In a highly anticipated middleweight showdown, Troy Isley cemented his status as a rising star with a convincing unanimous decision victory over the game but outmatched Tyler Howard on Friday night at the Scope Arena.
The co-main event of the Top Rank boxing card saw the No. 10-ranked Isley extend his unbeaten record to 14-0 with a masterful performance that showcased his superior skill, speed, and ring generalship. From the opening bell, the 24-year-old ‘Transformer’ dictated the pace, peppering the durable ‘Hercules’ Howard with a stinging jab and clean one-two combinations.
“Troy Isley put on a boxing clinic tonight,” remarked veteran ringside analyst Mark Kriegel. “He was in complete control from start to finish, picking Howard apart with his superior technique and athleticism.”
Indeed, Isley’s pin-point accuracy and effective counterpunching proved too much for the 20-1 Howard, who struggled to close the distance and find any real success with his offense. The 28-year-old from North Carolina had his moments, particularly in the late rounds when he tried to force the action, but Isley’s composure and defensive awareness neutralized any threats.
By the time the final bell rang, there was little doubt about the outcome. All three judges scored the fight decisively in Isley’s favor, with tallies of 99-91, 99-91, and 98-92.
“I felt I controlled the fight from start to finish,” said Isley post-fight. “Despite Tyler’s toughness, I knew that if I adhered to my game plan and utilized my speed and skills, I would emerge victorious.”
The victory sets Isley up for bigger opportunities in the wide-open middleweight division. With champions like Janibek Alimkhanuly and Erislandy Lara aging, the Alexandria, Virginia, native could soon find himself in the mix for a world title shot.
“This was an important win for Troy,” noted Kriegel. “He showed he can handle the step up in competition and perform at a high level against a solid opponent. Isley has made the rest of the middleweight division vulnerable.
In the main event, rising star Keyshawn Davis of nearby Norfolk secured an impressive unanimous decision win over Argentina’s Gustavo Lemos in a battle of lightweight contenders. The 24-year-old ‘Businessman’ improved to 9-0 with the win, further cementing his status as one of the most exciting young talents in boxing.
However, the breakout performance of the night belonged to undefeated Abdullah Mason, who thrilled the crowd with a spectacular second-round knockout of Yohan Vasquez. The 20-year-old ‘Problem’ from Cleveland overcame an early knockdown to drop Vasquez twice and finish him off with a devastating body shot, solidifying his reputation as one of the sport’s hottest prospects.
Kriegel declared that Abdullah Mason was truly exceptional. “Abdullah Mason demonstrated remarkable poise and power to recover from a drop and decisively finish Vasquez.” This kid has all the makings of a future superstar.”
In other action, Kelvin Davis cruised to a comfortable unanimous decision win over Yeis Solano, while Austin DeAnda and Keon Davis also emerged victorious in their respective bouts.
It was a memorable night of boxing in Norfolk, with Isley’s dominant display and Mason’s star-making performance stealing the headlines. The future of the sport appears to be in good hands as the next generation continues to emerge.