By Ken Hissner: At the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona Saturday over DAZN Eddie Hearn (Matchroom Boxing) presented in the Main Event for the vacant WBC Super Flyweight title, the former champion Carlos “Principe” Cuadras of Mexico City, Mexico was upset by 22-year-old Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez.
In the co-feature, Featherweight Raymond Ford won a split decision over Edward “Kid” Vazquez that could have gone either way.
In the Main Event, former Super Flyweight champion Carlos “Baby Face” Cuadras, 39-5-1 (27), #114.4, of Mexico City, Mexico, lost to southpaw Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, 15-0 (10), #114.1, of San Antonio, Texas, over 12 rounds.
In the first round, it was close, with Rodriguez having an edge. In the second round, Cuadras came back, taking a close round. In the third round, Rodriguez dropped Cuadras with a right on the chin for an 8-count by Referee Chris Flores. Cuadras got up and took it to Rodriguez the rest of the round, even giving him a bloody nose in the final seconds.
In the fourth round, Rodriguez out-landed Cuadras though warned for low blows. In the fifth round, Cuadras came back to again bloody the nose of Rodriguez. In the sixth round, it was another good round for Rodriguez while Cuadras held his own.
In the seventh round, Cuadras showed more power in his punches, taking the round. In the eighth round, the action picked up even more, with Rodriguez the quicker of the two and Cuadras the power puncher. In the ninth round, Rodriguez seemed to have an edge.
In the tenth round, both had their moments, but Rodriguez landed more. In the eleventh round, Cuadras had quite of bit of redness under his right eye as the quicker Rodriguez outworked him. In the twelfth and final round, while stepping up in weight for the first time, Rodriguez continued to outwork Cuadras.
Scores were 117-110 twice and 115-112 with this writer 116-111.
In the co-feature, WBA Continental Americas Featherweight champion southpaw Raymond “Savage” Ford, 11-0-1 (6), #126, of Camden, NJ, retained his title in a split decision over Edward “Kid” Vazquez, 11-1 (3), #125.9, of Ft. Worth, Texas, over ten solid rounds.
In the first round, Ford dominated with quicker hands out, landing Vazquez. In the second round, Vazquez came back well, taking it to the backpedaling Ford, yet it may not have been enough to take the round. In the third round, Vazquez had a good round as Ford decided to keep it in the middle of the ring.
In the fourth round, Ford was warned by referee Tony Zaino again for holding. Both had their moments, but Vazquez taking the round. In the fifth round, Vazquez worked the body well, with Ford ending the round stronger. In the sixth round, Vazquez continued outworking Ford as the crowd cheers him on with “Eddie, Eddie.”
In the seventh round, the action continued with both having their moments in a close fight. Ford was coming back well after dropping several previous rounds.
In the eighth round, Ford ended the round with a left on the chin, getting the attention of Vazquez. In the ninth round, it went back and forth, with Ford having a slight edge and needing it. In the tenth and final round, Ford knew he needed the round and seemed to pull it out.
Scores were 96-94 Vazquez, 98-92, and 97-93 Ford. This writer was 95-95.
WBA Bantamweight champion Jamie “The Miracle” Mitchell, 8-0-2 (5), #117.2, of Las Vegas, Nevada, stopped southpaw Carly “Thumper” Skelly, 4-1-1 (0), #116.2, of Liverpool, Merseyside, UK, at 1:32 of the fourth round of a scheduled ten rounds.
In the first round, after both were mixing it well, Mitchell threw a flurry of missed before a right landed on the chin, dropping Skelly for an 8-count after the bell sounded. In the second round’s final seconds, a right from Mitchell on the chin dropped Skelly on her backside for another 8-count as the round ended.
In the third round, a much better one for Skelly though not enough to win the round. In the fourth round, Mitchell landed over half a dozen unanswered punches having Skelly out on her feet when referee Wes Melton called a halt.
Flyweight Fernando “Leoncito” Diaz, 11-1-1 (3), #111, of Riverside, CA, defeated Lorenzo Smith, 10-1 (8), #111.5, of Phoenix, AZ, over ten rounds for the vacant USNBC title.
Scores were 96-93 twice and 95-94. Wes Melton was the referee.
Heavyweight Adam “All American” Stewart, 13-1-1 (8), #234, of Phoenix, AZ, defeated Alvin Davie, 6-3 (5), #223.8, of Miami, FL, over six rounds.
Scores were all 60-53, with Stewart scoring a knockdown in 6th.
Light Heavyweight Khalil “Big Steppa” Coe, 2-0-1 (1), #179.5, of Flemington, NJ, stopped Dylan O’Sullivan, 1-2 (0), #177.8, of Johnson City, TN, in the second round of a scheduled four rounds.
