Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions promoted a St. Patrick’s Day show Sunday at Madison Square Garden Theater, New York, over ESPN+.
Former WBA Welterweight Champion southpaw Luis “God’s Way” Collazo, 39-7 (20), of Queens, NY, won a split decision over No. 10 ranked Samuel Vargas, 30-5-2 (14), of Mexico City, MEX, over 10 rounds.
In the first round Vargas forced ahead throwing body punches and forced several clinches and was warned once by referee Charley Fitch for a beltline punch. Collazo landed hard left uppercuts to the chin of Vargas. In the second round Vargas continued his body attack on Collazo. Collazo landed a left uppercut to the body and a right hook to the head of Vargas. Vargas pinned Collazo against the ropes landing body shots as Collazo countered well. A clash of the heads had the ring physician check Collazo.
In the third round Vargas continued a body attack with Collazo countering. Collazo landed four body and head shots. Vargas warned using his head. Collazo landed a solid left to the chin of Vargas at the bell. In the fourth round Vargas got a second warning for using his head. Vargas landed four body shots and Collazo rocked him with a right cross on the chin. Halfway through the round Collazo received a cut over the left eye.
In the fifth round Vargas forced Collazo against the ropes with a body attack. In the middle of the ring Collazo gets the best of Vargas with a hard left uppercut to the body. A left hook from Collazo caused a bloody lip of Vargas. In the sixth round Vargas got warned for holding and hitting behind the head. Collazo landed hard uppercuts to the body while Vargas lands to the chin causing a bloody nose for Collazo. In the middle of the ring Collazo landed a 3-punch combination to the body and head.
In the seventh round Vargas walked into a Collazo left uppercut to the body. Vargas re-opened the cut over Collazo’s left eye causing blood to run down the side of his face. Collazo has control of the fight the last three rounds. In the eighth round Collazo gave Vargas a boxing lesson with his jab and spinning around Vargas.
In the ninth round the blood is coming from the right eye of Collazo possibly from a head butt. Collazo jabs and digs in with a left uppercut to the body of Vargas. In the tenth and final round Collazo danced around the oncoming Vargas looking for a needed knockout. Vargas mauled Collazo who danced out of trouble with blood running down from his right eye ending the round with a right hook to the chin of Vargas.
Scores were Feldman 96-94 and Lombardi 98-92 Collazo and Trella 96-94 Vargas. This writer had it 97-93 Collazo.
Two-time Olympian ranked No. 9 featherweight Michael “Mic” Conlan, 11-0 (6), of Belfast, IRL, won a lopsided decision over Ruben Garcia Hernandez, 24-4-2 (10), of Mexico City, MEX, over 10 rounds in a WBO Inter-Continental title title defense.
In the first round after ten seconds Conlan turned southpaw and back to orthodox going to the body of Hernandez. Conlan dominated the first two rounds. In the third round Conlan did a good body attack on Hernandez. Conlan ended the round with a double right hook to the chin.
In the fourth round Conlan kept his hands to his side daring Hernandez to come to him. Hernandez walked into a straight left on the chin from Conlan. Hernandez did little offensively. In the fifth round low left from Conlan got Hernandez a short rest by referee Mike Ortega. Conlan continued going to the body of Hernandez.
In the sixth round Conlan from southpaw landed right hooks to the body of Hernandez. Right hooks from Conlan redden the left side of the face of Hernandez. In the seventh round Conland moves side to side working on the body of Hernandez. Hernandez walked into a right from Conlan.
In the eighth round Conlan started going to the head of Hernandez looking to end it. Conlan ended the round with a right to the body of Hernandez. In the ninth round Conlan continued boxing well and in the second half of the round going to the body of Hernandez.
In the tenth and final round inside Hernandez landed a right uppercut to the chin of Conlan. Conlan landed a lead left to the chin followed by a right and left to the chin of Hernandez.
All 3 judges had it 100-90 as did this writer.
“I think I showed good defensive movement. I wanted to show things I practiced on. I want a fight with (Vladimir) Nikitin (who won his third straight on the undercard),” said Conlan.
Super Lightweight Josue “the Prodigy” Vargas, 13-1 (8), of PR/Bronx, NY, defeated Adriano Ramirez, 10-3 (6), of Jarabacoa, DR, over 8 rounds.
Judges Basile, Consentino and Rubenstein had it 80-72.
Two-time Olympic Bronze Medalist bantamweight Paddy “The Leprechaun” Barnes, 5-2 (1), of Belfast, IRE, lost by split decision to Oscar Mojica, 12-5-1 (1), of Dallas, TX, over 6 rounds.
In the first round Barnes nose started bleeding with the first left hook to the nose from Mojica. The shorter Barnes opened up with a combination to the chin of Mojica. Mojica landed a lead right on the chin of Barnes. Mojica landed a left hook to the mid-section of Barnes.
In the second round Barnes flurried with half a dozen body punches. Nose started bleeding of Barnes. He landed four body shots. Mojica landed a left hook to the body knocking Barnes down for an 8 count by referee Danny Schiavone. Barnes landed a flurry of punches to the body of Mojica who countered with a body shot.
In the third round Mojica landed a left hook to the body that was countered by a Barnes left hook to the chin. Mojica landed three punches to the body and head of Barnes. In the fifth round Barnes landed four body shots that Mojica returned four of his own body shots. Barnes landed a lead right on the chin of Mojica. Mojica kept coming forward landing body shots on Barnes. Barnes started pressing Mojica in the final minute of the round landing a flurry of punches to the body of Mojica.
In the sixth round and final round Barnes knows he is behind and needs a big round and chased Mojica he knows going the distance he could still win. Barnes in the final minute drove Mojica into a neutral corner landing enough punches that Mojica tied him up.
Scores were McKaie 58-56 and Morgan 58-56 both for Mojica. Pierce 58-56 Barnes.
Lightweight Joseph Adorno, 12-0 (10), of Allentown, PA, defeated Rosas, 10-9 (4), of MEX/Laredo, TX, over 6 rounds by scores of 60-54 on all judges cards.
Featherweight Vladimir Nikitin, 3-0 (0), of RUS/Oxnard, CA, defeated Juan Tapia, by majority decision over 6 rounds.
Scores were 59-55 by judges Consentino and Morganwhile 57-57 by Rubenstein.
Super Lightweight John “El Terrible” Bauza, 12-0 (5), of PR/N. Bergen, NJ, defeated Ricardo Maldonado over 6 rounds.
Scores were 60-54 by judges Basile, McKaie and Jim Pierce.
Super Lightweight Lee Reeves, 3-0 (2), defeated Edward Torres, 1-2 (0), of Texas, over 4 rounds.
Scores were 40-34 by judges McKaie, Consentino and Rubenstein.