(Javier Gallo, right, Rau’Shee Warren, left; via Warriors Boxing)
CHICAGO — As his opponent laid on the canvas in the 1st round, Rau’Shee Warren threw his mouthpiece to the ground out of frustration. It was clear Javier Gallo wasn’t getting up after a headbutt sent him to the canvas, suffering a cut above his left eye.
Just like that, Warren’s fight was ruled a no-contest.
“That was the worst flop I had ever seen since watching the NBA,” Warren said. “This ain’t the NBA. People flop in the NBA, but in boxing?”
The ending was fitting, even if it was disappointing to the three-time Olympic participant. The two bantamweights capped off a night of one-sided fights at the UIC Pavilion Friday, which served as an outlet for Al Haymon-managed fighters to stay active.
Warren (12-0, 3 knockouts) said the result was something he had never experienced in his boxing career. The two came together in the first 30 seconds of the round when Gallo rushed in and collided with Warren, who was dipping his head.
Gallo took the full five minutes and the Illinois commission ruled that he couldn’t continue. He was also carried out on a stretcher, which Warren thought was evidence for a flop.
“This is the worst,” Warren said. “I threw more punches in the locker room than I did tonight.”
Warren said his plans are to return March 7 in a card headlined by Adrien Broner in Cincinnati. The bantamweight boxer said the original plan was for him to step up in competition after this fight, but was unsure of that since the no-contest.
Meanwhile, the rest of the night saw Haymon fighters go through the motions in dispatching opponents. Cruiserweight Jordan Shimmell (17-0, 11 KOs) beat up natural middleweight Phil Williams for five rounds before Williams elected not to come out for the 6th.
2012 Olympian and lightweight Jamel Herring (10-0, 7 KOs) earned a 2nd round knockout over Jose Del Valle.
In the most competitive fight of the evening, light heavyweight Thomas Williams, Jr. picked up his first win after an August defeat to Gabriel Campillo. Williams won a unanimous decision against Michael Gbenga (20-18, 20 KOs), but struggled in parts.
Williams started off strong, repeatedly finding home with the right hook to chip away at Gbenga. Williams dropped Gbenga in round 8, landing a vicious series of blow after hurting Gbenga with a right.
It was the next round, however, that Williams displayed the flaws that caused him to lose against Campillo. Gbenga exploited Williams lack of defense with a straight right hand that left Williams on shaky legs to end the round. Gbenga didn’t capitalize it in the 10th and final round, yet Williams looked relived the fight was over.
“I was shaking the ring rust off against a tough guy,” Williams said. “He was really awkward. It was great to get back in the win column.”
All three judges scored the fight 98-91.
OTHER UNDERCARD RESULTS
Sergiy Derevyanchenko – Raul Munoz
Two-time amateur world champion Sergiy Derevyanchenko either won his 27th professional fight or his third, depending on how you feel about participating in the World Series of Boxing. Regardless, Derevyanchenko, a middleweight, dispatched longtime fighter Raul Munoz with two knockdowns in the 1st. The official time of the stoppage was 2:50.
Juan Dominguez – German Meraz
Continuing the trend of one-sided bouts, junior featherweight Juan Dominguez scored a lifeless unanimous decision over journeyman German Meraz. Dominguez (17-0, 11 KOs) dominated the fight with his left hook. Two judges scored the fight 80-71 and the other scored it 79-73. Meraz lost a point for holding in round three.
Javontate Starks – Jonathan Garcia
In the second fight of the evening, Minnesota junior middleweight Javontae Starks pitched a shutout against Jonathan Garcia (4-11). Starks (11-0, 7 KOs) went eight rounds and was in control throughout.
Ronald Hearns – Roberto Ventura
Ronald Hearns snapped a four-fight losing streak to earn a fifth round knockout over Roberto Ventura in the first fight of the evening, crushing Ventura with an overhand right. Hearns, 35, picked up his first win since 2010.
