IN a high-stakes cruiserweight clash for the vacant WBC International belt, Aloys Youmbi Junior defeated Ellis Zorro via unanimous decision in a 10-round affair filled with tension. The pair met at the Bournemouth International Centre in the co-main event of Queensberry’s ‘Pier Pressure’ card.
Coming into the fight off a lower-level win, stopping the rot of two stoppage defeats, Zorro needed a statement success, while Aloys Junior came in brimming with confidence and a point to prove.
The opening round saw two contrasting approaches as Aloys Junior came out on the front foot, seeking to land heavy shots on the body and head. In contrast, Zorro appeared tentative and mindful of his opponent’s power.
Zorro was staying behind the jab and looking to settle into a rhythm, while Aloys Junior pressed with aggressive combinations and body shots, backing Zorro up into the ropes
The atmosphere was riddled with vocal support for Aloys Jr as the fight progressed. As Junior’s pressure began to break through, he gave no space for Zorro to settle into the fight.
Throughout the rounds, the fight maintained the same momentum, for the most part, as Zorro failed to show off effective aggression off the back foot thanks to Aloys Junior’s heavy-hitting forward pressure, refusing to give Zorro any chance to think.
However, at the end of round five, Zorro managed to tag Junior with a shot that made him pause and regroup, but not enough to cause problems.
To close out the eighth round, Aloys Junior landed a clean hook on the side of Zorro’s head just before the bell signalled the end of the round. Zorro was also clearly bruised on the side of his ribs by this point from the body work by Aloys Junior’s dynamite hands.
The final two rounds were closely contested as Zorro fired heavy shots back of his own. Aloys Junior never seemed to get out of first gear, while he was maintaining a high pace throughout the fight, which did diminish slightly as the rounds progressed.
