Wednesday, December 21, 2022 | Sony Hall, New York, NY
Broadcast: BoxingInsider.com (streamed live and free)
Promoter: Larry Goldberg, Boxing Insider Promotions
Boxing Insider Promotions closed out 2022 with its second event — “Holiday Fight Night” — just four days before Christmas at Sony Hall in Times Square. The five-fight card, streamed live and free on BoxingInsider.com, delivered action from bell to bell, highlighted by an upset in the co-feature and a gutsy main event performance from the Bronx’s rising star. The holiday spirit was in full effect — Christmas decorations filled the venue, ring girls dressed as Santa, and eggnog flowed for the fans.
MAIN EVENT
Andy Dominguez Velasquez (9-0, 6 KOs) def. Marvin Solano (24-8, 8 KOs)
Flyweight — 8 Rounds
Result: Unanimous Decision (78-73, 76-75, 78-73)
Weights: Dominguez 113¾ — Solano 114
The Bronx’s undefeated Andy Dominguez headlined for the first time in his young career — and earned it. Coming off a first-round demolition of Ricardo Caraballo at the same venue two months earlier, Dominguez stepped up in class against the experienced Nicaraguan veteran Solano, who brought 24 wins and over 200 rounds of professional experience into the ring.
It wasn’t easy. Solano’s height and reach advantage gave Dominguez trouble early, as the taller fighter caught him with check hooks and right hands while Dominguez tried to close the distance. But the 20-year-old prospect, a three-time New York Golden Gloves champion, made the adjustments his corner demanded. As the fight wore on, Dominguez dug to the body and wore Solano down, having his best round in the seventh when he hurt Solano with sustained pressure. In the eighth, Solano lost a point for a takedown, and Dominguez closed the show in style. A grueling, competitive fight that proved Dominguez can battle through adversity — not just blast opponents out in one round.
CO-FEATURE
Indeya “Azucar” Smith (6-6-2, 1 KO) def. Sulem Urbina (13-3-1, 2 KOs)
Bantamweight — 8 Rounds, 2-Minute Rounds
Result: Unanimous Decision (79-73, 79-73, 77-75)
In the upset of the night, Dallas’ Indeya Smith outworked the heavily favored former world title challenger Sulem Urbina, who was making her New York debut. Smith started the fight at a furious pace and never let Urbina find her rhythm. Urbina, whose only prior losses had come to unified champion Marlen Esparza and WBA champion Naoko Fujioka, tried to use her footwork and jab to create distance, but Smith walked her down and outworked her on the inside throughout. A cut opened on Urbina from a headbutt midway through the fight, and Smith only picked up the pace from there. A statement win for Smith, whose record doesn’t reflect the caliber of fighter she is.
Nadim “The Unpredictable” Salloum (10-1, 5 KOs) def. Decarlo “3mendo” Perez (19-7-1, 6 KOs)
Super Middleweight — 8 Rounds
Result: Majority Decision
Lebanon’s first and only professional boxer continued his rise with a step-up victory over the experienced Decarlo Perez in his first scheduled eight-rounder. Salloum, who resides in Brooklyn and brings a raucous Lebanese fanbase to every fight at Sony Hall, controlled the action with his reach, combinations and ring movement. Perez, a veteran from Egg Harbor Township and member of the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Department, stayed competitive throughout but couldn’t match Salloum’s output. A significant win for Salloum, who had stopped Capozucco Ahuad on the previous Boxing Insider card.
Anthony “The Magician” Sims Jr. (23-1, 20 KOs) def. Antonio Todd (14-7, 8 KOs)
Middleweight — 8 Rounds
Result: Unanimous Decision (80-72, 80-72, 79-73)
Weights: Sims 158½ — Todd 159¼
The former WBA Intercontinental super middleweight champion made his middleweight debut in his first fight in New York City and cruised to a wide decision. Sims controlled the action with his punch rate and power shots, though Todd, coming off the best year of his career, stayed game and competitive. In the eighth round, a left hook from Sims hurt Todd, but the Atlanta fighter showed heart to survive to the final bell.
Alejandro Luis Silva (W) def. Issah Samir (L)
Result: KO
The undefeated Argentinian Silva scored a quick knockout of Ghana’s Issah Samir to open the evening.
Boxing Insider Fight Night 2 closed out the promotion’s first year with another action-packed card at Sony Hall. For more results and upcoming events, visit Boxing Insider Promotions.
