At the Banc of California Stadium, in L.A. Saturday Top Rank’s Bob Arum featured Emmanuel Navarrette and Francisco DeVaca matched for the WBO World Super Bantamweight title over ESPN+ and ESPN.
In the Main Event WBO World Super Bantamweight champion Emmanuel “Vaquero” Navarette, 28-1 (24), 122, of Mexico City, MEX, defended his title stopping No. 10 ranked Mexican Francisco “Panchito El Centenario” De Vaca, 20-1 (6), 122, of Phoenix, AZ, at 1:54 of the second round.
In the first round Navarette used his longer reach keeping De Vacca on the defense for most of the round. In the second round De Vacca suffered a bloody nose and was knocked down by a right uppercut on the chin from Navarette.
In the second round Navarette continued where he left off landing power punches as the light hitting De Vacca tries his best but was overpowered by Navarette who rocked him with a left hook causing the referee Raul Caiz, Sr. to wisely call a halt.
“First I want to thank all my followers and winning in Mexican style. I hope to come back in September defending my title again,” said Navarette. Promoter Bob Arum standing with the interviewer said he will be back on the September 14th card.
In the co-feature Former WBO Super Bantamweight champion southpaw Jesse “Leno” Magdaleno, 27-1 (18), 125.4, of Las Vegas, NV, won a TD at 2:59 of the ninth round over Rafael “Big Bang” Rivera, 27-4-2 (18), 125.6, of Tijuana, MEX, for USNBC Featherweight title in a scheduled 10.
In the first round Magdaleno dominated the first round outworking Rivera. In the second round Magdaleno kept Rivera from punching by keeping his jab in his face with occasional lefts to the chin. In the third round continued with hands high and not able to pull the trigger nor cut off the ring. Magdaleno countered well.
In the fourth round Rivera finally opened up backing Magdaleno to the ropes at the start of the round. Halfway through the round an accidental head butt caused a cut across the nose of Magdaleno. In the fifth round Rivera hit Magdaleno behind the head causing referee Thomas Taylor to warn Rivera as Magdaleno walked to his corner rubbing his head before continuing.
In the sixth round Magdaleno had Rivera missing more than landing in a close round. In the seventh round Magdaleno had Rivera hurt in the final half minute and holding on from a solid left on the chin having him go back several steps. In the eighth round Magdaleno let Rivera back into the fight by moving and not throwing much.
In the ninth round a left hook from Magdaleno on the chin dropped Rivera for an 8 count. In the final seconds of the round landing a right elbow while the referee called it an accidental clash of heads opening up a cut over the right eye of Magdaleno. The referee halted the bout on the advice of the ring physicians as they went to the scorecards.
Scores were 88-82 twice and 89-81. This writer had it 87-83.
Welterweight southpaw Chris “The Heat” Van Heerden, 28-2-1 (12), 146.4, of RSA and Santa Monica, CA, defeated a game Aslanbek “The Lion” Kozaev, 33-3-1 (8), of Vladikavkaz, RUS, over 8 bloody rounds.
In the first round it was all counter punching Van Heerden but he was cut over the left eye lid by an accidental head butt. In the second round Van Heerden was having Kozaev walking into his punches countering well. The cut was re-opened. In the third round Kozaev was cut the bridge of his nose by the many punches he took in the round from Van Heerden.
In the fourth round within the first twenty seconds an accidental head clash caused a cut over the right eye of Van Heerden whose face is covered with blood from cuts over both eyes. Kozev was cut over his right eye halfway through the round.
In the fifth and sixth rounds Van Heereden continued to outwork Kozev. In the seventh round Van Heerden hurt Kozev with a flurry of punches. In the eighth and final round Kozev kept walking into punches. Both boxers showed much respect for one another at the end of the bloody fight.
Scores were Villarreal and Young 79-73 with Hernandez 78-74 with this writer 80-72.
Super Lightweight Arnold Barboza, Jr., 22-0 (9), 141.6, of L.A., CA, stopped a game Ricky “Chocolate Hills Mondo Harada” Sismundo, 35-15-3 (17), 141.4, of PH and Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, after 4 rounds of a scheduled 10.
In the first round the taller Barboza had his way for the most part. A right just prior to the bell on the chin of Sismundo rocked him. In the second round Barboza used his reach countering the oncoming Sismundo. The final punch of the round from Barboza a right on the chin had Sismundo staggering back to his corner.
In the third round having his way Barboza was outlanding Sismundo for the entire round before dropping him with a straight left on the chin on the seat of his trunks. The bell came to rescue him after he beat the count.
In the fourth round Barboza kept landing punch after punch up to the bell as Sismundo wobbled back to his corner shaking his head and went to the ropes holding them. The corner stopped the fight.
Middleweight southpaw 2016 Olympian Janibek Alimkhanuly, 7-0 (3), 159.8, of KAZ out of Oxnard, CA, easily stopped Stuart “West Coast War Lord” McLellan, 27-4-3 (11), 159.2, of William Lake, British Col, Canada, at 2:51 of the fifth round in defending his WBC Continental Americas and WBO Global titles.
In the first round southpaw Alimkhanuly had his was outlanding McLellan. In the second round in the final minute Alimkhanuy rocked McLelland on two occasions. In the last twenty seconds Alimkhlanuy knocked McLellan down with a left uppercut on the chin.
In the third round Alimkhanuly tried keeping the fight in the middle of the ring while McLellan wanted to stay against the ropes. Either way Alimkhanuly had his way especially with an effective left uppercut on the chin. In the fourth round McLellan continued to eat punches from Alimkhanuly and looked exhausted between rounds.
In the fifth round Alimkhanuly dominated McLellan. In the final minute a combination from Alimkhanuly on the chin dropped McLellan. Upon rising McLellan was swarmed over by Alimkhanuly taking unecessary punishment until the referee Rudy Barragan wisely waved it off and McLellan’s corner threw in the towel.
Super Lightweight 2008 Olympian Javier “El Intocable” Molina, 20-2 (8), 140.2, of Norwalk, CA, defeated Manuel “La Tormenta” Mendez, 16-6-3 (11), 141, of Colton, CA, over 8 rounds.
In the first round Molina moved well using an effective jab. In the second round Mendez seemed to outwork Molina. In the third round Molina used uppercuts when in close. Mendez never stops throwing punches. In the fourth round Mendez outworked Molina.
In the fifth round Molina countered well. In the sixth round Molina drove Mendez into a corner landing a flurry of punches. Molina outworked Mendez. In the seventh round Molina came out landing hooks to the body and head. He kept Mendez from landing with his jab. In the eighth and final round Mendez continued to come forward but the hand speed of Molina keeps him on the defense.
Scores were Russell and Morett 79-73 and Jarman 78-74 as did this writer.
Welterweight Brian “La Bala” Mendoza, 18-0 (13), 148, of Las Vegas, NV, knocked out Rosemberg “El Chacalin” Gomez, 20-8-1 (16), 147.8, of NIC out of Miami, FL, at 2:12 of the first round.
Lightweight Dmitry Yun, 2-0 (0), 134.5, of UBZ and Thousand Oaks, CA, came off the canvas twice but decisioned Javier Martinez, 4-7 (3), 135.5, of Austin, TX, over 6 rounds. Martinez lost 2 points for mouthpiece being out.
In the first round Martinez knocked down Yun. In the second round it was all Yun. In the third third Martinez looked tired and his mouthpiece fell out for the sixth time losing a point by the referee Jack Reiss. In the final minute Martinez dropped Yun with a right to the chin.
In the fourth round Yun dominated as Martinez was having problems keeping his mouthpiece in. In the fifth round the mouthpiece got knocked out by Yun costing Martinez a point by the referee. In the sixth and final round it was all Yun.
Scores were 57-54 twice and 56-54 as did this writer.
Super Lightweight southpaw Elvin Rodriguez, 3-0-1 (3), 140 ¾, of Santo Domingo, DR, stopped southpaw Jesus “Speedy” Gonzalez, 6-3 (2), 141 1/2, of Houston, TX, at 1:42 of the first with a pair of knockdowns.
In the first round after half a minute a right hook from Rodrigez on the chin of Gonzalez dropped him for an 8 count of referee Rudy Barragan. Halfway through the round Rodriguez dropped Gonzalez for a second time with a combination on the chin. The referee waved it off as Gonzalez got up.