PBC on NBC Undercard Results: Dominic Breazeale Stops Yasmany Consuegra

For the first round and a half of the featured heavyweight attraction on the Premier Boxing Champions card on NBC, it seemed like popular American heavyweight prospect Dominic Breazeale was in slow-motion. It didn’t take too much longer before he was parading around the ring with his gloves raised, the beneficiary of crushing knockout power.

Breazeale, who was on the U.S. Olympic team in 2012, took his time in the first round as he tried to figure out Yasmany Consuegra. The former Cuban amateur champion multiple times over was doing well with his loopy overhand right in the first; he landed it almost at will but it never was thudding enough to give Breazeale pause. The towering 6’7” prospect seemed defiant of what the Cuban was doing, as if he knew it was just a matter of time before one of his hand grenades detonated on Consuegra’s chin.

As he likely expected, it was with seconds remaining in the second round when Consuegra was on his gloves and knees, wondering what put him there. He ducked down to try and get inside the massive reach of Breazeale, but the Californian popped with him a short right hand that dropped him. Consuegra beat the count and didn’t appear to be hurt, but the round ended anyway.

Related » Breazeale-Consuegra Round-by-Round Scoring

Breazeale wasted no time in the following stanza, however, and it wasn’t long before he leveled the former amateur star with a crushing right uppercut. Consuegra again had ducked under and led with his chin, which gave ‘Here Comes Trouble’ the opening he had set up. Once the shot connected, the fight was over, even though Consuegra was able to climb back to his feet. As soon as he was allowed to continue, Breazeale took him off his feet with another right hand.

Consuegra (17-1, 14 KOs) again found the strength to get back to his feet, but with him gasping for air and wobbling like a Jell-O mold, the referee called it off, officially signaling the end at 1:49 of the third.

“I got another knockout so I can’t complain,” said a pleased Breazeale, who improved to 15-0 with his 14th knockout. “I noticed he was putting his head on his left side so I knew my right uppercut and jab would set it up. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Breazeale said he feels as though he’s ready for the best of the division earlier in the week. Whether his experience is there yet remains to be seen, but he certainly has enough power in his hands to turn anybody’s lights out.

Cuello Flattens Darchinyan

Argentina continues to churn out terrific fighters with crushing knockout power. Fighting in front of arguably the largest potential television audience of his career, WBA featherweight title holder Jesus Cuello demonstrated once again that he deserves to share the ring with the elite of his weight class.

Cuello patiently picked apart former multiple-time world champion Vic Darchinyan and eventually stopped him in the eighth. Cuello unloaded a ferocious overhand right as Darchinyan was backing up and it landed flush on his jaw. Darchinyan (40-8-1, 29 KOs), who had been knocked out three times previously, fell flat onto his side. ‘Raging Bull’ was able to climb back up, but he was essentially out on his feet.

Darchinyan’s corner tried throwing in the towel when the fight resumed, but referee Tom Taylor’s back was turned as he watched Cuello unleash a flurry of punches. After a few of them landed cleanly, Taylor stepped in, just as Darchinyan’s corner was rushing into the ring. The official time of the TKO came at 1:04 of the eighth, allowing Cuello to rise to 27-1 with 21 KOs. The young Argentinean is hoping to land a shot at either Abner Mares or Leo Santa Cruz next.

Angulo Knocks Out Raines

Poplular Mexican slugger Alfredo Angulo improved to 23-5 with 19 KOs with a fifth round stoppage of Delray Raines. ‘Perro’ knocked down Raines (19-11-1, 14 KOs) once in the fourth and twice in the fifth to snap his three-fight losing streak. Angulo’s right hand was the prime offender for the knockdowns and Raines, from Arkansas, couldn’t withstand the power.

In the final bout of the afternoon, unbeaten contender Alejandro Luna was too quick and too accurate for old-time veteran Cristobal Cruz as he cruised to a well-earned unanimous decision. Luna (18-0, 13 KOs) won via tallies of 79-73 and 80-72 (twice) on the official scorecards. Cruz, a former world champion, dipped to 40-17-4 with 24 KOs.