Boxing: Second round loss by Trotwood’s Pearson surprises experts

Trotwood’s Chris Pearson was knocked out by Justin DeLoach at 2:30 of the second round of their USBA junior middleweight title bout late Friday night at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California.

The fight, promoted by Floyd Mayweather promotions which has Pearson under contract, was broadcast nationally on Showtime.

Looking tentative from the opening bell in the most pivotal fight of his career, Pearson landed just four of his 43 punches in the abbreviated 10-rounder. DeLoach, far more energetic and engaged, landed 29 of 92 punches and twice dropped Pearson in the second round.

The first knockdown was set up by a left hook that staggered Pearson, who sagged to his knees after 11 more unanswered punches. He was given a standing eight count by referee Jack Reiss.

Still shaken when the fight resumed, Pearson was caught by several DeLoach right hands and went down again onto his hands and knees. Crawling along the ropes toward his corner with blood on his right cheek, the 26-year-old Pearson was counted out by Reiss.

Some 30 minutes after the fight, Pearson posted this message on his Twitter account:

“I’m hurt. God don’t make mistakes though.”

DeLoach, a 23-year-old from Augusta, Georgia, raised his record to 17-1.

For Pearson – whose record dropped to 14-2 – this was his first fight in 10 months and just the second since he was upset by Eric Walker, who won the eight round decision in December of 2015.

“Pearson never recovered from his loss to Eric Walker,” ShoBox expert analyst Steve Farhood said at ringside after Friday’s bout. “I thought it was going to be a distance fight. Wow! Even if you liked DeLoach to win this fight, you are surprised it happened this soon.”

About the Author