ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey – Roiman Villa won on points for the first time in 26 professional fights on Friday night, but the knockout artist also established himself as a welterweight worth watching.
Villa of Venezuela eliminated previously undefeated Janelson Bocachica in the second round and defeated him by an eight-round unanimous decision at Bally’s Event Center. Judges Jacklyn Atkins (79-72), Mark Consentino (78-73) and Paul Wallace (79-72) called Villa the clear winner of a fight televised on Showtime to open a “ShoBox: The New York” tripleheader. Generation”.
The robust and aggressive Villa improved to 25-1. Detroit’s Bocachica represented a step up in competition for the 29-year-old veteran, who knocked out 24 of his first 25 foes, much of it against unspeakable opposition in South America.
The 23-year-old Bocachica (17-1-1, 11 KOs) fought for the first time in more than 13 months. He fought to a controversial 10-round split draw with Shinard Bunch (19-1-1, 16 KO, 1 NC) in their previous fight, a 10-round duel in July 2021.
Villa pushed for the knockout in the eighth and final round, but Bocachica’s toughness allowed him to reach the final bell. A counter right hand from Villa rocked Bocachica early in the eighth round, but Bocachica stayed on his feet.
Bocachica held on for moments in the eighth round, long enough to limit Villa’s momentum as he attempted to score a knockout.
Bocachica’s right hand landed early in the seventh round, but didn’t hurt Villa. A right hand from Villa cracked Bocachica’s head in the last minute of the seventh round.
Bocachica caught Villa with a left hook that knocked him off balance early in the sixth round. Bocachica connected with a right hand to the body later in the sixth.
Dock warned Villa for a low blow in the middle minute of the fifth round, when Villa kept Bocachica on his back foot.
Villa’s right hand caused Bocachica to hold him in the Bocachica corner early in the fourth round. Dock warned Villa for hitting Bocachica when he called for a break later in the fourth round.
After Villa sent Bocachica to the canvas in the second round, he spent most of the third round hitting Bocachica in the head and body. Bocachica showed toughness during that round, but none of his punches stopped the aggressive Villa from moving forward.
Bochachica spat out his mouth guard three times in the second round after Villa dropped him with a right hand earlier in that round. Dock deducted a point after his mouthpiece hit the canvas for the third time.
Bocachica connected with a left hook and then a right uppercut in the first round that caught Villa’s attention. They traded flush right hands later in the first round, but both fighters took those shots well.
Villa caught Bocachica with a right hand that backed him up late in the first round.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
