Hank Lundy may now finally get his shot at a world title.
Lundy once again traveled on the road and scored an impressive unanimous decision over previously once-beaten Angelo Santana in Friday’s main event of ShoBox: The New Generation at the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio
Santana (14-2, 11 KOs), once considered a can’t-miss prospect, was coming off a surprising knockout loss in his last bout and was taking what many considered to be a risky move in facing a veteran opponent. Lundy (23-3-1, 11 KOs) proved to be too much for the Cuban-born lightweight. He established himself as the aggressor and exposed his opponent as a limited fighter as Santana faded in the middle rounds.
Lundy, who scored the lone knockdown of the fight in the ninth round and dictated the tempo from beginning to end, showed that experience is one of the most dangerous weapons in boxing, winning the bout 98-91 on all three scorecards.
“It’s SHOWTIME,” Lundy said. “We’ll go anywhere, baby. We come to fight. Once again, I’ll take my bundle and travel wherever I need to go. It’s time for me to claim a world title.
“I put on a boxing clinic in there. The only thing he could get was the stuff I gave him. It was kind of easy in there. I just wish I hit the body a little more because I could have stopped him.”
Santana, who has now lost back-to-back bouts, did not disagree with the judges’ decision.
“I’m not going to argue it. He didn’t surprise me; it was just an off night. I’m disappointed but I’ll be back.”
As impressive as the win was for Lundy, it was equally devastating for Santana according to boxing expert and color commentator Steve Farhood.
“It’s a significant win for Lundy because now he can revisit the thought of a shot at a world title and a crippling loss for Santana because he can no longer be thought of as a legitimate prospect.”
In a battle of unbeatens in the ShoBox opener, Amir Imam registered his 12th consecutive knockout at 1:59 of the fourth round with a brutal straight right that sent Jared Robinson stumbling through the ropes and out of the ring.
Robinson came out aggressive and applied pressure in the opening rounds, leaving himself open to power shots that Imam continually landed to back up Robinson against the ropes in the small ring. With a little more than a minute to go in the fourth, Imam (13-0, 12 KOs) landed a left combo that staggered Robinson, followed by the vicious straight right that sent Robinson falling through the ropes and out of the ring.
Robinson (14-1, 6 KOs) appeared to fall on his head near the water bucket in Imam’s corner and was rocking back and forth as he climbed back in to the ring while attempting to beat the count. Robinson managed to get back in the ring unassisted within the allotted 20 seconds, but referee Jim Howe halted the bout at 1:59.
“He was off balance so I think it was a good stoppage,” Imam said. “If the ref didn’t stop it then I would have just had to stop him on my own.
“It probably surprised a lot of people, but not me.”
Robinson, who said he felt fine in his locker room following the knockout, didn’t disagree with Howe’s decision.
“My eyes were never closed but I was rocking myself back and forth to climb back in the ring,” Robinson said. “It probably would have taken me a few more rounds to get my wits back but I was back in the ring in time.”
Friday’s fights will replay on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available On Demand through March 21.
Barry Tompkins called the ShoBox action from ringside with boxing historian Steve Farhood and former World Champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer was Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
