Vergil Ortiz Jr. came back after a 17 month layoff to score a dubious first round stoppage over Fredrick Lawson in a 10-round middleweight bout at The Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas.
In the opening round, Ortiz drove Lawson back with a jab, and followed up with a flurry of punches that Lawson took. The punches were getting through but not enough for Tony Weeks to stop the bout, but the veteran referee did in fact stop the contest at 2:33.
Ortiz, 157 lbs of Grand Prairie, TX had several fights cancelled due to illness, but got back on this night to raise his perfect mark to 20-0 with all wins coming early. Lawson, 152.4 lbs of Accra, GHA is 30-4.
“I’m ready for anyone. It felt like I’m back to doing what I usually do,” said Vergil Ortiz Jr. “This is my calling; this is what I was made to do and I want to continue doing this. There’s a lot of fighters that I want to fight, but Tim Tszyu, with all due respect, I want him next. He’s a hell of a fighter and it would be an honor to take him next.”
Barroso Shocks Davies in 1; Wins Interim Super Lightweight Title
Ismael Barroso won the WBA Interim Super Lightweight title with a stunning first round stoppage over Ohara Davies.
Barroso landed the first hard left of the fight that hurt and eventually put Davies on the canvas. Davies was hurt badly and ate more power shots and was sent to the canvas for a second time. Upon getting to his feet, referee Celestino Ruiz stopped the bout at 1:53.
Barroso, 139.6 lbs of El Tigre, VEN is 25-4-2 with 23 knockouts. Davies, 140 lbs of Hackney, ENG is 25-3.
“When I started boxing, they told me that I have a lot of power, and with God on my side I have that power.” said Ismael Barroso. “When I threw the first punch, I knew I had hurt him, I knew that I had him. The public has been calling for the fight with Romero, and I just want to say, I’m right here!”
Arnold Barboza Jr. stops Ndongeni After 8
Arnold Barboza Jr. was dominant in stopping Xolisani Ndongeni after round eight of a scheduled 10-round super lightweight bout.
Barboza slowly broke Ndongeni down and tuned up the in round eight as he battered Ndongeni all over the ring. referee Raul Caiz Jr. stopped the bout in between rounds eight and nine.
Barboza, 139.4 lbs of El Monte, CA is 29-0 with 11 knockouts. Ndongeni, 139.2 lbs of Eastern Cape, SA is 31-4.
Curiel Stops Diaz in 8
Raul Curiel remained undefeated with an eight-round stoppage over Elias Diaz in a scheduled 10-round welterweight bout.
In round five, Diaz began to bleed around the left eye. Later in the round, Curiel landed a right hand around that eye that put Diaz on the canvas. Curiel continued to bear up Diaz and the fight was stopped at 1:06 of round eight-eight
Curiel, 146.8 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX is now 14-0 with 12 knockouts. Diaz, 146.2 lbs of National City, FL is 12-2.
