Chicago’s South Loop was buzzing Saturday night as lightweight thunder met hometown pride inside the University of Illinois arena. A packed house watched pressure-puncher Oscar Duarte share center ring with Chicago’s own Kenneth Sims Jr. in a twelve-round WBA eliminator, while former champs Regis Prograis and “Jo Jo” Diaz traded leather just before them. What followed was three hours of body work, late-round drama and a couple of odd endings that left the crowd chattering on the way out into the humid August air.
Duarte’s constant march eventually wore down Sims; after a fast, mobile start from the local favorite, the Mexican challenger chopped away at the body, pinned Sims to the strands and banked enough late rounds to sway two cards 116-112 and 115-113, with the third judge seeing it level at 114-114.
Prograis, fighting for the first time since losing his title, had to survive rocky patches against Diaz but mixed in heavier single shots and a strong fifth to earn tallies of 98-92 and 96-94 × 2. Diaz rocked him in the opener and again in the stretch, yet couldn’t match the volume down the middle of the bout.
Cruiserweight prospect Tristan Kalkreuth floored late-sub Devonte Williams with a liver shot at the end of round two; Williams removed his mouthpiece, complained of vision trouble in the corner and was ruled unable to continue a second into the third, handing Kalkreuth a technical-knockout win.
Heavyweight puncher Joshua Edwards needed less than a minute: one booming right hand deposited Cayman Audie on the canvas, and the referee waved it off with Audie still on weary legs.
Image Credit: Golden Boy