A night of boxing at the Overtime Elite Arena was exhilarating as it was thrilling. Both the seasoned fighters and emerging talents demonstrated strengths that their respective opponents pitted against each other to display outstanding bouts.
At the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, a junior welterweight main event saw Dakota Linger (14-7-3, 10 KOs) achieve a stunning upset over the previously unbeaten Kurt Scoby (13-1, 11 KOs). The fight began with Scoby, the 28-year-old from California, displaying sharp boxing skills and controlling the early exchanges with crisp right hands. However, Linger, a 29-year-old from West Virginia, turned the tide in the second round. Over the rounds, Linger’s aggressive style and relentless pressure began to break down Scoby, culminating in a sixth-round stoppage.
In the co-main event, Brandon Adams (24-3, 16 KOs) returned to the ring with a statement, stopping Ismael Villarreal (13-3, 9 KOs) with a devastating body shot in the third round of their quarterfinal match in the OTX 154-pound tournament. Adams, fighting for the first time in three years, showed no signs of ring rust as he delivered a performance that ended with Villarreal incapacitated by a perfectly placed left hook to the body.
The card also featured Francisco Veron (14-0-1, 10 KOs) in another tournament quarterfinal, securing a unanimous decision over Angel Ruiz (18-4-1, 13 KOs) with scores reflecting his dominance throughout the match. Despite a rapidly closing left eye, Veron controlled the pace and landed the more effective punches, setting up a semifinal clash with Adams.
Adding to the night's excitement, young prospect David Lopez (5-0, 4 KOs) continued his ascent in the junior welterweight division by knocking out Anthony Mora (3-2-1, 2 KOs) with a powerful combination in their six-round bout. Meanwhile, Nathan Lugo (1-0, 1 KO) made an explosive professional debut, dispatching Robert Lartigue (1-2, 1 KO) within the first round, signaling his arrival on the professional scene with a spectacular knockout.
Image Credit: DAZN