Andreas Katzourakis wins decision over Kudratillo Abdukakhorov, Robert Terry shuts out Estevan Villalobos

Andreas Katzourakis' debut at 154 pounds was successful.

Katzourakis defeated Kudratillo Abdukakhorov by majority decision on Friday night at the Red Owl Boxing Arena in his hometown of Houston, Texas. One judge scored it 95-95, while two other judges scored it 98-92 and 96-94 for Katzourakis, who went 13-0, 10.

Both fighters chose to stay in the pocket early, exchanging punches and combinations. Midway through the second round, an overhand right nearly dropped Abdukakhorov to the canvas. Moments later, a left counter to the head nearly dropped Katzourakis.

In the third round, Abdukakhorov again managed to land, connecting with a right hand that took Katzourakis' head back. Throughout the war, Abdukakhorov switched back and forth between the general and southern positions. The tactic allowed Abdukakhorov to connect and land on Katzourakis' body, especially during the middle rounds.

Abdukakhorov may have been the more successful fighter early on, but Katzourakis dominated the second half of the fight. Abdukakhorov may have been too busy, but Katzourakis landed the most effective punches during most of the exchanges.

During the last two rounds, Katzourakis took Abdukakhorov down, backing him up against the ropes. Abdukakhorov was able to withstand the spots, but Katzourakis continued to land the most telling blows until the final bell rang.

Katzourakis, 26, who was born in Greece and is managed by David McWater, last fought on January 20, stopping boxer Corey Caad after the third round. His best win to date was an eighth round knockout over Raphael Igbokwe on August 25, his first under the OTX Boxing banner.

Abdukakhorov, who lives in Andijan, Uzbekistan, falls to 20-3, 12 KOs. The 30-year-old had won his last two fights and was a long-time challenger to IBF world champion Errol Spence. Abdukakhorov suffered the first defeat of his career in December 2021, losing by decision to Cody Crowley.

Katzourakis advances to the semi-finals of the OTX Boxing junior middleweight tournament. He will face Robert Terry, who defeated Estevan Villalobos by unanimous decision in the main event. The scores were 100-90, 100-90, and 98-92 for Terry, who improved to 12-0-1, 4 KO.

Villalobos did the attacking in the first round, trying to push Terry back against the ropes. Terry stepped up and successfully countered to the head, following up with multiple punches and combinations to the head.

As the fight went on, Villalobos' punch output decreased, but he was still playing. Terry would begin alternating, connecting two-layer combinations in the head. Terry was the aggressor late in the fight, looking for a knockdown or a knockout, but Villalobos was able to counter or fight without risk.

The 30-year-old Terry, who lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, has won his last three fights since a split decision against Raul Garcia on April 7 of last year.

Villalobos, who now lives in Mount Vernon, Washington and trains with undefeated David Benavidez, drops to 16-3-1, 12 KOs. The 32-year-old has lost his last two fights.

In junior welterweight action, Houston's Giovanni Marquez won by split decision against San Antonio's Jason Limon (8-2-1, 2 KOs). The fight was initially announced as a split decision draw (77-75 Limon, 77-76, Marquez, and 76-76), but OTX Boxing rules mandate another round to decide the winner.

After the bonus round was fought, the fight was re-declared a split decision draw (86-85 Marquez, 86-85 Limon, and 86-86). Afterwards, the Texas Combative Sports Program announced that there was a statistical error on the scorecards, with the scorecards showing Marquez winning 86-85 on two judges' cards.

Marquez improved to 10-0, 5 KO. The 23-year-old is the son of former world junior middleweight champion and 1992 US Olympian Raul Marquez.

Junior welterweight Breyon Gorham of nearby Baytown improved to 17-0, 14 KO, stopping Mexico's Luis Baltazar after the third round.

Gorham dominated Baltazar (12-2-1, 5 KOs) from the opening bell, landing at will with hooks and crosses. Late in the third round, a right hand hook combination dropped Baltazar to the canvas. Baltazar hit the count, out of the round, but Baltazar's corner told referee John Schorle to stop the fight.

In a junior lightweight bout, Alexander Espinoza of Managua, Nicaragua knocked out Gustavo Rivera of Mexico City (9-1, 7 KOs) once en route to a split decision victory. One judge scored it 76-74 for Rivera, while two other judges scored it 76-74 for Espinoza, who is 22-6-2, 8 KOs.

Espinoza was stripped of a point while fighting repeated low blows.

In featherweight action, LeAnna Cruz of Allentown, Pennsylvania defeated sub-sub and former strawweight world titleholder Nancy Franco (19-21-2, 5 KOs) by decision. All three judges scored it 60-54 in favor of Cruz, who went 9-0.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has handled boxing in Southern California and internationally since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. They can be reached at [email protected]

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