The Wild and Wackiness that was the Triller Pay-Per-View
Atlanta, GA– YouTube star turned boxer, ‘The Problem Child’ Jake Paul scored a first-round TKO over former MMA star, ‘Funky’ Ben Askren in the headliner in the Triller Fight Club pay-per-view at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The fight was over almost as soon as it started. Paul feinted with a left hand before connecting with a strong overhand right that put Askren down immediately. Askren beat the count, but referee Brian Stutts took a long look and felt he was unable to continue. It was waved off the at 1:59 mark of the first round. This was Askren’s professional boxing debut and Paul remains undefeated with a record of 3-0, winning all by knockout.
The co-feature saw former super lightweight champion, Regis Prograis initially winning a controversial sixth-round technical decision over Ivan Redkach. Prograis was winning the fight on all scorecards, when he landed a looping right that grazed Redkach’s side and back. That punch sent Redkach to the canvas withering in pain. The only issue was, Redkach was grabbing his groin area as if he had gotten hit there. Replay showed that was not the case. As Redkach (23-6-1, 18 KOs), rolled around in agony, referee Jim Korb gave him time to recover. It was not enough time for Redkach.
The fight was called as a technical decision by way of accidental foul. The ringside physician came to check on him before a gurney was called to transport him out of the ring. A clearly frustrated Progais felt that he was faking. Progais called attention to the screen and proclaimed he wanted his win to count as a knockout. Eventually, the following Monday, the Georgia State Commission reversed the ruling by giving Progais the sixth-round TKO he rightfully deserved. Prograis improved his record to 26-1, 22 KOs.
The night was filled with very colorful commentary from ‘SNL’sPete Davidson, Triller’s co-owner and rapper, Snoop Dogg, supermodel Taylor Hill, actor Mario Lopez, TikTok stars Dixie and Charli D’Amelio. Boxing insight was also provided by boxing analysts Ray Flores, Al Bernstein and Mike Coppinger and there was even a special guest appearance by Golden Boy Promotions CEO, Oscar De La Hoya. Wrestling legend Ric Flair even made an appearance as he officiated a slapping contest. The show also featured musical performances by Saweetie, Justin Bieber, Diplo, the Black Keys, and the newly formed rap supergroup: Mt. Westmore (Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, E-40, and Too Short).
Highly Tactical Fight Between Harrison and Perrella Ends in a Draw
Los Angeles, CA- Returning from a sixteen-month layoff, former WBC super welterweight champion, Tony ‘Superbad’ Harrison proved he still has a lot in the tank. At the Shrine Exposition Center, he fought to his first draw of his professional career against, ‘Goodfella’ Bryant Perrella. Harrison, 30 was able show that his heart and desire for the sport is still there. This was Harrison’s first fight with his older brother, Lloyd as lead trainer. Lloyd is replacing their late father, Ali Salaam, who had been Tony’s trainer his entire career.
Perrella, 32 was coming off a fourteen-month layoff and fighting under a new trainer, enlisting the tutelage of boxing great, Roy Jones Junior. The impact of Jones was evident as Perrella picked and choose his spots when to attack and be aggressive. Harrison was able to have a lot of his success staying behind his jab. Perrella (17-3-1, KOs) was statistically the busier fighter, landing 150 of 692 (22 percent) total punches thrown in comparison to Harrison, who was more accurate landing 138 of 453 (30 percent). Of Perrella’s 150 punches landed, 118 of them were power punches. Harrison landed 78 power punches, but again he was more accurate (78/171 for 46 percent). 60 of Harrison’s punches landed were jabs.
Based on the judging, the fight seemed to hang in the balance in round twelve. Perrella of Fort Myers went into the round down on two scorecards 105-104 and 107-102 and ahead on one 107-102. Jones encouraged his charge to go for the knockout sensing he was down on the cards. Perrella was not able to do so but was clearly more aggressive than Detroit’s Harrison. That enabled all three judges giving him that round. In the end the scorecards read: 116-112 for Harrison, 117-111 for Perrella, and 114-114 for the split draw.
Afterwards, Harrison (28-3-1, 21 KOs) was not angry that he was not given the nod. “The judges do their job, I’m not disappointed in their decision.”, he said. He also admitted that he probably could have “let hands go a little more”.
Perrella was perhaps a little more disappointed. “I thought I did enough to win.”, but also added in, “He’s real crafty and a veteran”. He was very optimistic about his chances in the super welterweight division. “I’m just getting my feet wet at 154…..It’s going to get even better next time out”, he said. The fight was the main event of a Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on FOX.
The co-main event saw undefeated super lightweight prospect, Omar ‘El Relampago’ Juarez in total control of his fight against Argentina’s Elias Araujo (21-3, 8 KOs). Juarez dominated from the start but, Araujo kept coming on the attack. Juarez of Brownsville, Texas was able to slow his man down with a steady diet of hooks to the body and jabs. All three judges saw things in Juarez’s favor, scoring the bout: 99-91 twice and 98-92. Juarez’s record improved to 11-0 with 5 knockouts.
The biggest surprise of the evening took place when James Martin of Philadelphia, handed unbeaten prospect, Vito Mielnicki Jr. his first professional loss in their eight-round bout. Martin (7-2) used high activity rate and counter punching to get out ahead in the fights early rounds and bloodied Mielnicki’s nose. Mielnicki, 18 began to pick up some momentum in rounds four through six by landing hooks and right hands to get himself back into the fight. However, Martin would not be deterred and took control down the stretch in rounds seven and eight. That earned him a majority decision victory win scores of 76-76, 79-73, and 77-75. Mielnicki falls to 8-1 with 5 KOs.
Andrade Retains Belt and Wants a Unification Next
Hollywood, FL- Demetrius ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade retained his WBO middleweight title with his unanimous decision win over the tough Welshman, Liam ‘The Machine’ Williams. The fight was the headliner of a Matchroom DAZN card at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Andrade got off to a hot start and knocked down Williams in the second round after a combination ending with a straight right hand. Williams was able to beat the count and survive the round. Andrade (30-0, 18 KOs) was able to consistently land upcuts through Williams’ high guard throughout the fight. Williams (23-3-1, 18 KOs) was relentless in his steady pursuit of the ever-moving Andrade and stunned and hurt him in the ninth with a right hook. But it was not enough, because Andrade was able to sneak in those uppercuts and hooks. The judges saw all agreed that Andrade was the winner, with scores of 118-109 twice and 116-111.
After the fight and with Matchroom promoter, Eddie Hearn by his side, the Providence, Rhode Island native had a strong message for the other middleweight champions: Gennadiy Golovkin, Jermall Charlo, and Ryota Murata. “I shouldn’t have to inspire anyone to get in the ring with me for a belt, an undefeated record and a whole lot of money on the table.”, he said. He further elaborated, I am ready to show that I am the best and to do that, I want to step in with those champions and they have to do the same thing as well.”
