Former world title challenger Carlos Takam won a 10-round unanimous decision over Jerry Forrest in a heavyweight bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Takam was was more active and landed more shots early.

In round four, Takam was cut below his eye from a head clash. After that Forrest picked up a little bit, but it was too little-too late as Takam won by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94.

Takam landed 106 of 455 punches; Forrest was 70 of 321.

Takam, 245.7 lbs of Douala, CAM is now 39-5-1. Forrest, 225.6 lbs of Newport News, VA is 26-4.

“My father passed away a week ago, so I came into the fight with a heavy heart. It may not have been a spectacular knockout, but most importantly, we got the win,” Takam said. “We took this fight on short notice, but the opportunity on ESPN was too big to pass up. We knew we could beat him regardless.

“I want anyone in the top five, or a title shot if that materializes.” 

Carlos Castro remained undefeated by stopping former two-time world title-challenger Cesar Juarez after round four of their scheduled 10-round super bantamweight fight.

Castro beat up and battered Juarez. In round’s three and four, Castro was especially effective by landing some crushing body blows, and the bout was stopped in the corner.

Castro, 123.8 lbs of Phoenix, AZ is now 26-0 with 11 knockouts. Juarez, 124.4 lbs of Mexico City is 25-9.

“I admire Cesar Juarez as a Mexican warrior and for everything he’s given the sport. I told him it was an honor to share the ring with him,” Castro said. “I want any title opportunity or an interim title shot. Whatever comes my way, I am ready. I am highly ranked and prepared for the next step.”

In a battle of undefeated junior lightweights, Joshafat Ortiz won a six-round majority decision over Joshua Orta.

In round five, Ortiz was cut around his right eye from an accidental headbutt. Ortiz banked the 1st four frames by working the body behind a nice jab.

Ortiz landed 74 of 354 punches; Orta was 75 of 293.

Ortiz, 130.8 lbs of Ponce, PR and now residing in Reading, PA won by scores 58-56 twice and 57-57 to raise his mark to 8-0. Orta, 132.7 lbs of Springfield, MA is 6-1.

Donte Stubbs won a six-round unanimous decision over Fred Wilson Jr. in a middleweight bout.

In round three, Stubbs was bleeding from his nose. Later in the round, Stubbs dropped Wilson with a right hand.

In round four, Wilson was deducted a point for holding. In round five, Stubs dropped Wilson for a 2nd time with a long right hand to the head.

Stubbs landed 88 of 291 punches. Wilson was 62 of 262.

Stubbs, 159.5 lbs of Riverside, California won by scores of 58-54 and 58-53 twice and bounced back from his 1st professional loss nine days ago, and is now 7-1. Wilson, 159 lbs of Cleveland, OH is 6-1-2.

New York, NY (06/08/20) – Tomorrow night, July 9, from the Grand Ballroom at the MGM Grand Conference Center, in Las Vegas, NV, DiBella Entertainment’s Joshafat “The Truth” Ortiz (7-0, 4 KOs) will take on Joshua Orta (6-0, 2 KOs), in a battle of undefeated junior lightweight prospects, scheduled for six rounds, live on ESPN, at 8:00pm ET/5:00pm PT, as part of the undercard to Jerry Forrest’s heavyweight bout against Carlos Takam.

Ortiz was born in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, but moved to the US at age four and was raised by his mother in Reading, PA. He was first introduced to boxing as a child, as his father, uncle and brother were all amateur fighters. Ortiz compiled an amateur record of 42-7, and was a three-time Pennsylvania Golden Gloves champion, before turning pro in May 2017. Trained by Rashiem Jefferson and managed by Felipe Gomez, he is coming off of an impressive six-round unanimous decision victory against Andrew Bentley, on September 20, 2019.

Joshua Orta, from Springfield, MA, turned pro in August 2018, but has been boxing since age 12 and was a Western New England Golden Gloves champion as an amateur. He is trained by Michael Rodriguez and Jose Ortiz out of Springfield’s Central City Boxing & Barbell Gym. In his last fight, Orta earned a majority decision win against the previously undefeated 6-0-1 Michael Valentin on November 23, 2019.

“I’m excited to be able to showcase my skills on such a huge platform. I feel very blessed and I’ll be sure to take full advantage of the opportunity. Orta is a good fighter, but he’ll be the one leaving the ring with his first loss,” said Ortiz. “I’m very thankful for my whole team and promoter Lou DiBella, as well as Top Rank, for making this happen.”

“This is a great opportunity for Joshafat Ortiz and I’m thrilled that he’ll get to return to the ring in front of a national audience on ESPN,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Orta is talented, undefeated and will provide a big test, but I am confident that Ortiz will prove he is a prospect on the rise and one to watch. Both combatants stayed in shape and took this fight on short notice. Good for them.”