VERONA, NY – Gennady Golovkin made a statement to the American boxing fans that he is a forced to be reckoned with as he scored a scintillating fifth round stoppage over Grzegorz Proksa to retain the WBA Middleweight championship at the Turning Stone Casino Resort.
The Bout Headlined HBO Boxing After Dark.
Golovkin dominated the bout from the outset as he dropped Proksa in the opening frame.
Golovkin continued to pummel Proksa by bullying him around the ring. The challenger showed tremendous courage by fighting toe to toe with the heavy handed Golovkin.
Golovkin battered Proksa along the ropes in round four before scoring his second knockdown in the fight. Golovkin ended things with a vicious flurry of punches that sent Proksa down and out and the fight was stopped at 1:11 of round five
Golovkin of Kazakhstan is now 24-0 with twenty-one knockouts. Proksa of Poland is now 28-2.
“It was a good first fight in America”, said Golovkin.
Ï am ready for anyone and that includes the winner of Martinez and Chavez Jr. I hope to be back in December”
Sergiy Dzinziruk and Jonathan Gonzalez battle to a twelve round draw in the Jr. Middleweight co-feature. There was drama even before the fight started as Gonzalez missed the 154 pound weight limit by a staggering nine pounds and had a ten pound weight advantage as they entered the ring as he tipped the scales at 172 pounds while Dzinziruk was 162.
It was a close fight with Dzinziruk trying to establish his “Razor“ jab while Gonzalez was successful with counter right hands. Both fighters had good moments of sustained action.
When the scores were announced, nothing was settled as they read 117-111 for Gonzalez; 115-113 for Dzinziruk and 114-114.
Gonzalez is now 15-0-1. Dzinziuk is 37-1-1.
Ï was uncomfortable but I thought I won the fight”, said a disappointed Gonzalez.”
When asked about his weight difficulties, Gonzalez said “It took a lot of strength out of me”
Dzinziruk was also disappointed as he said “He was heavy when he pushed against me. It was tough to say who won but it was close”
Ï was off for fifteen months and it was tough to get going as I felt rusty”
Tony Luis remained perfect with a one punch body shot knockout in round one of a scheduled six round Jr. Welterweight bout.
The end came at of the opening frame and Luis of nearby Cornwall, Ontario and is now 15-0 with seven knockouts. Ledesma is now 18-21
Tureano Johnson remained perfect by stopping Cleven Ishe due to a cut around the left eye at 2:23 of round four.
Johnson of Nassau, Bahamas is now 11-0 with eight knockouts. Ishe is 3-9-1.
Bryan Clookey and Rayshawn Myers battled to a four round draw in a Cruiserweight bout.
Scores were 39-37 for each fighter and 38-38.
Clookey is 4-0-2. Myers is 4-14-1.
Jorge Maysonet Jr. dropped Bryan Abraham twice in eighty-four seconds en route to the first round stoppage in their scheduled eight round Jr. Welterweight bout.
Maysonet of Puerto Rico is now 9-0 with eight knockouts. Abraham is now 6-14-2.
Shawn Miller pitched a shutout and scored a four round unanimous decision over Richard Starnino.
Scores were 40-36 on all cards and Miler is now 9-4-1. Starnino is 9-10-2.
In the opener, Ryan McKenzie knocked at Borngod Washington with a crush left hook at 2:30 of the sixth and final round of their Light Heavyweight bout.
McKenzie of nearby Syracuse, NY is now 10-0 with 10 KO’s. Washington is now 3-12.