THE RESULT: Sergey Lipinets defeated Robbie Davies Jr by 10-round decision in Plant City, Florida. The scores came in at 96-91 (Brian Garry), 98-89 (Joanne Richard) and 95-92 (Joe Ware). Knocked down three times, Liverpool’s Davies Jr boxed fairly well when not getting put on the canvas. This was effectively a must-win bout for both men.
KEY MOMENTS: Davies Jr had blood running from the nose in round two, which would become a factor later. After hurting Lipinets with a left hook to the jaw at the end of round three, he was dropped from an onslaught in round five.
Davies Jr was dropped twice in round eight as Lipinets hunted the body. Unbelievably, the Englishman fought back to rock Lipinets at the end of the same round.
RECORDS: Lipinets improves to 18-3-1 (13 KOs), while Davies Jr falls to 23-5 (15 KOs).
TALKING POINTS: It was always going to be a tough ask for Davies Jr, travelling to America to take on a solid former world champion. Coming in off the back of a tough loss to Darragh Foley after suffering a badly damaged ankle, Robbie fought through the best part of this one with a shattered nose.
Lipinets is probably too small to challenge the better guys at welterweight. His punch resistance is also in question, as he was buzzed more than once here.
Since its inception, Pro Box has done a good job of finding unbeaten prospects, fringe contenders, and guys who’ve tasted a bit of world title action, mixing them together and matching them up. The result has been some good, honest scraps.
QUOTABLE: The main quote of the evening came before the bout, when Robbie Davies Jr stated that he could not return home without the victory. It wasn’t to be on his occasion.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: Overall, it was a great fight. Despite the last-chance saloon nature, both men come out with credit. Davies Jr could still find himself in the mix back home or even in America as a B-side following his efforts. Despite winning, Lipinets probably remains in a similar position.
SUPPORTING CAST: Fernely Feliz (8-0, 6KOs) defeated Cesar Navarro (11-2, 9KOs) at heavyweight by scores of 78-74 and 79-73 twice.
Los Angeles-based Mongolian Tsendbaatar Erdenebat (10-0, 5KOs) defeated Alberto Mercado (17-7-1, 4KOs) at lightweight in round three. The doctor deemed a cut on Mercado’s left eye (caused by a punch) too severe to continue.
At super-featherweight, Robert Meriwether III (6-0, 2KOs) defeated taller Mexican Victor Manuel Lopez Gala (5-1, 3KOs) by scores of 60-54 across the board.
Welterweight Terrence Williams (6-0, 5KOs) scored a chilling first-round KO over Jonathan Ariel Sosa (7-17-2, 4KOs).