BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Undefeated super middleweight prospect David Benavidez scored a controversial seventh-round TKO victory over previously unbeaten Francy Ntetu in what everyone in the arena believed was an unnecessary stoppage. The official time was 1:30 of the 7^th round.

The 19-year-old Benavidez (15-0, 14 knockouts) was ahead on all three judge’s scorecards at the time referee Shada Murdaugh decided Ntetu (16-1, 3 KOs) had had enough and waived the bout off much to the chagrin of the crowd at Barclays Center, who booed both the referee and Benavidez unmercifully after the bout.

Benavidez landed 55% of his power punches in the bout but was getting outlanded 16-12 when the fight was stopped according to Compubox. Benavidez started strong landed crisp left hooks cleanly and moving Ntetu around the ring but was unable to really hurt him. Ntetu came on with looping hooks of his own which started to land and stop halt Benavidez’ aggression.

While the Phoenix, Arizona native was satisfied with his first appearance on the East Coast, Benavidez believes he should have performed better and put Ntetu away sooner without the referee’s interference.

“I got hit with punches I never should have,” Benavidez said immediately after the bout. “I need to go back to the gym and work on some stuff we picked up tonight.”

Benavidez believed he would have stopped Ntetu had the referee not intervened but agreed he felt the stoppage was premature.

“Of course it bothers me that the crowd was booing but what can I do?” Benavidez asked.

As soon as the decision was announced by ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr. Referee Murdaugh refused to speak on camera with Jim Gray and rushed out of the ring to a loud chorus of boos.

Murdaugh told Boxingscene.com’s David Greisman that he stopped the bout per recommendation of Dr. Barry Jordan, the Chief Medical Officer of the NYSAC at ringside.

Heather Hardy (17-0, 4 KOs) continued her dominance at Barclays Center by defeating Kirstie Simmons (8-2, 2 KOs) by an eight-round unanimous decision. The official scores at ringside were 79-73, 78-74 (twice). The 34-year-old Hardy made her sixth appearance inside the Brooklyn arena in front of her fans to whom she personally goes out and sells tickets to. Rather than brawling with Simmons, Hardy boxed and moved her head well to avoid man of Simmons’ punches. Hardy relied on her quick hand speed to keep Simmons off balance and landed clean shots to control most of the bout.

Jonathan Alonso remained unbeaten (10-0, 4 KOs) by defeating Brian Jones (13-6, 7 KOs) by unanimous decision and winning every round on each judge’s scorecard. The official scores at ringside were 60-54 (by all three judges). Alonso’s hand speed was the difference in the bout as Jones struggled to keep up with the much more superior fighter. The Dominican born Alonso represented Spain at the 2012 summer Olympics in London and was one of the more decorated amateurs in the country’s history.

Houston’s Regis “The Wolf” Prograis (18-0, 15 KOs) defeated Luis Florez (21-4, 17 KOs) by fourth-round TKO. The official time of the stoppage was 1:47. Prograis has now stopped 11 of his last 12 opponents. The New Orleans-born Prograis dominated from the outset hurting Florez twice in the opening round and dropped him in the second. Prograis hurt Florez with a body shot in the 4^th and unleashed a flurry of consecutive unanswered blows prompting referee Ricky Gonzalez to call a halt to the bout. The 27-year-old Prograis is coming off an impressive first round knockout on ShoBox last March.

Teen prospect Josue Vargas (5-0, 3 KOs) scored a four-round unanimous decision victory over Ryan Picou (2-10-1). The official and unanimous scores were 40-36. This was Vargas’ first professional bout in the United States since he started his pro career before turning the age of 18. Vargas patiently boxed Picou nearly beating him to the punch each time and at one point landed his combinations so clean that he knocked Picou’s shoe off. In the fourth and final round the southpaw Vargas found a home for his left hand to Picou’s body and nearly ended the bout. Fighting in front of friends and family for the very first time as a pro, the Bronx native had to go to Mexico to turn pro and eventually caught the eye of Floyd Mayweather Jr. who signed him to his Mayweather Promotions banner.

In the opening bout of the evening Nicklaus Flaz (3-0, 3 KOs) made very quick work of Mack Babb (1-7) stopping him with one clean right hand upstairs. The 20-year-old, three-time Puerto Rican national champion is a month shy of graduating from culinary school to become a chef.