Jhonny Gonzalez scored a shocking 1st round knockout over previously undefeated Abner Mares to recapture the WBC Featherweight title at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Gonzalez landed a crushing left hook to the jaw that sent Mares sprawling on his back. Mares was clarly hurt but tried to fight back instead of holding until he got caught with another left hook that was followed by a straight right that sent Mares down and the fight was stopped at 2:55 of the opening round.
Gonzalez, 125 lbs of Mexico City is now 55-8 with 47 knockouts. Mares, 125 1/2 lbs of Hawaiian Gardens, CA is now 26-1-1.
“This moment right now is the single greatest and most glorious moment of my life,” said an elated Gonzalez, who reclaimed the 126-pound belt he once held and breathed new life into his career with the win over his former training partner. “When I came to the United States for this fight no one gave me any credit. All they talked about was Mares fighting Santa Cruz. I didn’t say anything but I knew I was getting disrespected.”
“I knew I had him badly hurt after the first knockdown,” Gonzalez said.
“I’m good,” said Mares, who held titles at 118 and 122 pounds before claiming the featherweight belt last May. He was making his eighth consecutive appearance on SHOWTIME. “You have to win and you have to learn how to lose in this sport. I’m not in the sport to remain undefeated, but I’m here to fight the best.
“I was alright with the ref’s decision. He did his job and I respect it. But I thought I could go on,” he added. “Now I’m going to take a break and enjoy my family.”
Leo Santa Cruz became a two division world champion as he stopped Victor Terrazas in round three to win the WBC Super Bantamweight title.
Santa Cruz was effective if not relentless in drubbing the now former champion as he landed some hard shots to the body. The shots started to form bad swelling around the right eye. Santa Cruz came out in round three and landed hard flush punches that sent Terrazas to the canvas from a left hook. Santa Cruz finished the fight as he was all over Terrazas and landed a right that sent the native of Guadalajara, Mexico to a knee. When he got to his feet, Terrazas told referee Lou Moret that he could not see and the fight was stopped at 2:09 of round three.
Santa Cruz, 121 3/4 lbs of Los Angeles is now 25-0-1 with 15 knockouts. Terrazas, 121 lbs is now 37-3-1.
“This is a dream come true,” said Santa Cruz, 25, who had fought 106 fewer rounds in his career than Terrazas, who is 30. “I’ve wanted the green belt my entire life. Once I saw the eye start to swell I knew I had to go after him and put the pressure on him.”
Terrazas said, “The eye was not a problem. This was a good fight. He was tough like I expected. He just caught me. I wanted to continue the fight.”
Antonio Orozco scored a three round beatdown over Ivan Hernandez in a Jr. Welterweight bout.
Not much happened in round one but then Orozco got things rolling in round two as he pounded Hernandez with shots that swelled up the right eye of Hernandez. Orozco wasted no tim in round three as he scored two quick knockdowns from relentless pressure that overwhelmed Hernandez. Orozco landed two more thudding lefts that sent Hernandez down for a third and final time that forced the referee to stop the bout at 1:39 of round three.
Orozco, 141 1/2 lbs of San Diego is now 18-0 with 14 knockouts. Hernandez, 141 1/2 lbs of Barranquilla, COL is now 29-4.
Joseph Diaz Jr. scored 3rd round stoppage over Noel Mendoza in a scheduled six round Bantamweight bout.
Diaz showed a tremendous offensive repertoire as he worked the body and the head with austhority.
Diaz dropped Mendoza twice from hard and furious combinations with the second coming from a hard left – right that forced the referee to stop the bout at 1:54 of round three.
Diaz, 123 lbs of South El Monte, CA is now 8-1 with five knockouts. Mendoza, 121 1/2 lbs of Phoenix, AZ is now 6-3-1.
2012 Olympic Heavyweight Dominic Breazeale scored a fourth round stoppage over Lenroy Thomas.
Thomas came and won the first round as Breazeale used it as a feeling out round. With each round, Breazeale picked up the pace and in ronund three he started working the body. In round four, Breazeale landed a flurry that was finished up with a right to the body that sent Thomas down for referee at 2:29 of round four.
Breazeale, 251 lbs of Alhambra, CA is now 6-0 with all wins coming Early. Thomas, 246 lbs of St. Petersburg, FL is now 16-3.
