By: Christopher Roche

A tentative first five rounds turned into a war over the final two, as James McGirt, Jr. and Carlos DeLeon, Jr. battled in Miami last night on Shobox.

McGirt, Jr. looked to box in the early going, and DeLeon, Jr. was content to throw one punch at a time. Despite the slow early rounds, the fight picked up the pace in the sixth, when DeLeon, Jr. began putting his punches together. However, McGirt, Jr. caught the chinny DeLeon, Jr. with a grazing shot to the head that turned DeLeon, Jr.’s legs into jello and sent him to the mat. Unfortunately, for McGirt, Jr., the bell sounded as DeLeon, Jr. stood up during the count.

In the seventh round, both men displayed a sense of urgency, but DeLeon, Jr. was clearly the harder puncher. DeLeon, Jr., landed a hard left hook that sent McGirt, Jr. into hold mode, and another shot sent his mouthpiece flying from the ring. Finally, DeLeon, Jr. dropped McGirt, Jr. for the first time in his career. However, McGirt, Jr. rose from the canvas pretty quickly, but he had no defense for DeLeon, Jr.’s barrage. McGirt, Jr. dropped to the canvas for a second time under an avalanche of punches, and the bout was waved off at 1:20 of round 7.

With the victory, the 28 year-old DeLeon, Jr. improved to 20-2, 13 KO’s, while McGirt, Jr., 25, dropped to 18-1, 9 KO’s. The bout took place in the super middleweight division.

In addition to having famous last names, both men showed tremendous heart in coming off of the canvas, but DeLeon’s punching power ultimately proved to be too much for McGirt, Jr.

Main Event

In the main event, New York City favorite Edgar Santana scored a much needed majority decision victory over Josesito Lopez. Santana, of the Bronx, was dropped twice in round eight, but he rallied back in rounds nine and ten to squeak out the decision. The scores were 94-94 and 93-95 (twice for Santana). Lopez appeared tentative in the early going, as he moved up in weight for his first bout at junior welterweight.

Santana, 29, improved to 24-3, 15 KO’s, and the 23 year-old Lopez, of Riverside, CA, dropped to 22-3, 13 KO’s.