Eimantas Stanionis Retains WBA Welterweight Title With Dominant Victory Over Gabriel Maestre

In a high quality welterweight clash at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Eimantas Stanionis put on a display of professional boxing skills, earning a unanimous decision victory over Gabriel Maestre to retain his WBA title. The judges scored the fight 117-111, 118-110, and 119-109 in favour of the Lithuanian champion, who dominated the contest from start to finish.

Stanionis, who had not fought since his split decision win over Radzhab Butaev in April 2022, entered the ring with a point to prove. The 29-year-old champion had seen his high-profile title defence against Vergil Ortiz Jr. cancelled on multiple occasions, leading to an extended period of inactivity during what many consider to be his prime years. However, concerns about ring rust were quickly dispelled as Stanionis took control of the fight from the opening bell.

Maestre, a 37-year-old Venezuelan, came out strong in the first round, landing a powerful left hand that appeared to hurt Stanionis. However, the champion's response was immediate and emphatic, as he increased his aggression and began to build a commanding lead on the scorecards.

Stanionis' superior skill and accuracy became increasingly evident as the fight progressed. When the two fighters traded blows, the sharper and stronger Stanionis consistently won the exchanges. Even when the action slowed, the champion's precise punching and effective jabbing allowed him to dictate the fight's pace and maintain his advantage.

By the fourth round, Maestre looked in serious trouble, with Stanionis on the verge of securing a stoppage victory. The Venezuelan, however, showed tremendous heart and determination, continuing to fight back despite being outclassed by his younger, fresher opponent.

In the ninth round, Stanionis hurt Maestre again with a crisp left hand, followed by a series of punishing body shots as he trapped his opponent against the ropes. Another left hand snapped back Maestre's head, further sapping his energy and slowing his movements. While Stanionis may lack the concussive power of some of his welterweight contemporaries, his technical skill and ring generalship more than compensate for any perceived shortcomings in this area.

As the final bell sounded, Stanionis had done more than enough to secure the victory. The judges' scorecards reflected the one-sided nature of the contest, with one official even awarding 11 of the 12 rounds to the champion.

For Stanionis, the win sets the stage for more extensive and more lucrative opportunities in the future. For Maestre, its back to the drawing board.