Oscar Duarte walked away with the win on August 2 when he confronted Kenneth Sims Jr. at Credit score Union 1 Enviornment in Chicago. The 2 fighters went head-to-head for 12 rounds at tremendous light-weight. The Mexican contender defeated Sims by majority determination, with scores of 114-114, 116-112, and 115-113.
With the victory, Duarte improved to 30-2-1, 23 KOs, marking his fourth win since struggling a knockout defeat to Ryan Garcia in late 2023. The 29-year-old additionally received the WBA title eliminator at 140 lbs.
Gary Antuanne Russell (18-1, 17 KOs) of Capitol Heights, MD, is the present WBA champion within the division.
“I’m very completely happy, it was an amazing struggle, a battle,” stated Duarte. “I’m very completely happy about this victory and I’m very completely happy to be nearer to be combating for a world title.”
“Sims Jr. introduced a lot expertise and had nice conditioning. He got here very ready. Nonetheless, I felt that I used to be very ready and that I used to be answerable for the rounds. It was a struggle the place I discovered loads.”
“I’m pleased with doing a rematch with him, wherever he desires to do it. If he desires to run it again in Chicago, we are able to do it right here once more too, however I might come able to knock him out.
31-year-old Chicago native, Sims Jr., dropped to 22-3-1, 8 KOs, snapping his nine-fight profitable streak.
“I assumed I received. It was struggle, robust struggle, however I assumed I received.” stated Sims Jr. “He introduced stress like I anticipated. Relentless stress. It was nothing that I didn’t count on. I imply, I may’ve sharpened my protection. It was struggle. He’s a troublesome fighter.”
It was superb [the fans]. I like my hometown, I like my metropolis. It’s good to see they love me too.”
“Completely [run it back]. I would like it proper again as a result of I received that struggle. It was a detailed struggle, however I received it. We will go proper again to it.”
Regis Prograis defeats Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz in co-feature
Within the co-main occasion, Regis Prograis (30-3, 24 KOs) of New Orleans, LA, defeated fellow former champion Joseph “JoJo” Diaz (34-8-1, 15 KOs) of South El Monte, CA, by unanimous determination at welterweight. After 10 rounds, the judges scored the struggle 98-92, 96-94, and 96-94.
With the victory, Prograis bounced again from two straight defeats towards Jack Catterall and Devin Haney.
“It was like when you could have the jitters coming right into a struggle, then after that you simply get hit with the primary one – after which it’s a struggle,” stated Prograis. “I knew it was gonna be a struggle with him. I went to my nook they usually stated, ‘Hear, simply hold your jab out.’ And that’s what I did. That’s how I received the job finished.”
“Persons are gonna say what they wanna say, however I felt like I wanted this. JoJo’s a veteran. He’s actual robust, and he got here to struggle. We went 10 rounds – 10 laborious rounds – and that’s one thing I undoubtedly wanted in my bag.”
“For me, I need to get again to being a champion. I would like the large cash. Massive cash or a world championship – that’s what I would like subsequent.”
On Duarte vs Sims Jr undercard
Amongst different Duarte vs Sims Jr outcomes, Tristan Kalkreuth (16-1, 11 KOs) of Carrollton, TX, defeated Devonte Williams (13-3, 6 KOs) of Houston, TX, through RTD at cruiserweight. Williams didn’t come out for the third spherical. Kalkreuth dropped Williams within the second spherical with a left physique shot.
Joshua Edwards (4-0, 4 KOs) of Houston, TX, dropped and stopped Cayman Audie (4-2, 2 KOs) of Mora, MN, within the first spherical at heavyweight. The official time was 1:29 into the spherical.
Yair Benjamin Gallardo-Lozano (10-0, 8 KOs) of Mexico defeated Quinton Rankin (21-10-2, 16 KOs) of Charlotte, NC, by unanimous determination after eight rounds at gentle heavyweight. The judges scored it 80-71, 79-72, and 79-72. On his solution to victory, Gallardo dropped Rankin with a left physique shot within the sixth spherical.
On the prelims, Gael Cabrera (9-0, 6 KOs) of Mexico TKO’d Richard Reyes Diaz (3-1-1, 2 KOs) of Cuba within the first spherical at featherweight. Plus, Mehki Phillips (7-0, 7 KOs) of Capitol Heights, MD, stopped Mexico’s Joseph Ricardo Cruz Brown (12-15, 7 KOs) within the second spherical at light-weight.
