Montreal boxer Erik Bazinyan retained his perfect record and his NABF and NABA super middleweight titles after a pushing duel against mandatory challenger Alantez Fox Thursday night at Montreal’s Cabaret du Casino.
• Also read: Disaster for Junior Ulysses
Both men showed exceptional resilience in fighting a war to the end. After 10 rounds the judges made their decision. They dealt cards of 95-95, 98-92 and 98-92 in favor of Bazinyan, who won by majority decision.
The Marc Ramsay-trained Quebecer had to deal with a much taller opponent, Fox (28-4-1, 13 KOs), who was 6ft 5in. That didn’t stop him from stepping into the American’s comfort zone to serve him well. At the end of the fight, both gave up defense to try anything for a knockout.
Bazinyan (29-0, 21 KOs), 27, will now want to turn his attention to fights on a global scale.
A quick defeat for Junior Ulysse
Montreal’s junior Ulysse was surprised by his Mexican opponent Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela in the first round.
The 34-year-old boxer found himself on the mat after just 52 seconds, he who also appeared to have injured his ankle during the sequence. Thus, the veteran loses for the first time in his professional career against knockout.
Ulysses (22-3, 12 KOs) had hinted before the fight that if he lost, it could be his last round. At 28, Valenzuela (26-3-1, 16 KOs) is set to rise in the rankings after suffering a setback in his last appearance in the ring in May.
Junior Ulysse’s other losses came in December 2019 by unanimous decision against Ismael Barroso and in October 2017 by split decision against Steve Claggett.
In the rest of the evening’s bouts, Alexandre Gaumont (7-0-0, 5 KOs) passed a quick KO to Carlos Gallego Montijo (8-5, 6 KOs). Christopher Guerrero (6-0, 2.0) had no trouble getting rid of Edwin Villarreal Flores (3:1.1, 3.0).