The long-awaited WBC Grand Prix finals culminated today in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Heavyweight, middleweight, super lightweight and featherweight were decided.
True cruiserweight, Kevin Ramirez of Argentina outworked the massive Ahmed Krnjic of Bosnia Herzegovina over eight rounds. Krnjic had a near 68 lb advantage over Ramirez, but could not use it to his advantage. Ramirez started out moving to keep Krnjic off balance and unable to set up power shots. But later in the fight, Ramirez had to settle in, move less and punch more. In the WBC’s open scoring system, Ramirez was ahead on all three judges scorecards after the third and sixth rounds, but Krnjic could have still forced the enhanced scoring system in the event of a possible draw, had he won the last two rounds. Five judges were used and the final scores were 77-75 x 3 and 78-74 twice, all for Ramirez, who wins $100,000, The WBC Grand Prix eternal flame trophy, the Grand Prix belt and moves to 12-0, 4 KOs. Krnjic loses for the first time at 7-1, 4 KOs, taking home $50,000.
The featherweight finals were settled between Brandon.Mosqueda (Mexico) and Muhamet Qamili (Italy) in a somewhat untidy, mauling fight. Despite fighting in retreat for much of the bout, Mosqueda delivered more volume and the harder shots. After each open scoring announcement, he was ahead on all five judges cards going into the last two rounds, with Qamili needing either a knockout or a couple knockdowns to pull out the win. Moscada was deducted a point by referee Katsuhiko Nakamura for throwing Qamili to the canvas at the beginning of round 8. The final scores read as follows: 76-75 twice, 78-73 twice and 77-74, all for Mosqueda. In addition to the trophies, belts and the $100,000 check, Mosqueda improves to 13-0, KOs. Qamili 10. For the first time, falling to 17-1-1, 8 KOs.
The super lightweight final pitted Carlos Utria (Colombia) against Mujibillo Tursunov (Uzbekistan) in a puncher vs boxer matchup. Utria oozed confidence and let the punches flow over the first three rounds. Yet somehow, he was only winning on four of the five judges scorecards, as one judge had Tursunov ahead by a point. Tursunov picked up the pace in the 4th and fifth rounds, but after six rounds were completed, the open scoring saw the fight even on one judge’s card and Utria winning by two points on the cards of the remaining four judges. Tursunov couldn’t close the gap though, as the final tallies read: 77-75 x 3, 78-74 twice, all for Utria, who improves to 14-0, 11 KOs. Tursunov loses his first at 9-1, 2 KOs.
The last final of the tournament was the middleweight final between Derek Pomerleau (Canada) and Dylan Biggs (Australia). Pomerleau suffered a fluke knockdown moments into the fight when he squared up and tried to duck from a Biggs left that just glanced off the top of his head dropping him onto his butt. After the third round, the open scoring revealed Biggs with the lead on all five judges scorecards. Biggs was in complete control and executed that control in such a relaxed manner, coupled with the fact that Pomerleau seemed like he could not get into a rhythm at all. The open scoring after six had Biggs with such a lead that only multiple knockdowns are a knockout could give Pomerleau the victory. The final scores read: 79-72 x 3 and 78-73 twice for Biggs, who improves to 18-1, 9 KOs. Pomerleau loses for the first time at 25-2, 11 KOs.
