Souleiman Sisokho led a determined knockout artist to victory.
The 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and current junior middleweight prospect from France traded knockdowns with Valenzuela of Agua Prieta, Mexico, on the way to a ten-round, unanimous decision victory. Judge Zachary Young (100-90) gave Sisokho a win in each round, while Judges Raul Caz Sr. (99-91) and Dr. Lou Moret (99-91) just gave Valenzuela in their DAZN opener on Saturday evening. Got one round each. At Pechanga Arena in San Diego, Calif.
Sisokho enters the fight with the belief that he is within reach, serving as a springboard for a title shot. Valenzuela came in completely intent on sabotaging those plans, showing no regard for the lofty credentials of the unbeaten Sissoko or his career trajectory.
The action was intense in the opening round, with Valenzuela - who had only covered the distance once through 21 pro fights - applying constant pressure and enjoying success with his right hand. Sisokho – who trains under famed cornerman Virgil Hunter – did his best to turn the fight into a boxing match, offering constant lateral movement in hopes of keeping Valenzuela at bay.
The threat of an upset surfaced in the fourth round, when Sisokho was pinned with the ropes courtesy of a right hand by Valenzuela. An ensuing left hook to the body and top right hand sent Sisokho to the canvas and nearly out of the ring after suffering the second knock of his career. The 30-year-old Senegalese-Frenchman recovered but quickly circled the ring in an attempt to get back on his feet.
Valenzuela went hunting, only to become a victim. Sisokho's right hand laid Valenzuela flat on his back, briefly calming the mad pro-Mexican crowd on the arm. Valenzuela got on her feet inside the eight count and was clear by the end of the round.
The fight returns to the Scouting Report of Boxer vs. Puncher in Round Five. Valenzuela continued to come forward, while Sisokho used every inch of the ring to run out of space and avoid getting caught in an inside fight.
Valenzuela had put Sissoko on faltering legs late in the seventh round, chasing a fleet-footed unbeaten prospect after spending most of the second half up to that point. A brief exchange at the start of the eighth round saw Sissoko have a brief breakthrough, only Valenzuela dropped his hands twice and dared to engage his enemy. Sisokho used Valenzuela's confidence to his advantage, circling his opponent's left side and touching him with a counter left hook.
Sisokho was able to ease the stretch, while Valenzuela lacked a backup plan in case his opponent refused to hold steady. The strategy allowed Sisokho to advance to 15-0 (9KO), while Valenzuela fell to 19-3 (19KO) and is now 0-2 in fights leading up to the scorecard.
Cissokho-Valenzuela opened a four-fight DAZN telecast. In the evening's main event, former four-division champion Roman 'Chocallito' Gonzalez (50-3, 41KOs) will face WBC flyweight titleist Julio Cesar 'El Rey' Martinez (18-1, 14KOs; 2ND), whose title bet. But is not.