By Raffaele Fratto
American heavyweight upstart Da’Mazion Van Houter blitzed 6’8″ Raphael Akpejiori in the first round.
Van Houter kept it familiar, landing hard, flush shots early and often. A heavy combination started by a solid right floored Akpejiori, who stayed down until the count of eight. Van Houter picked up where he left off until Akpejiori held on for dear life, refusing to let go until Van Houter knelt down. Akpejiori was holding Van Houter’s left arm up and almost behind his back, causing Van Houter to wince and reach for the seemingly injured limb. Once the ref separated them and asked Van Houter if he was O.K., the end was moments away. Two more solid right hands put Akpejiori away, and referee Robert Hoyle waved it off over a flattened Akpejiori. The time was 1:58 of the opening stanza. Van Houter improves to 13-0, 10 KOs. Akpejiori falls to 19-4, 18 KOs.
