WBA, WBC, and WBO World super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez defended his title, easily defeating Edgar ‘The Chosen One’ Berlanga by unanimous decision in 12 rounds on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
In the co-feature, WBA world middleweight champion Erislandy Lara defeated former 140lb and 147lb champion Danny ‘Swift’ Garcia by nine-round TKO.
In the main event, Canelo (62-2-2, 39 KOs) won a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision over Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOs).
There was little action in the first two rounds, with Alvarez winning both. In the third round, a Canelo left hook to the chin dropped Berlanga for an 8 count by Referee Harvy Dock. He managed to get up and fought his way back to the bell.
In the fourth round, Berlanga came back with an effective jab, taking the turn. Canelo failed to pick up where he left off in the previous round after dropping Berlanga.
In the fifth round, again, Berlanga did enough with his jab to prevent Canelo from getting any offense. In the sixth round, Berlanga had another good round using his jab, with Canelo’s face showing swelling under both eyes.
In the seventh round, Canelo came back with a jab of his own, outside of Berlanga. In the last minute of the eighth round, Berlanga crashed hard to the canvas, having trouble getting to his feet.
Berlanga warned to use his head. In the ninth round, Canelo continued to work Berlanga. In the tenth round Canelo had his way leading Berlanga all the way.
A right to the chin in the last seconds hurts Berlanga. Berlanga came back, landed a jab, and Canelo walked to a corner when referee Dock arrived when the boxers had words.
In the eleventh round, Canelo worked and knocked down Berlanga, who may have hurt his right hand. In the twelfth and last time
In the eleventh round, Canelo continued to drive Berlanga around, taking the round. In the twelfth and final round, after coming out of a clinch, Berlanga looked at his corner, which encouraged him to throw punches. He did the rest of the round, which ended with the most action of the fight, with the two mixing it up.
The scores were 117-110, 118-109 and 118-109.
In the head support bout, 2-division world champion and current WBA middleweight champion Lara (32-3-3, 20 KOs) stopped former WBC and WBA Light Welterweight champion WBC Welterweight champion Danny ‘Swift’ Garcia, 37 -4 (21) after the fall. he in the ninth Garcia failed to exit for the tenth round of a scheduled 12 rounds.
There was little action in the first four rounds. In the third round, Garcia received a small cut on his left eyelid from a clash of heads. Fans have been restless, waiting for something to happen in this.
In the fifth round, it looks like Garcia moved up to a heavier weight, and it showed. On the other hand, Lara does not do much more. In the final minute of the sixth round, Garcia began landing rights to Lara’s chin, but not enough to take the round.
In the seventh round, Lare, due to a strong finish, took another round. In the eighth round, Garcia did enough to take his first round. In the ninth round, Garcia was knocked down for an 8-count by Referee Thomas Taylor. At the end of the round, Garcia’s corner called a stoppage.
Former IBF Super Middle champion Caleb Plant, 23-2 (14), got off the canvas early and stopped Trevor McCumby, 28-1 (21), at 2:59 of the ninth round of a 12 round scheduled for the interim WBA title. .
In the first round, Plant returned after 18 months of loss and did well. In the second round, Plant hurt McCumby first. McCumby came back well, but Plant took over. In the third round, McCumby threw Plant to the canvas, receiving a warning from Referee Alan Huggins. McCumby had a good round out punching Plant. In the fourth round, a left hook from McCumby dropped Plant for an 8 count from referee Huggins.
In the fifth round Plant had McCumby pinned in a corner that he was working on when the bell rang and they had words. In the sixth round Plant started showboating in a close round that he took.
In the seventh round McCumby had his best round in a round of action. In the eighth lap, Plant had a lead, but McCumby had his moments. In the ninth round, Plant clipped McCumby’s right eyebrow, worked him against the ropes and landed a dozen unanswered punches, forcing referee Huggins to wave him off.
Former WBA welterweight world champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) defeated Manuel Jaimes (16-2-1-1, 11 KOs) by a ten-round unanimous decision.
In the first two rounds, there was little action. In the third, Romero hurt Jaimes with a right to the chin. Romero did enough to take the third and fourth rounds.
In the sixth and seventh rounds, Romero had a slight advantage. In the eighth round, Romero was hurt by a right hand from Jaimes. In the ninth round, Romero overpowered Jaimes. In the tenth and final round, Romero, in a tough fight, won Jaimes.
The results were 99-91, 99-91 and 99-91.
Former WBO and WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Stephen ‘Cool Boy Steph’ Fulton (22-1, 8 KOs) came off the canvas to win a split, if not contested, decision over former WBC Continental Americas featherweight champion Carlos Castro (30-3, 18 KOs) by ten-round unanimous decision.
In the first round, Castro controlled with an effective jab, keeping Fulton, who had returned to the ring in more than a year since losing his title and having his first loss, from returning with much more than a good hook of the left In the third round, Castro drew blood from Fulton’s nose in the opening minute. His jab caused Fulton trouble.
In the fourth round, Castro pulled the flood out of Fulton’s nose. Fulton finally returned to championship form in the final minute. In the fifth round, Castro dropped Fulton with a counter right on the chin for an 8 count from Referee Alan Huggins. He managed to get to the end after winning the round up until the knockdown.
In the sixth round Fulton came back well from the fall in the previous fight. In the seventh round going from super bantam to featherweight to take on such a tough opponent turned out to be a mistake for most, as Cruz proved that he is more than tough. In the eighth round after a minute, a right from Castro almost dropped Fulton who was holding four more than a minute until he got “a harsh warning” from the referee Huggins.
In the ninth round that is not a puncher Fulton may need a knockout is in trouble. Fulton landed several good left hooks that knocked Castro’s head back to take the round. In the tenth and final round, Philly’s top trainer “Bozy” Ennis is now in his corner urging Fulton to open up with power punches. Halfway through the round Fulton landed a left hook that hit Castro.
In the last minute Fulton nearly dropped Castro with a right to the chin taking the last round.
The scores were 95-94 Castro, 96-93 Fulton and 95-94 Fulton. The fans were not happy. It might have been a hard-fought victory for Fulton.
Welterweight Roiman ‘Flaco de Oro’ Villa, 26-3 (24), #146 ¼, of Rosario, VZ, was knocked out by Ricardo ‘Majic Man’ Salas, 20-2-2 (15), #146, of Mexico City, MEX, at 2:06 of the third round of a scheduled 10 round.
In the first round the action started early with an excellent first round from both fighters. In the second round the action continued. Referee Mike Ortega warned Roiman several times for low blows.
In the third round with both fighters slugging out when a short right from Salas landed and fell Roiman on his back taking the full count from referee Ortega. It was the second stop in a row for Roiman. In his last fight he was stopped by Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis in July 2023.
Super Middle Southpaw Bek Nurmaganbet, 12-0 (10), #?, of Turkestan, KAZ, stopped Joshua ‘Young Gun’ Conley, 17-6-1 (11), #?, of San Bernadino, CA, in the second round of a 6 expected round.
In the second round, a flurry of Nurmaganbet caused the Referee? to call an arrest for the defenseless Conley.
Super Feather Jonathan ‘The Rock’ Lopez, 17-0 (12), #130, of Orlando, FL, defeated Richard “Ricky El’Punishment” Medina, 15-3 (8), #130, of San Antonio, TX , above 8 strokes of blood.
In the first round Lopez knocked out Medina’s mouth. In the next three rounds, Lopez had his way. In the fifth round he suffered a cut on his right eyebrow from a head cut.
In the eighth and last final round seconds a left from Lopez on the chin left Medina who received an 8 count from Referee Robert Hoyle. He managed to reach the bell. Both fighters had blood pouring from their faces.
Score 80-71 by all 3 judges.
Light Heavy Lawrence ‘Dawg’ King, 16-1 (13), #?, of San Bernadino, CA, southpaw Vaughn Williams, 12-1 (8), #?, of Greenville, SC, 8 rounds.
Middle Yoenli Hernandez, 4-0 (4), #?, of Camaguey, CUB, Miami, FL, Jose ‘Matador’ Sanchez Charles, 21-5-1 (12), #?, of Reynosa, MEX, 8 rounds.
