By Hans Olson
Ali Nestor KOs Martin Avila
A terrific night of boxing at the Claude-Robillard Centre in Montreal was capped off with a knockout victory from headliner Ali Nestor Charles over Martin Avila. With the win, Charles becomes the new UBO super-welterweight champion.
Early on, Ali controlled distance, the game Avila often able to nullify it by smothering him in close when he could. Deciding to counter punch—often with his back against the ropes—Ali has success landing throughout the fight.
In the 8th round, a beautiful left uppercut ended it.
In the evening’s co-feature, Tony Luis stole the show.
He was crisp early, dominating Ferenc Szabo with digging body shots, smooth counters, and powerful combinations. It was evident early that Szabo was in deep.
Midway through the 2nd, Luis landed a series of devastating body shots which brought Szabo to a knee, though he survived the round.
In the 3rd, he would go down again. And again.
Each time from body blows.
Moments later, a right hand to the body ended it for good, an impressive performance by the Ontario native, and one that raises his stock considerably in the region.
“I’m a body puncher, I like going to the body anyway,” said the now 14-0 Tony Luis in the ring after the fight.
“We look to a bright future ahead.”
Indeed he does.
Laval’s own “Rude Boy,” Roody Pierre Paul, started fast against Mexico’s Carlos Martinez, putting him down in the 1st. A fierce body attack, coupled with sharp lefts and slick defensive maneuvers, impressed the enthusiastic crowd.
In the 3rd, it was a continued domination by Paul, though Martinez fought back valiantly. A small contingency began chanting “Mexico, Mexico, Mexico…” and perhaps that was all that kept Martinez on his feet in the 4th.
It was more of the same for the duration of the bout; “Rude Boy” getting the nod from the ringside judges, improving to 5-0.
In other action…
Kevin Lavallee, fighting for the first time in 2012, made quick work of the severely over-matched Istvan Paszti, scoring a first round TKO with ease; Alex Halkias tapped-out Jason Monsegu in a special MMA attraction; Frank “The Hit-man” Cotroni put a lethal beating on Emanuel Guzman en route to a first round TKO stoppage; Jaber Zayani, in a bombs-away slugfest, decisioned Dimitri Waardenburg in what was each of their professional debuts; and Frank Miville took home a 4-round decision in a good showing against Amade Selemani.
