Photos: Alex Nunez/Fresh Productions Boxing
IBF bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs) retained his title with a twelve round split decision over Jason Moloney (17-1, 14 KOs) in a World Boxing Super Series bantamweight quarterfinal match on Saturday night at the CFE Arena in Orlando, Florida.
Rodriguez was very sharp and often beat the aggressive Moloney to the punch early on. Moloney rallied furiously down the stretch but it was too little too late. Scores were 115-113 Moloney, 115-113, 115-113 Rodriguez. Great fight. Next up for Rodriguez is WBA champ Naoya Inoue, who was at ringside.
In a WBA cruiserweight eliminator, former champion Yunier Dorticos (23-1, 21 KOs) scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Mateusz Masternak (41-5, 28 KOs) in a World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight quarterfinal match. Big punching Dorticos landed big shots on Masternak from the get-go, but Masternak walked through fire early on and fought hard the full twelve rounds. Scores were 116-112, 115-113, 115-113.
Cruiserweight Mike Perez (24-3-1, 15 KOs) won by ten round unanimous decision over Keith Tapia (18-2, 11 KOs). Scores were 97-92, 96-93, 96-93.
Bantamweight Stephon Young (18-1-3, 7 KOs) outscored Wilner Soto (21-4, 12 KOs) over ten rounds. Scores were 99-90, 99-90, 97-92.