UBO Flashback: When Menard Beat Laryea Quicker Than Burns!

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July 3, 2020 / BY UBO PRESS OFFICER

Only 22 at the time, and with a 16-1 (12) record, Menard was expected to have his hands full with Ghanaian co-challenger Joseph Laryea, who arrived in the USA with a somewhat mediocre 14-5 (11) ledger, but had beaten Scottish hope Paul Appleby (16-1) eight months earlier to win the WBO Intercontinental crown.

Only five months prior to taking on Menard, Laryea had challenged another Scotchman, Ricky Burns, for the WBO World Super Featherweight title, retiring on his stool after seven rounds at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow.

So it was a more experienced foe Menard was facing in the main event of a show at the Cypress Bayou Casino in Charenton, around 60 miles from his home-town. Some would fear that it was too big a leap in class for the up-and-comer.

However, as the many fans who had taken the trip form Rayne would witness, Menard was more than ready for the challenge.

He put pressure on Laryea from the first bell, and even though the African did well in spurts and won two of the rounds on two judges cards, the pressure became too much and Laryea was quickly forced into survival-mode.

After four rounds he had had enough, and retired on his stool for the second straight time in world championship fights, making Mason Menard the new UBO World Lightweight Champion after an impressive performance where he was denied the pleasure of a conclusive ending.

Menard went on to successfully defend the UBO title with a unanimous decision over Lonnie Smith (14-3-2) the following year, and later scored big knockout-victories over Eudy Bernado (21-0) and Bahodir Mamadjonov (19-2), both televised by Showtime.

Since then he lost big fights to stars Raymundo Beltran, Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez, a shame for no-one. Now 36-4 (25), he is still only thirty-one years old, and has won his last two outings as he is trying to put himself back in line for big assignments.

Laryea, now 25-11 (19), was back in the USA ten months later, when he dropped a disputed split decision to Rod Salka (14-1). He has since mostly boxed on home soil, where he has registered eleven victories and captured a few minor championships.