By Sam Gregory: Banner Promotions along with Golden Gloves present ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights at the Laredo Entertainment Center in Laredo, Texas.

Appearing tonight in the main event from Culiacan, Mexico is the IBF’s number 4 ranked featherweight contender Fernando Beltran Jr., 32-3-1 with 18 knockouts. Beltran will be making his first defense of the Latino featherweight title against Monty Meza-Clay, 28-2 with 19 knockouts, from Rankin, Pennsylvania, the IBF’s number 6 contender in a scheduled 12 round bout in the featherweight division.

A 27 year old southpaw, Beltran won the vacant IBF title by way of a 12th round split decision against Miguel Roman in his last fight on March 20th at the Laredo Entertainment Center.

In the first round the pace was set by Beltran who came right at Clay using his jab; mid way through the round Clay hit Beltran with a low blow. There was already a blistering pace set by both fighters who were both throwing an unusually high number of punches by the halfway point in the round.

Round 2 Beltran went right to the body of Clay. Beltran is the stronger man and pushed Clay into the corner where he landed several combinations to the body. The fight went back to the middle of the ring where Beltran again went to the body landing several big uppercuts to Clay. This was another round with a very high punch rate.

Round 3 as Beltran again went to the body Clay was very game and threw several combinations of his own just missing with a big uppercut. Beltran switched to the southpaw stance which proved to be effective enough to land several combinations. Going back to the orthodox stance Beltran closed out the round strong.

Round 4 Beltran set the pace for the round going to the body while Clay switched to southpaw and missed with a big right hand. Clay had a good defense blocking a few of Beltran’s shots, Beltran spent much of the round on the inside while Clay was able to score with his jab. Another big round for Beltran.

Round 5 Clay stayed in the southpaw stance having a little more success landing his jab; Beltran landed big with his jab, Clay went back to the orthodox stance briefly then back to southpaw. After this round Clay seemed to injure his right hand.

Round 6 Clay was throwing his right hand, landing his jab from the southpaw stance. Beltran fought off the ropes landing big until the end of the round.

Round 7 from the center of the ring Beltran landed his overhand right; Clay continued to throw his jab but Beltran was able to counter off that landing solid uppercuts to the body. Beltran finished strong; Clay’s right hand seemed to bother him although he did control this round.

Round 8 both men went toe to toe in the center of the ring; Beltran switched to southpaw and continued moving to his right. Clay missed with a couple overhand shots but Beltran fought in very close going to the body landing solid uppercuts.

Round 9 Clay has missed some opportunities while Beltran came in close and left himself open. Clay landed an overhand right, Beltran had Clay on the ropes and landed several big body shots.

At this point in the fight Beltran has thrown over 1000 punches

Round 10 Beltran put his head down and went for the body landing uppercuts, they clinched and the ref pushed them apart. Clay threw several combinations most of which were blocked by Beltran. Clay landed a good left hook to Beltran’s head at the end of the round.

Round 11 both fighters were throwing pretty wild punches, Clay gets warned to keep his punches up. Both fighters slowed a lot this round mostly throwing single punches; Beltran landed the more accurate punches. Clay gets hit by a low blow and Beltran gets a point deducted.

Round 12 Beltran goes to the body, Clay backs away from the punches and lands his jab. Clay lands a solid right as Beltran moves away. At the end of the round they trade a few punches, Beltran knows he won and keeps moving. The end of the round and the fight goes to the judges’ scorecards:

After 12 rounds of boxing the judges’ cards are: 117-110, 115-112, 117-110 all for the winner by unanimous decision Fernando Beltran Jr.

Beltran improves his record to 33-3 with 18 KO’s; Meza-Clay falls to 28-3 with 19 KO’s