Photos - Esther Lin/PBC
Mexican superstar, Saul “Canelo” Álvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) successfully defended his undisputed titles Saturday night as he won a hard fought unanimous decision in handing fellow Mexican former world champion Jaime Munguía (43-1, 34 KOs) of Tijuana his first defeat.
Coming out sticking the jab, Munguia kept distance and boxed as Canelo took his time to figure out and in closing the opening round Munguia caught Canelo with a solid shot. Jabbing away to begin the second, Munguia connected and backed Canelo, moments after Canelo countered with a solid right but Munguia kept fighting from a distance attacking behind the jab. Attacking to begin the third, Munguia connected as he was consistent with the jab, Canelo patiently awaiting countered however Munguia finished the round strong attacking and connecting with a solid right hand and cornering the Mexican superstar. Staying busy to begin the fourth round, Munguia did not hold back working and applying constant pressure behind the jab however Canelo sent Munguia to the canvas with an uppercut.
The momentum changed to begin the fifth as Munguia fought at a calmer pace, Canelo began to counter effectively with solid shots and swing with the uppercut. Munguia stayed close inside on Canelo in the sixth and stayed busy, Alvarez worked patiently. Sticking the jab and working with the left to begin the seventh, Munguia was consistent but Canelo attacked with thudding big punches. Munguia came out like a windmill in the eighth, shooting away punches and sticking the jab staying busy, Canelo kept landing big counter shots.
Late in the fight in the ninth, Munguia kept staying busy from a distance, then began to work inside close and connect Canelo with a short rights. In the tenth, Munguia kept coming and throwing punches, Canelo was limited but was landing the more effective punches. In the championship rounds, Munguia pressed and stayed busy in the eleventh, Canelo picked his shots and landed effectively. Sensing the urgency and need to finish strong Munguia stayed close and busy letting his hands go, Canelo stalked and countered. Finishing on their feet the two fighters stood in the center of the ring and embraced after the final bell.
After completing twelve rounds the judges scored the bout 117-110, 116-111, and 115-112 for Canelo.
With the win Canelo retains his WBC, WBA, WBO, & IBF super middleweight titles as he remains undisputed champion.
Barrios Routes Maidana
WBC interim welterweight champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios (29-2, 19 KO’s) won a hard fought unanimous decision against Argentina’s Fabián “TNT” Maidana (22-3, 16 KO’s), the younger brother of former world champion Marcos Maidana in the co-feature bout. The Argentinian Maidana applied the pressure early on as Barrios boxed patiently looking for openings. An overhand right in the third by Barrios found its mark as sent Maidana to the canvas.
Barrios continued to box behind the jab and stalk Maidana, connecting boldly in the process at the halfway mark in the sixth. It was the Azteca that appeared to be conquering his way to victory, passed the halway mark in the seventh Barrios kept at it applying the pressure. Despite boxing effectively, Barrios's right eye was shut heading into the eighth
It was Barrios boxing effectively in the ninth as Maidana landed some solid punches but the Texas fighter displaying ring generalship throughout the fight. Maidana was limited but connected solid throughout the fight, Barrios continued to box as his experience began to takeover finishing strong in route to the decision win.
All three judges scored the bout 116-111.
Figueroa KO's Magdaleno
WBC interim featherweight champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa (25-1-1, 19 KO’s) of Weslaco, Texas scored a knockout over former world champion Jessie Magdaleno (29-3, 18 KO’s) of Las Vegas. A crunching body shot by Figueroa did it as Magdaleno was down on his knees and out. Referee Allen huggins reached a ten count at 2:59 of the ninth.
Stanionis Hands Maestre First Defeat
Opening up the pay per view telecast, WBA welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis (15-0, 9 KO’s) of Lithuania handed two-time Olympian Gabriel Maestre (6-1-1, 5 KO’s) from Barcelona, Venezuela his first defeat in winning a unanimous decision.
Neithei shied away in the opening bell as Stanionis and Maestre exchanged at a fast pace. Picking up where they left off, Stanionis and Maestre worked inside and let their hands go in round two. Staying busy in the third, Stanionis applied pressure as Maestre held his ground and mixed it up. Stanionis began to land big in the fourth as he connected with a hard right, the Venezuelan went downstairs to the body.
Fighting inside in the fifth, Maestre kept pushing connecting short inside as the Lithuanian boxed working the jab and following up with one-two's. Letting loose to begin the sixth, Mastre and Stanionis were on the offensive trading, the Venezuelan applied pressure going to the body and staying close, Stanionis countered with solid shots. The inside fighting continued halfways through as Stanionis and Maestre kept up the pace. In the eighth, the fight continued at a fast pace, Maestre went to the body with Stanionis working at a high rate.
Heading into the ninth, the two fighters stayed close inside exchanging as Stanionis and Maestre kept at it connecting. Late in the fight in the eleventh, the round began with trading in the center, Stanionis boxed using the crisp jab as Maestre appeared to be limited. The twelfth and final round began with an exchange in the center, Maestre then fought off his back foot as Stanionis pressured with straight shots and in the closing seconds both fighters finised strong exchanging.
After twelve rounds, the judges scored the bout 119-109, 118-110, and 117-111 in favor of Stanionis.
Ramos Victorious
Phoenix’s super welterweight Jesus Ramos (21-1, 17 KO’s) returned to the ring with a late stoppage of Venezuela’s Johan Gonzalez (34-3, 33 KO’s). It was a tough battle for Ramos as he suffered a cut on the right eye from an accidental head-butt. Gonzalez kept coming and applied pressure late in the fight. However a left by Ramos dropped Gonzalez late in the fight as he was up but Ramos finished him dropping him a second time as the referee waved it at 2:56 of the ninth.
Super welterweight Vito Mielnicki (18-1, 12 KO’s) of New Jersey defeated Ronald Cruz (19-4-1, 12 KO’s) of Los Angeles over ten rounds. Mielnicki dropped Cruz with a left hook in the third. Cruz was down once again in the fourth. Cruz displayed toughness bouncing off the canvas and hanging in. It was all Mielnicki the second half of the fight as he worked his way to the decision. 99-89, 98-90, and 96-92.
Undefeated Mexican super bantamweight Alan Picasso (28-0-1, 16 KO’s) of Mexico City remained unbeaten as he scored a fifth round stoppage over Damien Vasquez (17-4-1, 10 KO’s) of Las Vegas. Time of the stoppage was 2:11. Picasso is rated WBC #2 in the 122lb division.
Undefeated Cuban super middleweight William Scull (22-0, 9 KO’s) won a clear unanimous decision over Sean Hemphill (16-2, 10 KO’s) of New Orleans. Scull scored a knockdown in rout to the decision win. Judges scores were 79-72, 78-73, and 76-75. Scull is the IBF #1 super middleweight and mandatory challenger for a shot at the title.
Light heavyweight Lawrence King (16-1, 13 KOs) rolled over Anthony Holloway (7-5-3, 6 KOs) in a six rounder. Scores were 59-55 3x.
Mexican lightweight Adrian Torres (9-0, 6 KO’s) won a unanimous decision over Arsen Poghosyan (3-2-1, 2 KO’s). Torres dominated as all three judges scored the bout 60-54.
In the opening bout from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Lightweight prospects Julian Bridges (5-0, 2 KO’s) of Antioch, California and San Diego’s Jabin Chollet (9-1, 7 KO’s) squared off. It was Bridges that boxed his way to a unanimous decision victory. All three judges scored the bout 59-55.
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