Before a standing room only crowd at Bally's
in Atlantic City, Ghana's Ayi Bruce, upset hometown favorite Shamone
"The Truth" Alvarez and in the process picked up the Vacant IBA
Continental Welterweight Title winning a majority decision over ten
exciting and action packed rounds. Alvarez-Bruce headlined a
seven bout card promoted by Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing.
Alvarez came out hard and fast in the first
landing with both
hands to the head and body of Bruce and setting a pace that would
continue for much of the fight.
The middle rounds saw both fighters more
than willing to sit and trade, bringing the packed house into a frenzy
time and time again.
Bruce began finding a home for a looping
right hand in the 5th against the southpaw Alvarez. Alvarez
was the aggressor as he continuously pressed the action, but Bruce
countered nicely from the outside.
Both fighters traded big shots in a very
close action packed 8th. Near the end of the 9th round Bruce
landed a huge over hand right that nearly dropped Alvarez.
Both fighters came out in thetenth looking
for the knockout hoping to prevent the close fight from going to the
judges scorecards. The two traded heavy artillery for the
entire round and brought the crowd into a standing ovation as they
stood toe-to-toe to end the action packed main event.
In the end Bruce was awarded a close
majority decision, winning by scores of 97-93, 95-94, while the third
judge had it dead even at 95-95. With the win Bruce improves
to 18-3, 12KO's while Alvarez drops to 21-3, 12KO's.
