Lightweight Thomas Mattice (15-1-1, 11 KOs) scored an eighth round TKO over previously unbeaten hometown favorite and highly regarded Michael Dutchover (13-1, 10 KOs) on Friday night at La Hacienda Event Center in Midland, Texas.
Both fighters had their moments in a fast-paced fight. In round eight, Dutchover suffered a cut over the left eye, which referee Robert Velez ruled as coming from a punch. The ringside physician determined that Dutchover couldn’t continue. Time was 1:33. At the time of the stoppage, Dutchover had a 68-65 and 69-64 lead on two cards, while Mattice was up 67-66 on the third card.
“I wanted a stoppage but not that kind of stoppage,” said Mattice. “My corner told me, ‘It’s the eighth round and we probably need a knockout.’ And that’s when I pressed him.”
Dutchover said, “I got cut with a big punch and it opened up and the ref said I couldn’t continue. I wanted to continue but they didn’t let me…I was up on the scorecards and I was going to finish the fight but it was out of my control, the referee stopped it and there’s nothing that I could do about it and that’s that.”
Other Results:
In a clash of unbeaten featherweights, Ruben Villa (17-0, 5 KOs) shut out Enrique Vivas (17-1, 9 KOs). Villa dropped Vivas in round two, a round that went four minutes. Scores were 100-89 across the board. There was a lengthy delay between rounds five and six due to a broken ring rope.
Unbeaten jr welterweight Brandun Lee (16-0, 14 KOs) scored a second round KO over Milton Arauz (10-2-1, 5 KOs). Lee laid out Arauz with a right hand just before the bell to end round two. Time was 2:59.
17-year-old welterweight prospect Vito Mielnicki Jr. (2-0, 2 KOs) needed about a minute to finish Caleb Bailey (0-2). Bailey down twice.
This was a pretty good fight until the cut and stoppage.
Doesn’t seem fair to declare it a KO loss for the fighter that was winning just because of a cut. Rules should be changed.