Friday night from the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, FL welterweight prospect Derrieck Cuevas captured the W.B.A. Fedelatin belt with a workmanlike 10 round decision over game underdog Carlos Beltran. Cuevas, 22-0-1, 14 KO’s was busier throughout and landed the more telling shots. The 24-year old Cuevas is ranked #13 by the W.B.A. and could be in the mix to face current champion Keith Thurman. Beltran, 17-3-2, 10 KO’s, was lucky to see the final bell after taking a thudding over hand right high on the head from Cuevas. “Pretty Boy” Cuevas was unable to floor the wobbly Beltran who showed grit to fight back and survive. Cuevas is a good prospect but he doesn’t have much of a jab and is still developing. Final scores read: 99-91, 99-91 and 98-92.

Derrieck Cuevas Prospect Grade: B-

The undercard featured 6’9” 237 lb. Bronze Medalist Ivan Dychko, 9-0, 8 KO’s, making short work of local opponent Nate Heaven, 9-3, 7 KO’s. The 28-year old Dychko does not yet have a nickname but I think Ivan The “Terminator” is appropriate for the expressionless bomber. The sacrificial lamb Heaven, 33, held his own against the towering Russian for the first minute with jabs to the stomach but was soon outclassed once his adrenaline wore off. A series of punches finished the 6’5” 237 lb. Florida fighter in the 2nd. Dychko is ranked #14 by the W.B.A. but needs a step up fight to further his progression as a professional. Dychko owns a win over Anthony Joshua in the amateurs and is a top-flight prospect with crushing power.

Ivan Dychko Prospect Grade: A-

Other Results

Mussa Tursyngaliyev (10-0 6 KO’s) UD6 over Ricardo Nunez 29-10 (23 KO’s)

Mussa Tursyngaliyev Prospect Grade: B

Jessy Cruz (17-7-1, 7 KO’s) UD8 over Isao Gonzalo Carranza 15-15-1 (9 KO’s)

Jessy Cruz Prospect Grade: C-

Ulysses Diaz (11-1 10 KO’s) KO1 Over Mike Sawyer 8-12 (6 KO’s)

Ulysses Diaz Prospect Grade: D+