The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BACK in the ring following a nine-month layoff since his professional debut, Valentino Knowles improved his record to 2-0 in a successful return.

In a lightweight bout, Knowles won by majority decision over Ruben Ozuna of Wauchula, Florida at “Knockout Night” from The Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida, on Tuesday.

Ozuna, also in his second professional bout, dropped to 1-1.

“Thank you Father for health and strength, and thanks to all of the supportive team of Team Knowles who supported me throughout my entire training camp,” Knowles posted on his Facebook fan page.

Judges scored the fight 38-38, 39-37 and 39-37 in favour of the 25-year-old Knowles.

The Bahamian fighter was the aggressor early on in the bout and forced Ozuna to the ropes several times in the opening rounds. He struggled to connect early on, but was well in control of the fight by the third round.

“I could be back in the ring in about three weeks for my third fight. My management team is looking forward to getting me as many fights as they can so I can make up for the lost time.”

Knowles has stationed his training in Miami, Florida, since his four-round unanimous decision over Alejandro Ochoa at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California, on January 25.

He attributes the inactivity over the past nine months to the fact that he did not have a manager to negotiate on his behalf.

“Although I haven’t had any fights, I stayed in shape, training and working out in the gym,” he said. “I have been taking advantage of my time over here to properly train. So I know I am in a good position to be able to fight when I get the opportunities.”

In other bouts on the card, Norberto Gonzalez scored a unanimous decision win over Michael Oliveira in the main event.

Oliveira came into the fight ranked No.7 in the WBC rankings.

In the co-main event, former WBA World light middleweight champion Yuri Foreman won via first round knockout over Javier Gomez, featherweight Hairon Socarras won by unanimous decision against Jhon Molina, heavyweight Robert Alfonso won by unanimous decision against Jamal Woods.

Knowles, the Central American and Caribbean Games champion and 2011 Pan Am Games silver medallist, joined the professional ranks in January

In Florida. He works under the tutelage of Orlando Cuellar, the coach of former Jamaican light heavyweight champion Glen ‘the Road Warrior’ Johnson.