By: Sean Crose
Sulem Urbina was hoping to make a good impression in his first game in New York on Tuesday. The Phoenix-based fighter – the Mexican way – is one of the top attractions of the Boxing Insider’s Holiday Fight Night card at Sony Hall in Times Square. Urbina’s opponent 13-2-1 in a scheduled bantamweight bout was 5-6 Indeya Smith. Indeed, it was Smith who first struck hard while Urbina fought after the stab and used solid footwork.
Smith continued to hit the action in the second while Urbina tried to position for effective shots. Game three was an interesting one with Smith throwing and landing well while Urbina stalked her smaller, faster opponent. Urbina bled from a cut in the fourth round (it was later announced that the cut came from the head).
Smith was the significantly more aggressive of the two fighters in the fifth round, making good presses and landings while Urbina seemed to have trouble getting anything done. Urbina slipped in the sixth round, the round where she performed better. Both fighters exchanged fierce punches early in the seventh round. Smith continues to impress with short shots, tell – although Urbina has her moments too.
The eighth and final round saw Smith continue to maintain his furious pace while Urbina shot straight from behind the stab. Smith’s speed and energy continued to be a challenge for Urbina, just as it was throughout the fight. The referees ultimately ruled in Smith’s favor with a score of 77-75 and 79-73 twice.
