Melson Earns UD in Thompson Rematch

Boyd Melson won a unanimous decision victory over Jason Thompson at BB King Blues Club and Grill in New York, New York tonight. The fight marked the first time that Boyd has fought at BB King's since suffering his lone career defeat to Delen Parsley in March of 2012. Melson won by landing counter right hooks Thompson's wide shots.

This bout was a rematch of a dubious draw that took place in the first ever boxing match at Barclays Center last October. In the first fight, both men scored knockdowns, although Melson seemed to control the action for the vast majority of the six rounds.

Thompson jabbed early and landed body shots throughout the fight, but after the second round, he fell back into a pattern of looking to land a big right. That right shook up Melson in the fifth round, but Boyd stayed on his feet.

After landing a couple of straight lefts in the first round, Melson found his money punch, the right hook, in the second round. Melson dominated the third and fourth rounds by boxing, but he went back to counterpunching the rest of the way.

In the sixth, Melson was cut over the right eye by a Thompson punch. Blood poured down his face. Referee Ricky Gonzalez paused the action and brought Melson over to the ringside physician. Boyd immediately blurted out, "I can see!" The fight continued.

In the seventh, blood gushed for the corner of Thompson's right eye. Melson used his right hook to target the cut. That punch landed all round long. When the eighth round started, Boyd looked distracted and Thompson rushed at him. A right stunned Melson, who held. Melson let go and landed a right hook that put Thompson down. Melson kept up his success with the right hook in the final round.

The judges' scores were 78-73 twice and 77-74, all for Melson. After the fight, actor Cuba Gooding Jr entered the ring and gave Melson a big hug. Promoter Lou DiBella said, "I've never promoted a guy with a bigger heart than Boyd Melson."

Melson moves to 12-1-1 with 4 KOs while Thompson falls to 5-7-3 with 4 KOs. Boyd came in at 156 pounds for this bout while Thompson was 153. Melson is considered a junior middleweight, but he has come in over the 154 pound limit in his last four fights. In his 13 pro fights, he has weighed in at 154 pounds or less only four times, while his opponents have done so ten times.