Gonzalez crushes Mares in 1!
In a stunning upset, Jhonny Gonzalez (55-8, 47 KOs) regained the WBC featherweight strap by knocking out the previously undefeated Abner Mares (26-1, 14 KOs) in the first round on Saturday night at the StubHub center in Carson Ca.
Mares was pressing the action when he was caught by a huge left hook that sent him crashing to the canvas. Clearly hurt, Mares made it to his feet and was allowed to continue. Mares could not fend off the follow up attack and hit the deck once more. Referee Jack Reis would wave it off as Mares struggled to make it to his feet.
“The way he fell when I landed that first punch, I knew it was over” said Gonzalez “I saw his reaction and I knew it was just a matter of time. I just had to do my job and finish it”
“He deserves a rematch” said Gonzalez about a rematch “I’d be willing to give it to him and one loss doesn’t mean that your career is over”
“Jhonny was the better fighter today. He knocked me out and I have nothing but respect for him” said Mares “He’s world champion again and there will be another day”
In the co-feature, undefeated Leo Santa Cruz (25-0-1, 15 KOs) crushed Victor Terrazas (37-3, 21 KOs) inside three rounds to claim the WBC super featherweight title. Santa Cruz came out at the bell and applied relentless pressure until Terrazas couldn’t take it. Terrazas would hit the deck in round three and a follow up flurry had referee Lou Moret stepping in to stop the action at 2:09 of round three.
L.A’s Julian Ramirez (9-0, 6 KOs) destroyed previously unbeaten Abraham Rubio (3-1-1, 1 KO) in the opening round of a scheduled six. Ramirez came out with little to no respect for Rubio and unloaded a flurry of shots that stunned Rubio. Moments later, following a series of unanswered shots, referee Raul Caiz Jr. stepped in and waved it off with Rubio on his feet but clearly hurt.
San Diego’s own Antonio Orozco (18-0, 13 KOs) looked impressive with his third round stoppage of Ivan Hernandez (29-3, 23 KOs). Orozco would drop Hernandez three times in the third before referee Raul Caiz Sr. stepped in and put an end to the beating. Official time was 1:39
South El Monte’s Joseph “JoJo” Diaz (7-0, 5 KOs) blasted through Noel Mendoza (6-3, 1 KO) in three rounds of a scheduled six at featherweight. A series of left hands floored Mendoza and a follow up flurry had referee Raul Caiz Jr. stepping in to save the young fighter from further damage.
Heavyweight Dominic Breazeale (6-0, 6 KOs) kept his perfect record intact with a fourth round stoppage of Lenroy Thomas (16-2, 8 KOs). Thomas went down under a hail of shots and was counted out by referee Thomas Taylor.
Super bantamweight Rey Vargas (16-0, 15 KOs) stopped veteran Juanito Rubillar (49-22-7, 24 KOs) in the fourth round of a scheduled eight. Rubillar would go down in the final seconds of the round and referee Raul Caiz Jr. waved it off moments later at the request of Rubillar’s corner. Official time was 2:58.
Super bantamweight Jesus Ruiz (30-5-5, 22 KOs) boxed and dominated the action en route to a unanimous decision victory over a tough Enrique Quevedo (15-6-1, 9 KOs) after eight rounds. Scores were 80-72 and 79-73 twice all for Ruiz.
Romanian super middleweight Ronald Gavrin (6-0, 5 KOs) remained unbeaten with a second round knockout of Dave Courchaine (2-3, 2 KOs) of Washington. A body shot dropped Courchain in the first round and a flurry of shots ended it in the second. Referee Raul Caiz Sr. would wave it off after the second knockdown.
Super middleweight Lanell Bellows (5-0-1, 4 KOs) of Las Vegas scored a dominate four round unanimous decision over Leshon Sims (5-14, 3 KOs). Scores were 40-36 all around.