OAKLAND, CA — When Andre Ward?s original opponent, Andre Dirrell, pulled out of their scheduled scrap, the boxing world wondered if Ward?s focus would waver, now that the bout would be outside the confines of the ?Super Six? tournament.
Unfortunately for Sakio Bika, there would be no letdown.
Ward, 168, punished his relentlessly charging opponent over 12 rounds in front of his hometown fans at the Oracle Arena to make the second successful defense of his WBA super middleweight title by unanimous decision.
Marty Sammon scored it 120-108, Jon Schorle 118-110, and Hunter Walton 118-110, all in favor of the 2004 Olympic gold medalist.
While the final margin was decisive, Ward was not satisfied with his performance.
?I did what I had to do to win but now I have to watch the tape to see what I did wrong and what I did right,? opined the champion. ?I?m hard on myself. I don?t think I did good. But we got the win. I?d like to thank God for putting me in this position. I have to keep putting my work in, stay humble, and work the fruits of my labor.?
In the spirit of the November holiday season, the Oakland faithful gave thanks for another virtuoso performance from their local star, who repeatedly found himself in close quarters with Bika. An exhibition of boxing would be the story of the night but the first few chapters would entail a brawl.
?Bika?s and my style clashed. We bumped heads, elbows, but it is what it is. We had to do what we had to do.?
In the first three rounds, Bika would engage Ward and attempt to lock him up on the inside. With Bika?s previous history with headbutts an issue leading up to the fight, Ward took calculated risks when initiating his offense. He repeatedly used his left glove and forearm as a buffer zone between him and Bika before countering.
Referee Dan Stell now had his work cut out for him, as Bika?s rough-and-tumble style was met with disdain from the Oakland partisan crowd. With a little over two minutes in the fourth, Ward seemed to have knocked Bika down but Stell ruled it a slip. As the pace began to pick up, Ward seemed to relish the proverbial fight in a phone booth, as both he and Bika landed left hooks that sent sweat from both men soaring into press row.
The outcome began to take shape in the fifth and sixth, when Ward took the initiative in walking his man down, utilizing a variety of feints, bouncing off the balls of his toes, and demonstrating slippery head movement on the inside. He got the better of most of the exchanges, namely a crisp lead right hand and counter left hook that found its mark.
The seventh round saw Bika revert to Greco-Roman-style tactics. It was clear that if he was up against the house fighter in his hometown, that he would fight his fight, win, lose, or draw. However, Ward remained unfazed and in the last 30 seconds of the frame, turned his man and steered clear of danger once more
At this point, the estimated 4,100 in attendance began to chant ?S.O.G.!? A wary Ward continued to put up his gloves to protect his head in anticipation of the lunging, rangy Bika. The durable challenger withstood the castigation and outslugged Ward to take the round by a hair.
Bika was unable to capitalize, and in the last minute of the ninth round, he seemed to have lost some steam. The percussion from Ward?s fists became more robust as a result of a target more stationary than the first half of the fight.
One frame later, the two locked horns again, and this time, a headbutt finally came to fruition. Surprisingly, Bika would get the worse of it, incurring a cut over his left eye.
The final two rounds were marked by a rugged Bika swinging for the fences and Ward artfully dodging the bombardment, which at this point, came one punch at a time. Ward kept his distance, peppering Bika with his left jab and blunting any last stand from his opponent by clinching in the final seconds.
Bika, 168, had come up empty in his first two title challenges against Joe Calzaghe in 2006 and Lucian Bute one year later, with both bouts taking place in the champion?s backyard. The third time was not the charm but the Australian, by way of Douala, Cameroon, was gracious in defeat.
?Andre is the toughest fight I?ve ever had,? admitted Bika. ?Thank you to Goossen Tutor for giving me the opportunity to fight him.?
Surprisingly, the orthodox Ward never switched to southpaw at any point of the fight, which has become a hallmark of his style.
?I usually do that on the spur of the moment,? shared Ward. ?There were a couple times when Virg? [Hunter, Ward?s trainer] would tell me to do it but it just felt right this time not to switch.?
For Ward, his top spot in the semifinals of the Showtime ?Super Six? tournament was already secure. Based on the standings, he will face the fourth-seed, German-based Armenian Arthur Abraham next, who lost a unanimous decision to Carl Froch in Finland.
?We?ll go back to the tape and then talk about Abraham,? shared Ward. ?I stayed at the hotel watching everyone eat while my family stayed at home for Thanksgiving. It?s going to be great to kiss my wife and kids when I get home.?
The fighter also showed this writer an inflamed knuckle on his left index finger, which he said he would like to get examined as soon as possible.
?We?re looking at a March date for now,? said promoter Dan Goossen of Goossen Tutor, Ward?s promoter. ?Sauerland (Abraham?s promoter) does not to come to Oakland.?
?We?ll fight Manny [Pacquiao] if he wants to move up,? joked Antonio Leonard, who handles Ward with Goossen.
Early indications are that Goossen Tutor would like to hold the semifinal matchup in Oakland, or even in Las Vegas, where Ward has longed to fight. However, they are averse to it happening in Germany, especially when considering that Abraham has lost two of his three ?Super Six? bouts and would be coming in as the lower seed.
With the win, Ward rises to 23-0 (13). Bika descends to 28-5-2 (19).
JAVIER MOLINA UD6 FRANCISCO RIOS-GIL
Molina, 149, weathered Rios-Gil?s early advances, and coasted the rest of the way toward the unanimous decision. The 2008 Olympian stayed undefeated by keeping Rios-Gil, 149, on the end of his left jab.
While Rios-Gil looked for an opening all night by coming forward, he proved unable to get on the inside. He was countered with just enough left hooks and right uppercuts from Molina for the Commerce, Calif., native to pull out the decision.
Scores were 40-36 twice, and 39-37 giving Molina the nod.
Javier made it two wins in two weeks for the Molina family, as older brother Carlos kept his undefeated record intact last Thursday. The younger Molina now moves to 4-0 (4). Rios-Gil, of Huatabampo, Mex., falls to 11-12 (7).
MATT VILLANUEVA TKO3 ADRIAN ALEMAN
In a swing bout, Villanueva, 117.5, continued his impressive series of explosive displays with one against Aleman, 117, who posed a stern test since he had never been knocked out.
However, the native of Palmdale, Calif., would show Aleman why none of his previous bouts had gone the distance. A whirlwind of punches punctuated by a strong left hook stopped Aleman on his feet.
The official time was 0:43 of the third round.
Villanueva moves to 4-0 (4). Aleman, from Cathedral City, Calif., goes to 6-8-3 (4).
?It?s a good win because he was never stopped before,? said Villanueva’s trainer Jorge Diaz. ?I know from personal experience because I?ve seen Aleman fight in club shows. He?s picking up new things and learning every day from me, Ricky Funez, Joe Goossen, and everyone in the gym.?
MICHAEL RUIZ, JR. D6 JONATHAN ALCANTARA
Fresno?s Ruiz, 120.5, looked to display the flashy form that earned the southpaw a silver medal in the 2009 National Golden Gloves. Alcantara, 119, from nearby Novato, would prove to be a tough out, as he would not be outmuscled easily. By the time the six rounds had come to a conclusion, neither had set themselves apart in a split draw.
Alcantara showed a willingness to trade in the center of the ring and throw to the ribcage, landing frequently. But Ruiz was not noticeably hurt by the brunt of his opponent?s attacks, and on the strength of a counter overhand left hand, feinted and used his footwork to stalk Alcantara throughout the fight.
A spirited final round was highlighted by a resolute Alcantara backing Ruiz into the ropes, crouching and clipping Ruiz with right hands over the top. For his part, Ruiz remained calm and countered with overhand lefts to end the fight.
Scores were 58-56 Alcantara, 58-56 Ruiz, and 57-57 even.
“Today wasn’t my best day,” said Ruiz. “I waited until the fourth round to get going, but I learned from that and I’m ready for what’s next.”
Ruiz moves to 7-0-1 (3). Alcantara goes to 4-4-2.
CORNELIUS WHITE TKO1 DEMETRIUS DAVIS
The undefeated White, 171.5, made his first trip to California a memorable one, as he stopped Davis, 166, in one round.
White, a Houston native, came into the fight with a gaudy 14 knockouts in 15 consecutive wins to open his career. His reputation was solidified in the first few seconds when he knocked Davis down with, of all things, a left jab. As soon as Davis rose to his feet, another torrid assault had Davis reeling through the ropes for another 8-count. Davis wouldn?t go down quietly, however, and as the frame wound to a close, let everything fly. He threw an audacious bolo punch followed by several wide looping shots before the bell.
Nevertheless, the ring doctor had seen enough and called a halt to the fight before the beginning of the second round.
?I didn?t really anticipate knocking him down with a jab, but we had been training hard,? said White, a new signee with Goossen Tutor. ?You can expect more of that in my next fight.?
White continues to open eyes, elevating to 16-0 (15), Davis, a longtime veteran of the ring from Washington D.C., plummets to 20-25-5 (8).
KHADAPHI PROCTOR UD6 STAN MARTYNIOUK
Proctor, 135, had the upset on his mind against the undefeated Martyniouk, 134.5, and his wishes were granted.
Off the bat, Proctor, displayed some surprising hand speed and landed a looping right hand that sent Martyniouk, 134.5, to the canvas for a flash knockdown. However, just moments after the undefeated prospect had seemingly recovered, the underdog proved he didn?t come to Oakland to collect a paycheck, connecting with a left hook that floored his opponent once more. The second round produced no knockdowns, but Proctor again landed the harder and cleaner shots.
Now trailing by four points, the burden of proof shifted to Martyniouk, who had to be thinking about winning by stoppage by this point. Unfortunately, after leading for most of the round, Martyniouk decided to trade left hooks with Proctor; the latter?s landed first and sent Stan down for the third time.
Martyniouk gave a good account of himself in the fourth and fifth, tagging his opponent?s chin with some straight right crosses and counter left hooks. But the day belonged to Proctor, who displayed a sturdy set of whiskers to the very end, even when Martyniouk unleashed a series of power punches that temporarily rocked him before the bell.
Scores were 58-53 twice and 56-55 for Proctor.
?I?ve been coming in as an opponent, and it felt good to upset him,? said Proctor. ?He?s a tough dude. When he switched it up to brawling, that?s my calling card.?
Proctor, from Hesperia, Calif., secured his third win in a row, easily the biggest of his career. \He improves to 7-5-1. Martyniouk, originally from Antelope in Northern California, drops to 10-1 (1).
ROMAN ANDREEV UD6 MANUEL DEL CID
Moscow lightweight Andreev, 135, was the first of three Ten Goose Gym prospects on the card, and he set the tone for the night with a workmanlike unanimous decision over Los Angeles native Del Cid, 135.
Del Cid was the initial aggressor, winging a series of shots, most which landing on Andreev?s gloves. As the bout progressed, however, Andreev?s stinging body attack and effective work on the inside was the difference.
Scores were 59-55, and 60-54 twice for the Russian.
With the victory, Andreev has run his streak to 10-0 (7). Based on the Goossen Tutor press release, Del Cid now stands at 4-4 (1).
?The reason why Roman got the decision was because he hurt his left hand early in the first round,? said Andreev’s trainer Jorge Diaz. ?He was a one-armed bandit. The other guy was holding and being reckless, and we didn?t expect that, but Roman handled it well.?
CANCELED BOUTS
Three more undefeated fighters were scheduled to enter the ring on Saturday, but their opponents never made it to Oakland.
Moreno Valley super featherweight Kevin Hoskins, 3-0 (3), arrived in Oakland only to find out his latest fight against Luis Alfredo Lugo had been postponed.
Sacramento lightweight Guy Robb, fresh off his first-round knockout in his debut last month, and San Francisco welterweight Karim Mayfield, 13-0-1 (8), had separate bouts canceled as well.
