Jaron “Boots” Ennis (36-0, 31 KOs) defeated Xander Zayas (23-1, 13 KOs) by seventh-round technical knockout: Ennis captured the WBA and WBO titles with a dominant performance, dropping Zayas in the first, fifth, and seventh rounds before Zayas’ corner threw in the towel.
Aside from briefly hurting Ennis with a right hand in the third round, Zayas struggled to deal with Ennis’ speed, movement, and accurate punching as the challenger controlled the action from start to finish.
Light welterweight: Emiliano Vargas (18-0, 15 KOs) defeated Bryce Mills (22-2, 9 KOs) by fourth-round technical knockout: Vargas retained the NABF, WBO Latino, and WBC USA Silver titles with a polished performance, dropping Mills in the third and fourth rounds before referee Ricky Gonzalez stopped the fight at 1:17 of round four. The 22-year-old prospect controlled the action with his jab, footwork, and sharp combinations, gradually breaking down the aggressive Mills before unleashing the finishing attack.
Light heavyweight: Ben Whittaker (12-0-1, 9 KOs) defeated Richard Rivera (27-3, 20 KOs) by second-round technical knockout: Whittaker dominated from the opening bell, dropping the veteran Rivera in the first round before scoring another knockdown early in the second. Referee Michael Griffin stopped the contest at the 0:27 mark of round two, giving the 2020 Olympic silver medalist another impressive finish.
Middleweight: Jahi Tucker (17-1-1, 7 KOs) defeated Euri Cedeno (14-1-1, 12 KOs) by 10-round majority decision: Tucker captured the IBF North American, WBC USA, and WBO NABO regional titles in a competitive bout that many observers felt could have gone either way, with the judges scoring it 95-95, 97-93, and 98-92. Cedeno’s power kept the fight close throughout, but Tucker’s higher work rate, ring control, and stronger finish proved enough to secure the decision. Afterward, Tucker described it as a “punishment performance” and said he believed he clearly dictated the action.
Super flyweight: Juanma “Juanmita” Lopez De Jesus (6-0, 3 KOs) defeated Alberto Motos (6-3) by first-round knockout: The 20-year-old prospect needed just 2:05 to end matters, dropping Motos with a perfectly timed straight left hand to the chin. Referee Ricky Gonzalez immediately waved the fight off, giving Lopez another emphatic early finish as he continued his unbeaten start in the professional ranks.
Super bantamweight: Dennis Thompson (11-0, 6 KOs) defeated Edwin Rodriguez (12-12-3, 5 KOs) by eight-round split decision: Thompson remained unbeaten, but the veteran Rodriguez made him work for the victory as the judges returned scores of 77-75, 79-73, and 75-77.
Rodriguez’s experience, toughness, and durability prevented Thompson from taking control for long stretches, turning what many expected to be a one-sided fight into a closely contested battle.
Welterweight Quincey Williams (7-0, 6 KOs) defeated Jerome Baxter (8-2, 3 KOs) by an eight-round unanimous decision. The scores were 79-73, 79-73, and 79-73.
