At the Dignity Sports Park, Carson, CA, Saturday, over Showtime’s Premier Boxing Champions, TGB Promotions – Tom Brown in association with Mayweather Promotions presented in the Main Event a Super Bantamweight unification bout between WBA champ Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa stopped WBC champ Luis “Pantera” Nery in the seventh round. In the co-feature former WBA and IBF Super Bantam champ Daniel “Baby Face Assassin” Roman defeated Ricardo “Hindu” Espinoza over 10 action rounds.
In the Main Event WBA Super Bantam champ Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa, 22-0-1 (17), #121¼, of Weslaco, TX, stopped WBC Super Bantam champ southpaw Luis “Pantera” Nery, 31-1 (24), #122, of Tijuana, Baja CA, MEX, at 2:18 of the seventh round in a scheduled 12 rounds.
In the three rounds the southpaw Nery outworked Figueroa who didn’t use his reach but instead went inside switching from orthodox to southpaw. In the fourth Figueroa came back well.
In the fifth and sixth rounds it was Nery landing left uppercuts to the body of Figueroa. In the seventh round Figueroa from southpaw landed a right then a left body shots dropping Nery for the count of referee Thomas Taylor. This earned Figueroa another unification bout in September with WBO champ Stephon “Cool Boy Steph” Fulton of Philadelphia.
“I knew he was getting tired and my corner said to go get him. I envisioned I would defeat Nery and look forward to meeting Stephon Fulton in September,” said Figueroa. Fulton was at ringside and in the ring afterwards.
Former WBA and IBF Super Bantam champ Daniel “The Baby Faced Assassin” Roman, 29-3-1 (10), #122, defeated Ricardo “Hindu” Espinoza, 25-4 (21), #121½, of Tijuana, Baja CA, MEX, over 10 action rounds.
In the first four rounds for the most part Espinoza was the aggressor with Roman countering well not being the power puncher of the two. In the fifth round Roman had a good round with left uppercuts to the chin of Espinoza.
In the seventh round Roman finished well rocking Espinoza with left uppercuts to the chin. In the eighth round Roman had the nose and mouth of Espinoza bleeding causing the ring physician to check the latter between rounds. In the ninth round at the halfway point Roman rocked Espinoza with a left uppercut to the chin. In the tenth and final round Roman out landed Espinoza in taking the round.
Scores were 97-93 and 98-92 twice with this writer 97-93. Referee was Edward Collantes.
Super Feather Xavier Martinez, 17-0 (11), #131½, of Sacramento, CA, defeated late sub Juan “Miniburgos” Carlos Burgos, 34-5-2 (21), #131¾, of Tijuana, Baja CA, MEX, over an all-action 10 rounds.
In the first two rounds Burgos usually a boxer came out slugging which is Martinez’s style forcing him to counter in two all action rounds. In the next three rounds Martinez at times had Burgos against the ropes while both had their moments. In the sixth round it was Burgos driving Martinez into a corner in the first half of the round. In the second half of the round it was Martinez getting the better of the two.
In the ninth round both ended the round toe to toe. In the tenth and final round of an all-action bout both let it all hang out in an outstanding bout with Burgos taking the fight on twenty a day notice.
Scores were all 99-91 surprisingly with the fans not pleased. This writer had it 97-93. The referee was Jose Cobian.
Lightweight Jose Valenzuela, 8-0 (5), #136½, of MEX and Seattle, WA, knocked out Nelson “Hot Hands” Nelson, 7-4 (4), #137, of Edinburg, TX, in the first round of a scheduled 8 rounds.
In the first round Valenzuela scored a knockdown causing the referee to stop the fight.
Super Fly Gabriel Fundora, 1-0 (0), #113¾, of Coachella, CA, defeated Jazmin Valverde, 2-2 (2), #112½, of Calexico, CA, over 4 rounds.
Valverde was knocked down in the second round.
Super Light Justin “Thomas” Cardona, 5-0 (3), #133½, of Salinas, CA, stopped James De Herrera, 4-7 (3), #133½, of College Station, TX, in the first round of a scheduled 4 rounds.
In the first round Cardona knocked down De Herrera twice causing the referee to halt the fight.