheco KO 4 Aaron Casper, Super Middleweights (2:49)
7-0 Los Angeles super middleweight prospect Diego Pacheco in the first round and twice in the fourth round. Referee Rudy Barragan waived off the count. California rules: KO.
Reshat Maty KO 2 Cody Peterson, Super Welterweights (1:41)
5-0 Staten Island super welterweight prospect Reshat Maty stopped 1-6 Cody Peterson while standing. Referee Ivan Guillermo stopped the contest. California rules: KO.
Joshua Bruechner (Pro Debut) Win 4 Tyler Smith (Pro Debut), Cruiserweights
Detroit, Michigan cruiserweight Joshua Bruechner wins battle of pro debuting boxers.
Tyler Smith is from Huntington Beach, California, but got no hometown decision.
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