Sammy “The Who Can Mexican” Vasquez, 16-0 (12), of Monessen, PA, stopped James “Keep’em Sleepin” Stevenson, 21-1 (14), of Baltimore, MD, at 0:25 of the 9th round with referee Ernest Sharif stopping it giving the vacant USBA welterweight title to Vasquez. It was an action packed fight with Vasquez landing many more punches winning every round but Stevenson would land a right hand at different times keeping him in the fight.
The southpaw Vasquez dominated the opening round, with combinations to the body and head keeping Stevenson back pedaling. In the 2nd round Stevenson came out fighting but Vasquez eventually was in control. Midway through the round a straight lead left by Vasquez split the gloves of Stevenson stunning him. At the end of the round a 4-punch combo made Stevenson do a little dance stopping the action at the bell.
In the 3rd round Vasquez fought several times off the ropes driving Stevenson off of him. In the middle of the ring the speed of Vasquez was evident landing hard whipping lefts to the ribs of Stevenson. In the 4th round Vasquez was able to out box Stevenson and then inside out punch him. With less than a minute in the round to go Stevenson landed a solid right knocking the head of Vasquez back.
In the 5th round Vasquez landed almost a dozen punches without return when he was caught with a right hand by Stevenson that had him hurt at the bell. In the 6th round Stevenson came out to pick up where he left off only to find Vasquez clear headed and pouring the punches in bunches having Stevenson out on his feet. Per the punch count it was Vasquez 52-10. In the 7th round Vasquez had Stevenson pinned in a corner but Stevenson came back with a solid right in the middle of the ring. There was no quit in Stevenson. At the end of the round Vasquez had Stevenson reeling. In the 8th round referee Sharif warned Stevenson for using his forearm for about the fourth time. A barrage of punches had Stevenson collapsing to the canvas. Upon rising Vasquez tore into Stevenson who somehow stayed on his feet taking a brutal beating as the referee came close to halting it at the bell.
In the 9th round it looked like Stevenson wasn’t coming out and finally did as Vasquez took it to him with over a dozen punches landed on both body and head before the referee wisely called a halt.
This win should put Vasquez into the IBF rankings. He is trained by Sgt. Charles Leverette at Ft. Carson, NV, and managed by Robert Healy. Vasquez is a two-time Iraq veteran who had great support from his many fans in Pittsburgh and the area.
Iron Mike Productions and Fight Promotions Inc put on one great event at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA, Friday! Fox Sports 1 broadcast the event.
In the co-feature Monte Meza-Clay, 36-3 (22), of Rankin, PA, in a war stopped Mexico’s Alan “Explosivo” Herrera at 2.00 of the 8th and final round as referee Rick Steigerwald saw enough! Clay had landed over a dozen punches without return until Herrera got a couple in but Clay landed another couple of combinations ending the action!
Clay scored a knockdown in the 6th round with an overhand right followed by a left hook to the chin dropping Herrera. By the end of the round Herrrea was back in control.
In a scheduled 6 round bout Ievgen “the Ukranian Lion” Khytrov stormed out and drove Willie Fortune “500”, 17-2 (8), of Detroit, MI, from pillar to pillar in 0:30 of the 1st round after a knockdown! Referee Ernie Sharif felt Fortune was in no condition to continue.
