SUNRISE — Trevor Berbick had just stopped Lorenzo Boyd 1:48 into the third round of their heavyweight fight Thursday night at Sunrise Musical Theatre, and he could not slow down.
“Look at this, man,” said the IBF’s No.1-ranked contender, throwing punches and dodging imaginary blows. “That man came to fight. I like that. I feel great. Everything was perfect tonight. I’m ready for another title shot.”
Berbick talked loud, as if volume could further his cause. Many in the estimated crowd of 1,500, however, could not be swayed. Including Boyd (25-11).
“I was very disappointed that Berbick came into the ring without being in shape,” Boyd said. “He beat me and I have no excuses, but I am very mad at myself. He could have been taken tonight, and I didn’t do it.”
Berbick (33-5-1) first floored Boyd with a right and a left hook. Moments later, he put together two left hooks to knock him down. Finally, Berbick threw a short right, then polished Boyd off with another left hook for a technical knockout.
“I didn’t know the three-knockdown rule was in effect here,” said Boyd, 27, a former police officer who is now a sophomore education major at Oklahoma State University. “I can keep getting up all night long. My biggest mistakes were that I kept getting up and going right into him and not getting out of his way.
“But I hurt him in the second round. He tried to play-act his way out of it, but I hurt him. That’s why I’m so mad right now. I should have taken him.”
For Berbick, 35, the victory keeps alive his hope for another title shot at heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.
“I’m not going to stop,” said Berbick, a Miramar rancher. “I have been training with (Lauderhill’s former WBA light heavyweight champion) Leslie Stewart and with (Miamian) Milt Bowen, and I will be in the gym tomorrow. I’ll fight anybody. I want Tyson to see me. I want another chance to bring the title back to where it belongs. I want people to know that the best heavyweight lives in South Florida.”
Berbick, whose fight headlined a live undercard to the telecast of the Tommy Hearns-Juan Roldan middleweight bout from Las Vegas, praised Boyd’s heart and ability. Boyd, however, could not muster the same respect.
“Neither fighter was in great shape out there,” said Boyd’s manager Beau Williford, who also handles James “Quick” Tillis. “Trevor was in one round better shape. I’m going to advise Lorenzo to retire. He doesn’t need this anymore. He’s fought all over the world, and he’s fought a lot of good people. He’s got a brain and he should use it.”
The most interesting aspect of the remainder of the live undercard involved a lightweight bout between Antonio DeBarros of Washington, D.C., and Bobby Jones of New Orleans.
DeBarros, a prodigy of Angelo Dundee, won a decision in their four-round bout. The point of interest, however, was raised by Miami’s Billy Wooten. Wooten was listed in early promotional material as DeBarros’ opponent.
“I was all set to fight, but at the weigh-in, they told me that DeBarros had broken his nose in training,” Wooten said. “Then, I showed up here and the guy I’m supposed to fight is in the ring and I’m watching him.”
Steve Weinstock, co-promoter of the event for Front and Center Promotions, said that the fight was changed several days ago. Jones said he was informed of the change five days earlier.
“I first heard of the change two days ago,” Weinstock said. “This was a bout arranged between the managers. We will get Wooten on our next fight card.”
Completing the undercard, North Miami heavyweight Pete Wabuda scored a narrow decision over Art Terry; Ali Sanchez of Havanna, Cuba decisioned Harold Williams in their four-round middleweight bout; and Kel Robin decisioned fellow Miamian Floyd Wells in a six-round welterweight bout.
