Former world title challenger Egidijus Kaviauskas stopped Mikael Zewski in in round eight of their scheduled 10-round welterweight bout at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.

In round three, Kavaliauskas started to swell under his right eye.

In round eight, Kavaliauskas landed a huge right uppercut that hurt Zewski badly. Kavaliauskas jumped on Zewski and put him down with about 10 unanswered punches. Kavaliauskas came out in round eight and landed a booming right in the opening seconds that put Zewski down again, and the fight was stopped at seven seconds.

Zewski was ahead on two cards 67-65 and Kavaliauskas was ahead 67-65 on the other card at the time of the stoppage.

Kavaliauskas, 146.5 lbs of Lithuania is now 22-1-1 with 18 knockouts. Zewski, 147 lbs of Trois-Rivieries, CAN is 34-2.

Kavaliauskas said, “I was controlling the fight. I was never in danger. I was never hurt.
 
“I wanted to knock him out faster, but it happened this way. You can never count on the knockout. I was working. I was putting pressure on him. I saw him slowing down round by round. I saw him getting weaker and weaker. I was just blocking his punches and not feeling his power.
 
“I don’t think Crawford has any other choices at welterweight. I can ask his team, with all due respect, to give me a rematch because these guys have no opponents yet.”

Gonzalez Decisions Marriaga

Joet Gonzalez won a 10-round unanimous decision over Miguel Marriaga in a battle of former featherweight world title challengers.

In round nine, Marriaga was cut over his right eye.

Gonzalez landed 234 of 732 punches. Marriaga was 127 of 622.

Gonzalez, 125.8 lbs of Glendora, CA won by scores of 99-91 twice and 97-93 and is now 24-1. Marriaga, 125.9 lbs of Ajona, COL is 29-4.

Gonzalez said, “This puts me back in the position I want to be. I wanted to be back in with tough guys. I told my manager, Frank Espinoza, and my team at Golden Boy that I didn’t want no tune-up fights. I wanted to show people that I could compete with the top guys and be in with heavy hitters and boxers and compete for another title real soon.
 
“I want another world title shot. I think I’ve earned it.”

Jumakhanov stops Ramos

Aleem Jumakhanov stopped Jorge Ramos in round three of a scheduled eight-round featherweight bout.

In round three, Jumakhanov dropped Ramos with a hard right to the head for the ten count at 2:02.

Jumakhanov, 126.5 lbs of Reseda, CA is now 9-3-2 with five knockouts. Ramos, 127 lbs of Laredo, TX is now 7-3-1.

In a battle of undefeated bantamweight, Manuel Flores stopped Jonathan Rodriguez in round five of a scheduled six-round bout.

In round three, Flores put Rodriguez down with a left hook. In round five, Flores landed a hard left that snapped the head of Rodriguez back, and then a follow up flurry had the fight stopped at 1:11.

Flores, 117.3 lbs of Coachella, CA is 9-0 with six knockouts. Rodriguez, 118 lbs of Bethlehem, PA is 8-1.

Anthony Chavez won a six-round unanimous decision over Adan Gonzales in a junior lightweight bout.

In round one, Gonzales dropped Chavez with a right over the top. The replays showed the knockdown was caused by a headbutt and was rescinded. In round three, Chavez landed a left hook that drove Gonzales into the ropes, which was ruled a knockdown.

Chavez, 129.1 lbs of San Bernadino, CA won by scores of 58-56 on all cards and is now 9-1. Gonzalez, 129.1 lbs of Denver, CO is 5-4-2.

Eric Puente remained perfect by winning a four-round unanimous decision over Luis Norambuena in a lightweight bout.

Puente boxed well and used his jab to set up good shots, which included a couple of nice uppercuts.

Puente, 137.7 lbs of San Diego, CA won by scores of 40-36 twice and 39-37 and is now 4-0. Norambuena, 135.6 lbs of Talca, CHL is 4-6-1.

Former two-division world champion Jose Pedraza won a 10-round unanimous decision over former world title challnger Mikkel Lespierre in a junior welterweight bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas,

In round one, LesPierre began to bleed from his nose. Pedraza was dominant early. In round five, LesPierre was credited with a knockdown when a left hit an off-balanced Pedraza. Seconds later, Pedraza landed a big right that was followed by a left that sent LesPierre to the deck. After the round, referee Kenny Bayless went to the replay, and ruled that the knockdown by LesPierre was ruled a slip as the feet got tangled.

In round nine, LesPierre was bleeding over the right eye. In round 10, Pedraza knocked LesPierre with a jab.

Pedraza outlanded LesPierre 168-69.

Pedraza, 143.9 lbs of Cidra, PR won by scores of 100-88 and 99-89 twice and is now 27-3. LesPierre, 143.5 lbs of Brooklyn is 22-2-1.

“Mikkel was a tough opponent, but I stuck to my game plan. I wanted the knockout, but he stayed strong in there. I give him a lot of credit,” Pedraza said. “I would like to fight any of the world champions, but we have to see what happens next. I proved I belong with the top guys in the 140-pound division.”

Albert Bell remained perfect by winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Mark Bernaldez in a junior lightweight fight.

Bell outlanded Bernaldez 125-46.

Bell, 133 lbs of Toledo, OH won by scores of 100-90 on all cards, and is now 17-0. Bernaldez, 132 lbs of General Santos City, PHL is 20-4.

Elvis Rodriguez remained undefeated with a 1st round stoppage over Danny Murray in a scheduled six-round junior welterweight bout.

Rodriguez landed a jab right on the eye that sent Murray through the ropes, and the fight was stopped at 2:13.

Rodriguez, 140.2 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is 7-0-1 with all wins coming by knockout. Murray, 139.2 lbs of Lanoka Harbor, NJ is 5-4.

Two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Robeisy Ramirez avenged his disappointing pro debut by winning a six-round unanimous decision in a featherweight bout.

Ramirez was quicker and landed more blows. Gonzalez had swelling over his right eye in round five.

Ramirez outlanded Gonzales 62-55.

Ramirez, 125.1 lbs of Cienfuehos, CUB won by scores of 60-54 on all cards, and is now 4-1. Gonzales, 125.4 lbs of Denver is 5-3-2.

In round three, Ibeh began to bleed from the nose

Kingsley Ibeh won his 2nd fight in seven days as he won a six-round majority decision over previously undefeated Patrick Mailata in a heavyweight fight.

Ibeh outlanded Francis 86-75

Ibeh, 284.1 lbs of Phoenix, AZ won by scores of 58-56 twice and 57-57 and is now 5-1. Mailata, 284 lbs of South Auckland, NZ is 4-1.

Jose Enrique Vivas won a ten-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Carlos Jackson in a featherweight fight.

Vivas, 125.9 lbs of Montebello, CA won by scores of 97-93 and is now 19-1. Jackson, 125.1 lbs of Atlanta, GA is 16-1.

LAS VEGAS (June 24, 2020) —Jose Pedraza and Mikkel LesPierre will give it another shot. The junior welterweights will face off in the 10-round main event Thursday, July 2 from the MGM Grand Conference Center—Grand Ballroom. Pedraza-LesPierre was originally scheduled for June 18, but the bout was postponed after LesPierre’s manager tested positive for COVID-19.

Week 4 of the Top Rank on ESPN summer series begins Tuesday, June 30 at the MGM Grand, when top junior welterweight contender Alex Saucedo faces Sonny Fredrickson in a 10-round showdown.

The Pedraza-LesPierre and Saucedo-Fredrickson cards will air on ESPN and ESPN Deportes beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. 

“Mikkel and Jose deserve this opportunity, and I commend both camps for agreeing to reschedule this fight on short notice,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Alex Saucedo is destined to be a world champion, but he has an incredibly tall task in Sonny Fredrickson. We have another great week in store at MGM Grand.”

June 30
MGM Grand Conference Center – Grand Ballroom

Main Event
Alex Saucedo (29-1, 19 KOs) vs. Sonny Fredrickson (21-2, 14 KOs)
10 Rounds, Junior Welterweight

Saucedo has fought only once — a first-round knockout over Rod Salka — since he was knocked out by Maurice Hooker in November 2018 in a bid for the WBO junior welterweight world title. The Oklahoma City product is entering his second fight with head trainer Pedro Neme and will move closer to a second world title opportunity with a victory over the 6-foot-1 Fredrickson. From Toledo, Ohio, Fredrickson is a former U.S. amateur standout who is hoping to re-establish his momentum following a majority decision defeat to Samuel Teah last November.

“I have gotten a lot of quality sparring during the last few months, and I believe that’s going to show on June 30,” Saucedo said. “We have done 130 rounds in this camp sparring three times a week. We were able to get some taller guys to prepare for what Sonny brings to the table. I’ve worked on the things I need to win this fight. I’m still the same aggressive fighter, but we put a lot more movement in there. I’ve gone back to basics.”

Undercard

Junior welterweight prospect Josue “The Prodigy” Vargas (16-1, 9 KOs) will seek to increase his winning streak to 11 when he faces the battle-hardened Salvador Briceno (17-5, 11 KOs) in a 10-rounder. Vargas fought four times in 2019, including a win over Noel Murphy that earned him the IBF North American junior welterweight strap. Briceno is 4-2 in his last six fights, including competitive showings in decision losses to unbeaten prospects Gabriel Flores Jr. and Yomar Alamo.

Former U.S. amateur superstar Javier Martinez, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will make his professional debut against an opponent to be named in a six-rounder at middleweight. Martinez won the U.S. Olympic Trials at 165 pounds and was ranked number one in the nation at that weight, but after being named an alternate for the Olympic squad, he turned pro with Top Rank and noted manager Tim VanNewhouse.

Junior welterweight rising star John “El Terrible” Bauza (13-0, 5 KOs) will return from a nearly one-year layoff against the Irish-born, New York-based Larry Fryers (11-2, 4 KOs) in an eight-rounder. 

Unbeaten Cleveland native Fred Wilson Jr. (6-0-2, 2 KOs) will face Rance Ward (4-1-1, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder at junior middleweight.

In a six-round junior welterweight bout, Adrian Valdovinos (5-0-1, 4 KOs) will fight Gerardo Alvarez (2-2-2, 0 KOs).

July 2
MGM Grand Conference Center – Grand Ballroom

Main Event
Jose Pedraza (26-3, 13 KOs) vs. Mikkel LesPierre (22-1-1, 10 KOs)
10 rounds, Junior Welterweight

Pedraza, who won world titles at junior lightweight and lightweight, is taking another run at the super lightweight division following last September’s decision loss to Jose “Chon” Zepeda. His opponent LesPierre challenged Maurice Hooker for a world title last year, dropping a unanimous decision. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brooklyn resident received deliveries and assisted doctors and nurses at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in Manhattan.

“I didn’t want to wait around for this fight, so I’m glad we got the deal done,” Pedraza said. “My march toward a junior welterweight world title continues July 2 in Las Vegas.”

“I want to thank Top Rank and DiBella Entertainment for making this fight happen through the trials and tribulations,” LesPierre said. “I’m honored to be the main event on July 2, and I am ready to showcase my talent to the world and prove my world championship caliber.”

Undercard

Robeisy Ramirez (3-1, 3 KOs) is out for revenge. The two-time Olympic gold medalist from Cuba will fight Adan Gonzales (5-2-2, 2 KOs) in a six-rounder at featherweight. It was Gonzales who shocked the boxing world last August when he spoiled Ramirez’s pro debut with a four-round split decision victory. Ramirez has scored three knockout wins since then, including June 9 at MGM Grand. Gonzales has not fought since the Ramirez fight.

Top junior lightweight contender Albert Bell (16-0, 5 KOs), from Toledo Ohio, will face Filipino puncher Mark Bernaldez (20-3, 14 KOs) in a 10-round lightweight bout. Bell graduated from prospect to contender last June on the Tyson Fury-Tom Schwarz undercard, defeating Andy Vences (22-0-1 at the time) over 10 rounds. He returned in October and shut out Frank De Alba. 

Featherweight prospect Carlos Jackson (16-0, 11 KOs), who has knocked out five of his last six opponents, will face Jose Enrique Vivas (18-1, 10 KOs) in a 10-rounder. 

Elvis Rodriguez (6-0-1, 6 KOs), the southpaw sensation from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, will seek to register his fifth consecutive knockout in a six-round junior welterweight tilt against Daniel Murray (5-3, 0 KOs). The only blemish on Rodriguez’s record came in this third pro fight, a technical draw following an accidental clash of heads.

Featherweight prospect Luis Melendez (8-1, 6 KOs) will fight an opponent to be named in an eight-round bout. 

Former world champion Jason Sosa stopped Lydell Rhodes in round seven of a scheduled 10-round junior lightweight bout at The Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.

In round five, Sosa scored two knockdowns. the 1st one coming from a lead left hook. The 2nd was from an overhand right. In six, Sosa was cut over the right eye from an accidental headbutt. In round seven.Sosa landed a hard left hand that sent Rhodes to the canvas. After a few more punches, the corner of Rhodes stopped the fight at

Sosa, 129 lbs of Camden, NJ is 23-3-4 with 16 knockouts. Rhodes, 130.9 lbs of Las Vegas, NV is 27-4-1.

Adan Gonzales scored a stunning four-round unanimous decision over two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Robeisy Ramirez in a featherweight bout.

In round one, Gonzales landed a smacking left hook that sent Ramirez to the canvas. Ramirez never mounted any offense, and Gonzales was able to pull the shocking upset.

Gonzales of Denver won by scores of 40-35 and 39-36 Ramirez took a card 38-37. Gonzales is now 5-2-2. Ramirez of Cuba is 0-1.

Edgar Berlanga kept his perfect 1st round stoppage streak alive by taking out Gregory Trenel in their scheduled eight-round middleweight bout.

Berlanha sent Trenel to the canvas with a hook to the ear of Trenel. The fight was stopped by referee Benjy Esteves after eating a flurry of punches at 2:24.

Berlanga, 162.3 lbs of Brooklyn is 12-0 with 12 knockouts. Trenel, 162.2 lbs of Dainvile, FRA is 11-5-2.