At the Pechanga Arena, San Diego, California on Saturday over ESPN+ and ESPN Bob Arum (Top Rank) presents in the Main Event former WBO Bantamweight and current WBO Super Bantamweight champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete knocked out Eduardo “El Gemelo” Baez in the sixth round.
In the Main Event WBO Super Bantam champ Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete, 36-1 (30), #125.8, of San Juan Zitlaltepic, MEX, knocked out Eduardo “El Gemelo” Baez, 21-3-2 (7), #125.8, of Mexicali, Baja California and Calexico, CA, at 1:05 of the sixth round of a scheduled 12 rounds.
In the first two rounds Baez answered everything Navarrete threw at him in an action packed fight. In the third round Navarrete came back well but not enough to take the round due to the body work of Baez. In the sixth round Navarrete landed a right uppercut to the chin and a left to the liver and down went Baez for the count from Referee Jack Reiss.
In the co-feature Welterweight southpaw Giovani “Gall de Oro” Santillan, 29-0 (16), #147.4, of San Diego, CA, Julio “Canelito” Luna Avila, 19-0-2 (10), #147.4, of Gomez Palacio Durango, MEX, 10 rounds.
In the third round Santillan suffered a cut on the right side of his head due to a clash of heads. In the fourth round body shots from Santillan had Avila hurt. In the fifth round Avila’s face was showing swelling under both eyes though he had a good round.
From the seventh round Santillan suffered a cut on the right eyebrow due to a clash of heads. In the ninth round it went back and forth Santillan seemed to have a slight edge. In the tenth and final round Santillan may have pulled it out in a close fight. Referee was Jerry Cantu.
Scores were 96-94, 100-90 twice and 97-93 this writer.
In a rematch Middleweight Nico Ali Walsh, 6-0 (4), #157.8, of Las Vegas, NV, knocked out Reyes “El Rey” Sanchez, 7-3 (3), #157.2, of Topeka, KS, at 2:45 of the second round of a 4.
In the first round Walsh pressed the action taking the round. In the second round a vicious left to the body from Walsh dropped Sanchez for the count of Referee Eddie Hernandez, Sr. Walsh is the grandson of former world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali.
Super Lightweight Lindolfo Delgado, 16-0 (13), #142, of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, MEX, won in a war over Omar “Pollo” Alejandro Aguilar, 24-1 (23), #142, of Ensenada, Baja California, MEX, over 8 rounds.
In the first round Delgado in an action round drew blood from the nose of Aguilar taking a close round. In the second round Aguilar came back strong taking the round. In the third round it was a war with both having their moments while Aguilar got the best of Delgado.
In the fourth round a right uppercut from Aguilar on the chin dropped Delgado but for some reason Referee Jack Reiss ruled in not a knockdown. In the fifth round Delgado came back taking a close round.
By the end of the sixth round the right eye of Aguilar was beginning to close from the lefts of Delgado but he out landed Delgado. The ring physician was brought in at the end of the round. In the eighth and final round the action continued for the entire round with both fighters having their moments with Delgado having an edge.
Scores were 77-75, 79-73 twice with 76-76 from this writer.
Super Featherweight Xavier Martinez, 18-1 (12), #131.6, of Sacramento, CA, stopped Alejandro “Pork Chop” Guerrero, 12-3 (9), #131.8, of Houston, TX, at 2:57 of the fifth round of an 8.
In the first three rounds Martinez controlled the action. In the fourth round Guerrero hurt Martinez in the final seconds with a right to the chin. In the fifth rounds final seconds Martinez had Guerrero hurt from a flurry of punches causing Referee Eddie Hernandez, Sr. to call a halt.
Featherweight Luis “El Venado” Alberto Lopez, 26-2 (15), #127, of Mexicali, Baja California, MEX, knocked out Yeison Vargas, 20-11 (15), #125.6, of Cartagena, COL, and Orlando, FL, in the second round of an 8.
Lightweight Miguel “Caveman” Contreras, 12-1-1 (6), #135 ½, of Bakersfield, CA, defeated Josec “Scorpion” Ruiz, 23-7-3 (16), #135, of Tegucigalpa, Honduras and Miami, FL, over 8 solid rounds.
In the third round Ruiz rocked Contreras with a right uppercut to the chin halfway through the round while Contreras came right back. In the fourth round Contreras came back well with left hooks to the chin of Ruiz.
In the fifth round Contreras rocked Ruiz with a left hook to the chin halfway through the round in taking a good action round. In the sixth rounds final half a minute Contreras rocked Ruiz with a left hook that caused both to let it all hang out up to the bell.
In the seventh round the action continued with Contreras getting the better of it. In the eighth and final round Contreras once again got the better of Ruiz out working him. Referee was Jerry Cantu.
Scores were 79-73, 80-72 twice and 79-73 from this writer.
Super Featherweight southpaw Austin Brooks, 8-0 (2), #129 ½, of La Mesa, CA, scored a knockdown in defeating Oliver Galicia, 5-0-1 (3), #126 ½, of L.A., CA, over 4 rounds.
In the first round Brooks missing a right landing a follow up left on the chin and down went Galicia in a delayed knockdown for an 8-count from Referee Jesse Cobian. He managed to get through the round. In the second round again Brooks hurt Galicia early taking the round.
In the fourth and final round Brooks continued to control things against a game Galicia.
Scores were 40-35 by all judges and this writer.