ALBERT Ramirez scored a round seven TKO over Jerome Pampellone in Benghazi, Libya, last night on the WBA’s ‘KO to Drugs’ event. Overseen by the Argentine boxing commission, there was a bundle of properly-matched fights for the appreciative crowd to enjoy.
Light-heavyweight hope Ramirez looked impressive against New Zealand resident Pampellone, taking control behind his southpaw jab early and steadily increasing the pressure. The 33-year-old heavy-handed Venezuelan floored Pampellone in the sixth round before forcing a seventh-round finish after his opponent had been decked for the third and final time.
The official time was recorded as 1-19, as Ramirez pushed his record to 22-0 (19 KOs), picking up the WBA Interim title at 175 pounds. That belt had not been seen in almost five years and it keeps Ramirez active while Dmitry Bivol recuperates from a nagging injury and waits for his trilogy bout with Artur Beterbiev. Hard-punching Ramirez will be a problem for anyone.
In the nominal main event, Mirco Cuello needed just two rounds to blast away Sergio Ríos Jiménez in a battle of unbeatens. The Argentine winner improved to 16-0 with 13 knockouts, while Mexican Rios lost for the first time, dropping to 19-1.
Cuello is the WBA Interim featherweight champion and would be a handful for most world-level campaigners, including full champion Nick Ball. Looking to lean in and set up the right hand against southpaw stringbean Rios, the hard-hitting Cuello disguised that shot nicely before launching a sneaky left hand in round two that had Rios down for a count.
Appearing lucid, Rios walked back out expecting a follow-up head attack, only to receive a whipping left hook to the body that left him down and counted out on his haunches at 2-53 of the second session. Referee Roberto Ramirez Jr issued the final toll as Cuello marches on with his 81 per cent KO ratio.
Elsewhere on the card, battle-hardened Nicaragua veteran Francisco Fonseca upset France’s Sofiane Oumiha over 10 rounds. Oumiha suffered his first pro loss, falling to 6-1 (3 KOs) while Fonseca, now 37-4-2 (29 KOs), walked away with the WBA ‘Gold’ lightweight title.
Oumiha wasn’t afraid to trade, but overcommitted at the close of round three and was dropped for a count. Taking an extended knee to regroup, the Frenchman made it through the round and kept things competitive against an opponent who has mixed with the likes of Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia during his long career.
Fonseca prevailed by scores of 97-92 and a couple of 95-94 verdicts, which meant the knockdown cost Oumiha a majority draw. Fonseca appeared to be the deserved winner.
Cuba’s Mike Perez boxed to a four-round no-contest with Argentina’s Christian Fabian Luis at cruiserweight. It was already a messy affair when Perez landed a shot right on the bell that left Luis crumpled in a heap. Either badly hurt or offering amateur dramatics, Luis could not continue and the commission came to a satisfactory conclusion.
Josue Francisco Aguero picked himself up a WBA ‘Gold’ bauble at super-featherweight, whitewashing Mexico’s Diego Ortiz Aleman across all 10 rounds. Cheered voraciously as he wandered towards the ring, heavyweight legend Mike Tyson was present at the event, seated ringside in a comfortable sofa chair.
