Antonio Moran dominated Michael Dutchover on Friday night to earn a more important opportunity in the fall.
Mexico’s Moran won their mostly uneventful 10-round bout by unanimous decision and advanced to the final of ProBox TV’s “Last Chance Tournament” in the 140-pound division at Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida. Judges Brian Garry (100-90) and Thomas Nardone (100-90) scored it a shutout for Moran, who won nine rounds on the card of judge Joanne Richard (99-91).
The 29-year-old Moran, who has won four of his past five fights, improved to 28-5-1 (19 KOs). The 24-year-old Dutchover, of Midland, Texas, slipped to 16-3 (10 KOs).
Moran will encounter Kendo Castaneda in the final of this tournament November 4 at Whitesands Events Center. San Antonio’s Castaneda (19-5, 9 KOs) beat Joseph Fernandez (14-6-3, 5 KOs), of St. Petersburg, Florida, by unanimous decision in the first 10-round semifinal Friday night.
Dutchover obviously needed a knockout entering the 10th and final round, but Moran again used his jab to out-box Dutchover during those final three minutes. Moran landed two right hands and a left uppercut toward the end of the 10th round.
Dutchover didn’t try anything different during the eighth or ninth rounds, which Moran controlled by boxing at a comfortable distance. Moran neutralized Dutchover throughout the seventh round, in which he made Dutchover miss and controlled the distance and pace of the fight.
Dutchover didn’t have much success during the fifth round, but he came at Moran and landed a left hook several seconds into the sixth round. Moran smothered him at times later in the sixth round and blasted Dutchover with a left hook a few seconds before the sixth round concluded.
By the end of the sixth round, a cut around Dutchover’s right eye opened up.
Moran landed a right uppercut barely 1:10 into the fourth round. A left hook by Moran buzzed Dutchover with just under 1:15 to go in the fourth round.
Moran landed several left hooks during the third round, in which Dutchover couldn’t get inside against his taller, longer opponent.
Moran established his jab and worked from a comfortable distance for most of the second round.
Dutchover connected with a right hand up top, but Moran came back with a left to the body in the final minute of the opening round.
Moran’s right-left combination hurt Dutchover barely 30 seconds into their fight. Dutchover tried to hold, but he eventually caught Moran with a left hook that made Moran back off temporarily.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for krikya360.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.