Holt Dominates Hlatshwayo For Decision Win

By Mark Vester

Previously undefeated Isaac Hlatshwayo (25-1, 9 KOs) got a little bit more than he bargained for when he moved up in weight to take on Kendall Holt (21-1, 12 KOs) at Bally's Casino Ballroom in Atlantic City, NJ.

Holt made the best of televised exposure on ShoBox to dominate Hlatshwayo with his quicker hands and harder punches. Holt knocked Hlatshwayo down three times during the course of the fight, in rounds 9, 11 and 12.

In the final round, Holt sent Hlatshwayo down on his back and came close to stopping him in the closing seconds. The final scores were 116-109, 119-106 and 119-106.

One welterweight prospect had to lose their "0" when Shamone Alvarez (16-0, 10 KOs) and Enrique Gutierrez (10-1, 8 KOs) clashed in a back and forth fight.

Alvarez came out strong in the first round to score a knockdown, but as the fight wore on, Gutierrez began to press forward and land good combinations to make it a close fight.

Alvarez was able to keep his undefeated record with an eight-round majority decision, scores were 77-74, 76-75 and 76-76.