The boxing world took center stage on Cince de Mayo weekend with Gennady Golovkin vs. Vanes Martirosyan at the Stubhub Center in Carson, Calif. The event was dubbed “Mexico Style 2” as pound-for-pound great Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) faced his late replacement Martirosyan (36-3-1, 21 KOs).
The bout was for Golovkin’s WBA (Super), WBC, and IBO middleweight titles. Initially, Triple G was slated to face off against Canelo Alvarez in a rematch of their Sept. 16 draw, but Canelo was forced to withdraw from the bout following two positive drug tests for clenbuterol. Canelo claimed that the failed drug tests were a result of contaminated meat. With Canelo withdrawing from the bout, Vanes Martirosyan stepped in to fill the void.
In the co-main event of the night, Cecilia Braekhus (32-0, 9 KOs), the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound women’s fighter, defended her four welterweight championships — WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and IBO female welterweight titles — against Kali Reis (13-6-1, 4 KO). Braekhus’ appearance on the fight card is a historic one, becoming the first woman to fight on HBO boxing.
“America is always the dream for every fighter to come and make it big,” Braekhus told the media during fight week. “Every fighter on the planet wishes and dreams to be on the biggest boxing stage in the world. I know there’s a lot of fighters, a lot of male fighters, who would do anything to be where I am on Saturday, so this is a big deal.”
If you missed out on Saturday night’s HBO event, we have you covered. All of the information you need from the Cinco de Mayo event can be seen below.
Golovkin vs. Martirosyan Full Fight Video Highlights & Results
Gennady Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) vs. Vanes Martirosyan (36-3-1, 21 KOs)
Cecilia Braekhus (32-0, 9 KOs) vs. Kali Reis (13-6-1, 4 KO)
Braekhus was controlling the fight through the early rounds, building up a strong lead before she appeared to get a little too comfortable. But at the midway point of the fight she was caught with a straight right hand by Reis that perfectly landed on the button and put the champ on the mat for the first knockdown of the fight.
Cecilia Braekhus vs Kali Reis #GGGVanes Different angles of Knockdown pic.twitter.com/fupY7aK02D
— Fancy Combat (@FancyCombat) May 6, 2018
Following her first standout round of the night, Reis showed some added confidence and continued to come forward in front of the champ. As Round 8 began to wind down, Kali Reis once again unloaded the straight right onto Braekus’ chin to once again put the reigning title holder in danger before she was saved by the bell.
While Reis was able to turn it on late, she was unable to put the champion away and the early-round dominance for Braekhus appeared to have the fight leaning in her favor. Did Reis’ late-round rally do enough to score the upset of Braekus? It all came down to the judges.
.@1LadyCecilia lands a big combination in round 10 of her win against Kali Reis. #BraekhusReis pic.twitter.com/BeZaT6fx2c
— HBOboxing (@HBOboxing) May 6, 2018
Official Decision: Cecilia Braekhus def. Kali Reis via unanimous decision (97-92, 96-93, 96-93)
Golovkin vs. Martirosyan Fight Card
- Gennady Golovkin vs. Vanes Martirosyan for Golovkin’s WBA/WBC Middleweight title
- Cecilia Braekhus vs. Kali Reis for Braekhus’ WBA/WBC/WBO/IBF Women’s Welterweight title
- Ryan Martin vs. Breidis Prescott; Junior Welterweight
- Brian Ceballo vs. Nam Phan; Welterweight
- Román “Chocolatito” González vs. Pedro Guevara
