Oscar Duarte (30 victories, 3 defeats, 1 draw, with 23 wins by knockout) has positioned himself as a potential contender for a championship opportunity. This occurred after he triumphed over Kenneth Sims (22 victories, 3 defeats, 1 draw, with 8 wins by knockout) through a 12-round majority decision. This highly contested WBA light welterweight eliminator took place on Saturday evening at the University of Illinois, located in Chicago.
Oscar Duarte Secures Victory in WBA Eliminator
Duarte, aged 29, capitalized on his superior strength and youthful vigor to exert relentless pressure on Sims, a 31-year-old native of Chicago. In the second round, Duarte seemed to have inflicted significant damage upon Sims with a sweeping left hook aimed at the head. This particular punch caught Sims off guard, as he believed he was safely beyond the range of attack. However, Oscar launched the strike from a considerable distance, successfully connecting with his target.
Despite this, Sims demonstrated resilience and skill, employing a boxing style reminiscent of Mayweather, utilizing footwork, jabs, and well-timed punches in an attempt to fend off Duarte’s advances. However, these tactics proved insufficient to completely neutralize his relentless pressure. Sims’s relative lack of punching power prevented him from instilling any significant caution in the Mexican fighter, deterring him from attacking.
“I am extremely pleased with my performance in this fight, and I am eagerly anticipating the next challenge,” Duarte conveyed to Golden Boy Boxing in the aftermath of his victory over Sims.
Duarte Advances to Mandatory Challenger for Russell
The official scorecards reflected the following assessments: 114-114, 116-112, and 115-113. As a result of this victory, Duarte now holds the status of mandatory challenger for the WBA light welterweight title, currently held by Gary Antuanne Russell.
Prograis vs. Diaz Jr. Delivers a Tightly Contested Bout
Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (30 victories, 3 defeats, with 24 wins achieved by knockout) faced a formidable challenge in his victory over Joseph “JoJo” Diaz (34 victories, 8 defeats, 1 draw, with 15 wins by knockout). The fight, contested over 10 rounds at welterweight, resulted in a unanimous decision that was met with some skepticism. The contest was so closely fought that it could have reasonably been declared a draw, as Diaz repeatedly troubled Prograis from the very first round. In fact, Regis was visibly shaken in six of the rounds, suggesting that Diaz should have been awarded those rounds. However, the judges rendered scores of 98-92, 96-94, and 96-94.
Prograis’s employment of jabs and power punches proved to be effective, yet his vulnerability to absorbing punishment became apparent. He would perform strongly, only to be subsequently staggered by Diaz’s strikes. This pattern persisted throughout the duration of the fight.
“This was a battle where sheer determination and superior conditioning ultimately secured the win for me,” Prograis stated to AB Boxing News.
