Legacy Arena, Birmingham, Alabama - Rising heavyweight prospect Dominic Breazeale (16-0, 14KOs) won a controversial ten round unanimous decision over veteran Fred Kassi (18-4-1, 10KOs). The scores were 97-93, 98-92 and an absolutely absurd 100-90. BoxingScene had it 95-95 for the draw and felt Kassi had the edge.
Kassi is coming off spirited ten round draw with Chris Arreola in July - where some had him as the winner - and prior to that he was stopped by Amir Mansour in seven rounds last November.
Breazeale, a former Olympian, was in his third fight of 2015. He stopped Victor Bisbal in four rounds in March and then put away Yasmany Consuegra in three rounds in June.
Breazeale started faster than he usually does. He was moving forward, using his jab and keeping the pressure on Kassi. Despite that, Kassi was being tricky as usual by switching his stance and landing decent punches in return.
Kassi was landing some very telling blows in the second. Breazeale, although the much taller man, was doing well with digging shots to the body. The two of them were trading good shots in the third and fourth, with Breazeale still having his share of issues with Kassi's style and getting caught by some very clean shots.
More problems for Breazeale in the fifth with the style of Kassi, who was still switching up and landing good shots. The trend continued in the sixth and it was Kassi outhusting the bigger man. Breazeale was starting to do a lot better in the seventh, pushing forward and landing good punches. He continued to do a lot better in the eight with hard shots to the body.
A very close ninth round where both boxers had their fair share of success. Kassi was scoring very well at the start of the tenth with Breazeale unable to counter back until the final minute where the two of them were trading big shots at close range until the final bell.