On the NFL's final weekend of the season, Matchroom Boxing's own big show in South Beach had it all: multiple new world champions crowned, two YouTubers fighting for the first time as pros and a dominant performance by Demetirus Andrade in the main event.
In the main event of the DAZN card on January 30 from Miami, Andrade stopped Luke Keeler in the ninth round to retain his WBO middleweight title. Andrade got off to a fast start, dropping Keeler in the opening seconds of the fight and then again late in the second round with an overhand left. Afterwards, Andrade couldn't produce the same explosiveness in the next few rounds as he did in the first two rounds.
Andrade was able to continue dominating the fight and eventually hurt Keeler late in the ninth round. Andrade continued putting the pressure on his opponent and stopped him in the closing seconds of the round. After the bout, Andrade expressed desire for moving up to super middleweight and challenging WBO titleholder Billy Joe Saunders in the hopes of becoming a three-division titlist.
The one contest that many outside the realm of boxing hardcores were interested in seeing was the fight between YouTubers Jake Paul and AnEsonGib in what is the second such fight between two internet celebrities DAZN has streamed.
Paul made quick work of his opponent, sending the flat-footed and uncoordinated Gib to the canvas three times in the first round, resulting in the referee to step in and stop the fight to award the win to Paul. The bizarreness and chaos didn't stop there as YouTuber KSI, who beat Logan Paul, Jake's brother, on a fight streamed on DAZN in December, had a verbal and physical altercation with Jake. KSI and Jake shouted at each other, looking to secure a fight with DAZN broadcasting the fight.
As for the two fights that preceded the YouTubers' brief skirmish, Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Joseph Diaz Jr. captured their respective first world titles after they came out on top with razor-thin margins of victory on the scorecards.
First, Akhmadaliev ended Daniel Roman's reign as the unified WBA and IBF super bantamweight champion, winning a split decision to match Leon Spinks' male record of capturing a unified world title at just eight pro fights. Akhmadliev was sharp throughout the fight, outboxing the more active Roman, who was able to land some significant left hands to the body and uppercuts at various points in the fight. Akhmadaliev won on two of the three scorecards with a score of 115-113 each with the third judge scoring it in favor of Roman 115-113.
Lastly, Diaz beat Tevin Farmer by unanimous decision to win the IBF super featherweight title. The win did not come easy for Diaz as he had to deal with a nasty cut right on his left eyelid throughout the fight, but managed to be the sharper fighter for the night. Farmer looked sluggish at times, not showing the same level of defensive prowess he usually shows in his last few fights. Diaz is now a world champion after unsuccessfully challenging for Gary Russell Jr.'s WBC featherweight title back in 2018.
Here are the results of the Matchroom Boxing on USA DAZN card (1/30) from Miami:
* Demetrius Andrade defeated Luke Keeler by TKO, round 9 to retain the WBO middleweight title
* Jake Paul defeated AnEsonGib by TKO, round 1
* Joseph Diaz Jr. defeated Tevin Farmer by unanimous decision (116-112, 115-113, 115-113) to win the IBF super featherweight title
* Murodjon Akhmadaliev defeated Daniel Roman by split decision (115-113, 113-115, 115-113) to win the unified WBA and IBF super bantamweight titles
* Amanda Serrano defeated Simone Aparecida Da Silva by TKO, round 3
* Alexis Espino defeated Vincent Baccus by TKO, round 3
* Roamer Alexis Angulo defeated Anthony Sims Jr. by split decision (96-93, 94-95, 96-93) to retain the WBO Latino super middleweight
* Austin Williams defeated Donald Sanchez by TKO, round 4
