Rising Detroit welterweight Janelson Figueroa Bocachica eclipsed fellow unbeaten Mark Reyes Jr. via majority decision in a back-and-forth ‘ShoBox: The New Generation’ main event from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on Wednesday night.
Scores were 97-93, 96-94 and 95-95.
In an evenly-matched affair that featured a dash of showboating and plenty of needle, Bocachica (17-0, 11 KOs) was perhaps fortunate not to have a point deducted by referee Danny Schiavone after hitting the back of Reyes’ head in the final round.
“He had a short temper and he came out talking trash so you know I had to talk my trash back,” said Bocachica. “But it was all part of the gameplan to get him emotional in the ring and it worked in my advantage.”
A more diplomatic Reyes (14-1, 12 KOs) vowed to bounce back from his first setback. “I don’t disagree with the scorecards tonight,” said Tampa’s Reyes. “I obviously could have done more to win but it was a close fight nonetheless. I just have to go back to drawing board and train harder. I need to execute things a little bit better during the preparation for my fight. I can’t take anything away from the judges.”
Punchstats had Reyes landing 158 punches and Bocachica 156, underling the narrow margins in the contest.
Photo: Amanda Westcott/Showtime.
In the show’s co-main event, Russian 168lbs contender Vladimir Shishkin registered a clearcut decision triumph over Ghanaian Sena Agbeko. Scores were 100-90 (twice) and 98-92.
Shishkin (12-0, 7 KOs) shrugged off a significant cut over his left eye for much of the contest, controlling proceedings with a resolute jab. He pushed for a stoppage in the final round, but Agbeko (23-2, 18 KOs) refused to bend under pressure.
Photo: Amanda Westcott/Showtime.
“I did have to overcome adversity tonight with the cut,” said Shishkin, in his first fight with new trainer L.J. Harrison. “But I have been cut many times in my career so I was able to deal with it. It affected me a little bit but that’s boxing.
“It was good to go the distance. I felt like I got a lot of good work in tonight and learned some things. I will improve a lot because of this fight and fix my mistakes. I am ready for a big fight after this.”
Photo: Amanda Westcott/Showtime.
In the show opener, Mexico’s Abraham Montoya (20-2-1, 14 KOs) clinched a majority decision over Texan Alejandro ‘Pork Chop’ Guerrero (12-1, 9 KOs) in an action-packed encounter. Scores were 79-73, 77-75 and 76-76.
The 135lbs bout was fought at a feverish pace, but Montoya’s greater accuracy held sway. The duo exchanged 1,623 punches in just eight rounds and Montoya later credited the win to his preparation.
“I felt great tonight and it was all because my physical trainer Raul Franco got me in shape for this fight,” said Montoya. “He is the reason I was able to throw so many punches tonight. I felt I could have kept that pace for 10 or 12 rounds if I had to.
“I felt good at lightweight and didn’t have to worry about my weight but I am definitely moving back down to super-featherweight. I only moved up for this opportunity. I felt I would have knocked him out at super-featherweight.”
*It was announced on the Showtime broadcast that 140lbs hope Brandun Lee will meet Samuel Teah at the Mohegan Sun Arena on March 10.
Main image and all photos: Amanda Westcott/Showtime.