Michigan boxers Joshua Pagan and Da’Velle Smith put on dominating performances to remain undefeated at Salita Promotions’ “Big Time Boxing Puerto Rico” event on Oct. 18.
Taylor, MI native Smith (10-0, 8KOs) opened the DAZN televised card with a bout against Brazil’s Gilberto Pereira dos Santos (16-16, 12 KOs) and wasted no time.
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The taller, faster and sharper Smith immediately found the range for combinations and hurt his opponent early in the first round. Pereira dos Santos tried to fire back with a wide hook but was countered by Smith’s lightning-quick right hand that sent him tumbling to the canvas.
Pereira dos Santos stood to his feet but the onslaught continued. Smith threw punishing combinations but picked his shots well.
Smith backed him into a corner and unleashed another combination ending with a hook to the body that sent him back to the canvas.
Pereira dos Santos stood to his feet once again as the referee took a close look at him. Smith immediately responded with a hard right hand and the referee stopped the fight with 32 seconds left in the first round.
In the main event, Grand Rapids native Joshua Pagan (11-0, 4KOs) went against Haskell Rhodes (31-7-1, 16KOs) in a 10-round bout in the lightweight division.
Pagan opened the fight by finding range with his long, fast jab. It only took Pagan a round to find the range as he was able to fight comfortably at his pace for the remainder of the bout.
Pagan showcased high boxing IQ as he out-boxed Rhodes over 10 rounds.
Rhodes tried to work on the inside and take away Pagan’s range but Pagan was strong on the inside and remained defensively responsible when necessary. Pagan stepped towards Rhodes with strategic pressure, picking his shots beautifully from long and mid-range.
Pagan dominated the fight over 10 rounds with his superior range, speed, accuracy and ring IQ and was named winner by unanimous decision. One judge scored it 100-90 while the other two scored it 99-91.