Another Major Mexican Upset at Wembley: Valenzuela Wins Majority Decision over Davies
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
London, UK (February 21st, 2021)– Only seven days after Mexico City featherweight Mauricio Lara scored a shocking ninth-round stoppage of 30-0, Josh Warrington of Leeds, Yorkshire, yet another Mexican hopeful has overturned the British applecart with yet another shocking upset at Wembley. It was not as bad as Jerry Quarry’s first-round knockout of British and European Heavyweight champion Jack Bodell at Wembley in November 1971, but it was evident by both upset results that the visiting veteran contenders from North America were one performance test notch level above the competition they faced from the United Kingdom at Wembley Arena.
On Saturday, February 20, 2021, 23-2-1 Team Canelo (Alvarez) Mexican super lightweight Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela of Guadalajara, Mexico, scored a shocking ninth-round stoppage of 20-2 British hopeful Robbie Davies Jr. of Kirkby, Merseyside, United Kingdom, to win the International Boxing Federation Inter-Continental Vacant Super Lightweight championship. Valenzuela knocked down Davis in the third round, got decked a point for hitting off the break in the fourth round, but still had plenty left to outwork Davies by majority decision over 10 rounds.
The pandemic and lack of activity for many prospects has created havoc, which has proven to be a disaster for many British hopefuls fighting foreign prospects. 27-3-1 European Welterweight champion David Avanesyan, a Russian transplanted to Newark, United Kingdom, scored a brutal sixth-round stoppage of Great Britain’s 10-1-1 undefeated Josh Kelley of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, on the same card, to make the upsets clear. Kelley, down twice, had his night end when his corner threw in the towel.
Valenzuela had to work hard behind his overhand right jabs to the head and power shot hooks to the body in a brutal toe-to-toe inside war to take the decision in enemy territory. Valenzuela may be rewarded with an undercard bout on one of Canelo’s next fight cards.
Result: Gabriel Valenzuela Win Majority Decision 10 Robbie Davies, Super Lightweights
Valenzuela wins vacant IBF Inter-Continental Super Lightweight title
Scoring: 96-95, 96-95 Valenzuela. 95-95 draw. Referee: Mark Lyson
Davies knocked down in third round. Valenzuela lost a point for hitting off break in fourth.
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