Late replacement Sergey Lipinets sends Omar Figueroa into retirement

Showtime Championship Boxing made its way back to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida for the first time in nearly a decade on Saturday night (8/20).

Slated to fight in the main event was Cincinnati’s Adrien Broner against Texan Omar Figueroa Jr.

Plans changed as Broner unexpectedly pulled out at the beginning of fight week, citing mental health issues. 

The PBC team, as well as Tom Brown’s TGB Promotions, made the quick change, filling the spot with Sergey Lipinets, 17-2-1 (13).

Already in the gym and prepared to fight on this night, there was no hesitation from the Lipinets camp when the challenge presented itself. 

With a WBC 140 lb. eliminator bout on the line, these two were aware of what was at stake. 

Figueroa Jr, 28-3-1 (19), spoke of his time away from the ring as well as mental health issues of his own at Thursday’s press conference. 

He followed up those comments by telling everyone what a great camp he had and how much he enjoyed himself in training leading up to this fight. 

Despite the sudden change of plans, Omar was in a good place and looked to regain what he once had in his time as a champion. 

The fight certainly didn’t play out the way he hoped and expected as Lipinets stepped on the gas early and often. 

His work rate was just too much for Figueroa, and his team, rightfully called off the fight as the 8th round concluded. 

It was an aggressive opening round - with Figueroa switching up from orthodox to southpaw and applying pressure. Lipinets obliged. 

Lipinets landed a nice right hand early in the second, setting the tone for what was to come in the ensuing rounds. 

He dropped Figueroa with a big right hand later in the round and followed up with hooks to the body and continued pressure of his own. 

Over the next six rounds, it was the consistent attack of Lipinets that overwhelmed Figueroa, who had no answer. 

The lopsided stats had Figueroa landing only 44 of 475 punches thrown while Lipinets landed 172 of 517. 

It was the final chapter of Figureoa Jr.’s 30+ fight career. 

Figueroa was apologetic after the fight and had a lot to say. 

"I’m very disappointed about the outcome. My team and I worked so hard during this training camp. My body has reached its limit. I’ve been doing this for 27 years, and my body has finally had enough. I’m just sorry I’ve disappointed the fans.

A rejuvenated Lipinets commented:

"I did well considering that he caught me with a good punch early on."
“I had a good fighter in front of me. My hat’s off to Omar for being a warrior."

The co-feature of the evening, a WBA 140-lb title fight, took place between Dominican Alberto Puello, 21-0 (10), and Uzbekistan’s Botirzhon Akhmedov, 9-2 (8). 

Puello edged out the victory by split decision in a competitive fight between two contrasting styles. 

The Dominican had a lot to prove. His opponent was trained by Joel Diaz, a trainer he claims turned down the opportunity to work with him in the past.

Puello had the height advantage and looked to box on the outside, while Akhmedov pressured and looked to keep the fight at close range.

Both had success doing so throughout the fight. This one was a tough fight to score.

Each round played out in a very similar fashion.

Puello was slightly more active, throwing 61 more punches throughout the fight. His jab output accounted for 60 of those punches.

Power punches were in Akhmedov’s favor at 198/502 - while Puello landed 168/503. 

Many at press level saw a very close, evenly contested fight that could have gone either way.

Puello commented, "I knew it was a close fight. I just kept the distance and kept the pressure on the jab tonight. That helped me get the victory.

"Joel Diaz once told me I had no talent, and he didn’t let me join his team. I proved him wrong."

Akhmedov was not available for comments.

Fellow Dominican Hector Garcia, 16-0 (10), earned the WBA super featherweight title by defeating incumbent Roger Gutierrez, 26-4-1 (20), of Venezuela by unanimous decision.  

Garcia had a confident look and demeanor about him at Thursday’s press conference.   

Just like his fight with Chris Colbert, the gritty Dominican kept his eye on the prize, in this case, a world title. 

The first round started well with underdog Garcia, a southpaw, throwing a lot of straight left hands to the body of the right-handed Gutierrez.

Gutierrez soon answered with a right hand to the head of Garcia, sending him back to the ropes.

From the second round-up through the 8th, it was the slick southpaw Garcia out working and outmaneuvering the pressure of Gutierrez.  

Later in the 8th round, Gutierrez landed a right hand, getting the attention of Garcia.

The rugged Venezuelan made a late surge in the final four rounds, but it was not enough to overcome the work Garcia put in throughout the fight.

Judges rightfully scored it 117-111 x 2 and 118-110.

Gutierrez had no complaints about the decision and knew he wasn’t active enough. 

Puello and Garcia, are close friends, and will both bring titles back to the Dominican Republic after a historic night for their homeland.

Garcia commented, "It was fair for God to give me this opportunity. I worked hard for it. I’m thankful to PBC, Bob Santos, Luis DeCubas Jr, my team. 

"I dedicated to my people, the entire Dominican Republic, and my town, San Juan de Maguana."

In the opening TV bout of the night, California’s Brandun Lee won a unanimous decision over Albany, NY’s Will Madera over ten rounds of action. 

The two came in just under 143 lbs. at Friday’s weigh-in. 

Lee, now 26-0 with 22 knockouts, touched the canvas in the third round and hung on to win the rest of the rounds on the judges’ cards. 

Madera, 17-2-3 (10), overcame an early cut to hang tough until the final bell sounded. 

After a quiet opening round, Lee opened up more, causing a cut over the right eye of Madera with a sharp left hand in the second.

Madera suddenly floored Lee in the third with a big right hand. Lee hung on to survive on unsteady legs as the round ended. 

Madera had a burst of energy in the fourth round, testing the balance of Lee. 

Madera continued to have issues seeing with his right eye, as the fresh cut was being worked on. 

Before the start of the fifth round, the doctor took a close look at the eye of Madera and allowed the action to continue. 

Lee continued to work behind a steady left hand.

Maxboxing’s score had it even at this point, 47-47.

Showtime’s Steve Farhood had it 48-46 in Lee’s favor. 

Lee remained active in the sixth, making separation on the cards as a well-placed power jab early in the round set the tone. 

Madera continued to look for the right hand in the 7th round as the final minute approached. 

Lee had an active left hand in the final 30 seconds, using his jab and hook consistently. 

Madera’s cut was handled well by the start of the eighth. 

Lee continued to work behind his lead left hand throwing hooks, jabs, and uppercuts, keeping Madera at bay. 

Madera landed a clean left hook that caught the attention of Lee, the high point of the round for him. 

It still wasn’t enough to steal the round on the score cards.

The two went back and forth in the 10th and final round, with Lee getting the better of the exchanges.  

The Judges all scored it 98-91 across the board. 

Lee showed poise, coming back well from the adversity imposed early in the fight.

"To be honest, I thought some rounds were closer than the scorecards," said Lee. 

"He didn’t hurt me after that. That was just that one punch that I didn’t see. That was my 100% fault."

Undercard results: Warren upset by Portillo, and Oberlton goes the distance. 

Atif Oberlton, (6-0, 5 KOs), of Philadelphia, PA, W by UD 6 (60-54 x 2 and 59-55) over Robert Burwell, (9-7, 3 KOs), of Orlando, FL-Light Heavyweights 

Fiodor Czerkaszyn, (20-0, 13 KOs), of Warsaw, Poland, W by 4th Rd corner stoppage (2:19) over Gilbert Venegas Jr, (11-2, 7 KOs), of East Moline, IL-Middleweights 

Lenier Pero, (8-0, 5 KOs), of Camaguey, Cuba, W by KO1 (2:29) over Joel Caudle, (9-7-2, 6 KOs), of North Carolina-Heavyweights 

Francisco Portillo, (18-11-2, 10 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico, W by UD6 (58-56, 57-56 x 2) over Rau’shee Warren, (19-4, 5 KOs), of Cincinnati, OH-Bantamweights 

Ismael Barroso, (24-3-2, 22 KOs), of Miami, FL, W by KO4 (2:11) over Fernando Saucedo, (63-10-3, 10 KOs), of Buenos Aires, Argentina-Super Lightweights 

Miguel Hernandez, (6-0, 6 KOs), of Dallas, TX, W by KO3 (2:05) over Anthony Hannah, (3-4, 2 KOs), of Augusta, GA-Super Welterweights 

Michael Angeletti, (6-0, 5 KOs), of New Orleans, LA, W by KO1 (2:28) over Rafael Morel, (1-6-1, 1 KO), of Hickory, NC-Super Bantamweights