San Antonio’s very own Ramon Cardenas stunned local boxing fans, flawlessly executing a left-hook to floor Rafael Pedroza in the second round, sealing a shocking victory during his first appearance on SHOBOX: The New Generation. This exciting event took place live on SHOWTIME from the Boeing Center at Tech Port, San Antonio, Texas. After two sharp left-hooks in the same round, Cardenas saw Pedroza crash to the floor. The fight was called off instantly by referee Rafael Ramos after the second fall, just 1:22 into the round.
This unexpected turn of events saw Pedroza becoming the 235th fighter to suffer a defeat on SHOBOX in its 22-year run.
Cardenas described the first knockdown, “After a right to Pedroza’s body, he lowered his defense. I saw the opening, threw my punch, and down he went. I was certain it could happen again and acted upon it.” Proudly, he added, “This being an undefeated fight on SHOWTIME makes it a significant victory. I trust SHOWTIME will want me back. My eyes are set on the champions.”
For Pedroza, this was a huge setback. Competing for the first time outside Panama, he came with soaring hopes, carrying an unblemished record and holding the fifth spot in the WBA super bantamweight division. But the evening belonged to Cardenas, who was at ease, delivering a spectacular show, updating his record to 22-1, while Pedroza’s shifted to 15-1.
In previous fights, Cardenas achieved a crucial win at The Alamodome in July 2022, besting Michel Banquez on SHOWTIME BOXING® COUNTDOWN, setting the stage for Mark Magsayo vs. Rey Vargas. This added another feather in Cardenas’s cap, as his achievements continue to rise.
In his words, “I’ve been ranked worldwide for over a year. I’m here to announce myself to the boxing world, to show them what I’m made of. I believe I’ve accomplished that.”
The night also featured Mirco Cuello, the 2020 Argentine Olympian known for his spirited fighting style. He secured a hard-fought unanimous decision against Rudy Garcia in their featherweight fight. Cuello’s record now stands at 13-0, while Garcia’s changed to 13-1-1.
Cuello, relentless in his pursuit, managed to inflict multiple injuries on Garcia. He succeeded in landing 35% of both his jabs and power punches and clearly dominated in body punches.
In the event’s opener, an upcoming talent, Freudis Rojas, kept his winning streak intact with a masterful performance against Saul Bustos in an eight-round welterweight fight. Rojas now has a 12-0 record, but his knockout streak ended here. On the other hand, Bustos, after facing consecutive losses, now stands at 15-2-1.
Rojas, possessing both technique and power, was last seen in action on July 15, making a strong impression on the SHOBOX platform. Rojas reflected on his performance, “I focused on my jab and it served me well. I am still evolving, learning to maintain my calm in the later rounds.”
Rojas continued to control the fight, often catching Bustos with precise punches. Despite a minor setback, where Bustos landed a few good punches in the sixth round, Rojas managed to stay ahead.
Rojas concluded, “It’s natural to feel some nerves on a big platform like SHOWTIME. It’s one of boxing’s premier stages, after all.”