Latino Night in Riyadh: A Celebration of Boxing Excellence

Last night, Saudi Arabia played host to an unforgettable evening of boxing as His Excellency welcomed Oscar De La Hoya and his Golden Boy Promotions team to the Kingdom for a celebration of Latino boxing heritage. Dubbed "Latino Night," the event delivered on its promise of action-packed fights, showcasing the skill, heart, and pride synonymous with the Latino boxing tradition.

As a boxing purist, this was a card to get excited about. From the opening bell to the main event, every fighter left it all in the ring, earning their pay and the respect of fans around the world.

Duarte vs. Akhmedov: A Clash of Titans

One of the standout bouts of the night was the fierce showdown between Oscar Duarte and Botirzhon Akhmedov. It was a classic matchup of two warriors, locking horns like bulls, refusing to take a step back.

The fight was competitive from start to finish, with both men trading blow for blow. Just when it seemed like Akhmedov was pulling ahead with cleaner work, Duarte would fire back, proving his resilience and forcing his opponent to reset.

As the fight wore on, it became clear that Duarte's youth and conditioning were tipping the scales. His punches in bunches carried more snap and volume in the later rounds, while Akhmedov, though not badly hurt, began to take a step back to regroup under the relentless pressure.

In true warrior fashion, neither man was willing to back down, making this battle a memorable war of attrition. By the end of the fight, it was Duarte's relentless pace and energy that caught the judges' eyes, earning him a unanimous decision victory on a close and hard-fought card.

Collazo vs. Knockout CPF: A Unified Champion Emerges

Puerto Rico’s hard-hitting Wilfredo Collazo entered the ring riding a wave of momentum following his recent run of impressive performances under Golden Boy Promotions. However, to unify his WBO and KO CPF WBA minimum-weight titles, he faced the daunting task of dethroning Thailand's Thammanoon Niyomtrong, the longest-reigning current world champion and undefeated in 25 fights.

The fight didn’t take long to heat up. Both men sought to assert dominance at center ring, but it was Collazo, the naturally bigger and stronger fighter, who established control. Using his jab to close the distance, Collazo set a relentless pace that disrupted the usually composed KO CPF’s rhythm.

The breakthrough came in the sixth round. In a fiery exchange, Collazo landed a sharp combination, finishing with a clean hook that sent KO CPF crashing to the canvas. Though the Thai champion managed to beat the count, his survival instincts were visibly taking over as Collazo pressed forward with confidence.

In the seventh round, Collazo turned up the heat. With relentless pressure and precise combinations, he sent KO CPF down again early in the round with a vicious uppercut. The champion managed to rise, but Collazo wasn’t done. Sensing his moment, the Puerto Rican unleashed a devastating combination, landing another clean uppercut that dropped KO CPF for the second time in the round. This time, the referee had seen enough. As he began the count, it was clear KO CPF couldn’t continue, prompting the referee to wave off the fight and declare Collazo the unified champion.

It was a commanding performance by Collazo, showcasing his power, skill, and determination. In his post-fight victory speech, the passionate Puerto Rican dedicated the win to his homeland, further endearing himself to fans worldwide. With this monumental victory, the question now arises: Who’s next for Collazo? Many are speculating that it may be time for him to move up in weight and face a new challenge.

Zepeda vs. Farmer: A Tough Test for the Rising Star

What was supposed to be a routine showcase for William Zepeda turned into a surprisingly tough night’s work, as former champion Tevin Farmer summoned a glimpse of his former glory.

Farmer, sharp as expected, used his trademark speed and timing to frustrate Zepeda early in the fight. In a stunning moment, Farmer’s precision paid off as he countered Zepeda and sent him to the canvas, shocking the crowd. While not the first time Zepeda has been knocked down in his career, it was a wake-up call for the young contender.

Zepeda answered the challenge by getting back to his feet and pressing forward without altering his aggressive tactics. As the rounds progressed, Farmer began to slow down, with his age and recent inactivity visibly taking a toll. Zepeda capitalized, forcing the pace and taking control of the fight in the later rounds.

When the final bell rang, the judges were split. Two judges scored the fight in Zepeda’s favor, handing him a narrow split-decision victory. Farmer, visibly frustrated, felt he had done enough to win, but Zepeda marched on as the newly crowned WBC interim champion.

The performance raised questions about both fighters' futures. For Zepeda, he showed resilience but also vulnerabilities that future opponents may exploit such as the hard hitting Tank Davis. As for Farmer, the former champion proved he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level. If he has the ambition, fans would love to see him return to the ring and throw one more roll of the dice if an opportunity presents itself.

Jose Ramirez vs. Barboza Jr.: A Changing of the Guard

This long-anticipated bout had been talked about for years, with Arnold Barboza Jr. patiently biding his time for an opportunity to face former champion Jose Carlos Ramirez. For Ramirez, this fight was seen as a crucial crossroads moment—a last chance to put himself in contention for a world title shot.

From the opening bell, the fight offered a brilliant blend of styles, with Ramirez bringing his relentless, brawling pressure and Barboza Jr. showcasing his slick boxing on the back foot. The early rounds saw Ramirez having moments of success, but as the fight progressed, it became clear that Barboza Jr.’s youth and heavy hands were making the difference.

Barboza Jr. began landing consistently in exchanges, catching Ramirez with sharp combinations that visibly took their toll. While Ramirez displayed the warrior mentality that defined his career, pushing forward and staying competitive, it simply wasn’t enough.

By the final bell, the judges awarded Barboza Jr. a well-earned unanimous decision victory. It was another thrilling fight for the fans, but it also felt like a symbolic passing of the torch. Barboza Jr. continues his charge toward a world title, while questions now loom over Ramirez’s future in the sport.

Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez vs. Chris Billam-Smith: A Cruiserweight War

Two cruiserweight powerhouses collided as "Zurdo" Ramirez put his WBA championship on the line against Chris Billam-Smith’s WBO title in a highly anticipated unification bout.

Zurdo, a former champion at super middleweight and light heavyweight, entered the fight as the heavy favorite. Having rebuilt his career following a loss to Dmitry Bivol, Ramirez claimed the cruiserweight title and sought to solidify his legacy. Meanwhile, Billam-Smith (CBS), the naturally heavier man, came in with great momentum, having defeated former champion Lawrence Okolie and unbeaten contender Richard Riakporhe en route to Riyadh.

The fight didn’t disappoint. Both men got to work early, with CBS landing heavy punches that rocked Zurdo and reminded him who the bigger man in the ring was. However, as the rounds progressed, Zurdo’s speed and elegant boxing skills began to shine. CBS found himself absorbing punishing shots, and by the halfway point, questions arose about his ability to continue without getting stopped, especially after suffering a nasty cut over his left eye.

Zurdo maintained his dominance, upping the pace further and pushing CBS into deep waters. Despite his shaky legs and mounting damage, the warrior spirit of CBS shone through. Trainer Shane McGuigan urged him on with the rallying cry, “Give this everything you’ve got!” Inspired, CBS entered the twelfth and final round with the heart of a lion, unleashing a valiant effort to turn the tide.

Unfortunately it wasn’t enough. Ramirez closed out the fight in commanding fashion, earning a unanimous decision victory to unify the titles. While CBS left the ring empty-handed, he won the hearts of fans with his grit and determination.

The ultimate winners were the fans, as Riyadh Season once again delivered with top-tier matchmaking.