By Ken Hissner: At Plaza Monumental, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, Saturday over DAZN Fernando Beltran (Promociones Zanfer) and Golden Boy Promotions presented in the Main Event former WBO Light Middleweight champion and current WBO Inter-Continental Middleweight champion unbeaten Jamie Munguia stopped previously unbeaten D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard in the third round.
In the Main Event, WBC No. 1 middleweight and former Jamie Munguia, 39-0 (31), #160, of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, stopped D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard, 21-1-1 (13), #159.6, of Temple Hills, MD, at 1:47 at the third round of a 12.
Before the fight, both former world champions Oscar De La Hoya and Julio Cesar Chavez, Sr. was introduced into the ring with a round of applause for both.
In the first round Ballard out-landed Munguia with an effective jab. In the second round, Munguia landed a 3-punch combination to the chin, getting the attention of Ballard with a minute left in the round.
In the third round, a left hook almost halfway through the round from Munguia dropped Ballard for an 8-count from Referee Juan Jose Ramirez. Munguia jumped all over Ballard, knocking out his mouthpiece with a left hook on the chin, having him out on his feet against the ropes when the Referee Juan Jose Ramirez stepped in, calling a halt.
Super Lightweight Diego “Azabache” Torres, 14-0 (13), #140, of Zapopan, Jalisco, MEX, went the distance for the first time in a war defeating Jonathan “Perita” Escobedo, 8-3-1 (2), #140, of Zapopan, Jalisco, MEX, over ten action-packed rounds.
In the first two rounds, Torres dominated the shorter Escobedo for the most part. In the third round, the face under the eyes of Escobedo started swelling as he kept coming forward, being countered by Torres.
In the fourth round, Torres landed a 3-punch combination opening a cut below the left eyebrow of Escobedo halfway through the round. In the final thirty seconds, another 3-punch combination from Torres drew blood from the mouth of Escobedo.
In the fifth round, with a minute remaining, the referee brought in the ring physician to check the cut right after Escobedo landed a good left to the body of Torres.
At the end of the round, Escobedo landed a right to the side of the head of Torres, having him grab Escobedo into a clinch.
In the sixth round, Escobedo knocked the mouthpiece of Torres out who caught it and put it back in. It was a good round for Escobedo when Torres went down, and the referee called it a slip due to water in the corner.
In the seventh round, first time this far for Torres. It was an exciting ring with Escobedo bleeding from the cut below the eyebrow and mouth landed a good left hook to the chin of Torres in another close round.
In the eighth round again, the ring physician was brought in, checking the cut. The fans cheered Escobedo as the fight continued. This was the round Torres predicted he’d stop Escobedo.
Escobedo came out and again knocked out the mouthpiece of Torres with a left hook. Escobedo hurt Torres just before the bell with a left to the body.
In the ninth round, after half a minute, a right from Escobedo knocked out the mouthpiece of Torres for a third time, causing the referee to take a point from Torres. What a round this was! In the tenth and final round, Torres out-landed the oncoming gutsy Escobedo, who never stopped fighting.
Scores were 98-91, 97-92 twice, with this writer 95-94. The fans were not all happy with the decision.
Featherweight Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza, 18-0 (15), #125, of Guadalajara, Jalisco, MEX, stopped “The Demolition Man” Alie Laurel, 18-7-1 (11), #125, of General Santos City, PH, at 1:37 of the first round of a 10.
In the first round, the taller by 7” after a minute, a left hook from Espinosa on the chin drove Laurel into the ropes and down for an 8-count from Referee Juan Jose Ramirez. Espinosa was rubbing his right eye. Upon rising, Espinoza was all over him and landed a glancing left hook to the chin, and down went Laurel again on his bottom, taking the full count. It was the first time in his career he was stopped.
In the co-feature No. 7 WBA Lightweight southpaw William “Camaron” Zepeda, 25-0 (23), #135, of San Mateo Atenco, MEX, came off the canvas in the second and scored his fifteenth straight stoppage over Luis “Bofo” Viedas, 29-12-1 (10), #135, of Tijuana, MEX, at 1:51 of the third of a 10.
In the first round, Viedas slipped to the canvas hurting his knee. Again he slipped later in the round. With a little over a minute remaining, Zepeda stunned Viedas with a left to the chin.
In the second round, it was Viedas scoring a knockdown with a left body shot. Later in the round, Zepeda threw Viedas to the canvas losing a point from the referee. In the third round, a left from Zepeda to the chin dropped Viedas and hit him in the ribs while down as he was counted out by referee Fernando Renternia.
Flyweight Arely “Ametralladora” Mucino, 31-3-2 (10), of Monterrey, Nuevo Leo, MEX, stopped Marisol Sanchez, 12-10 (5), of Chiapos MEX, in the second round of a 10.
Ring Announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr.
