LOPEZ AND MAIDANA GO TO WAR AT STUB HUB CENTER IN CARSON, CA
In what amounted to a back and forth war of wills, Marcos Maidana of Argentina stopped Josesito Lopez, of Riverside, CA in round 6 of a scheduled 12 rounds, broadcast live on Showtime.
Maidana hurts Lopez
Each fighter had their moments in rounds 1 and 2, but Lopez appeared to hurt then drop Maidana in round 3 but the referee ruled it a slip. Maidana piled on the pressure and landed the better punches in rounds 4 and 5. Surprisingly the Argentine displayed improved boxing skills and used a stiff jab to assist in setting up power shots. In round 6 an uppercut staggered the Riverside native, and Maidana battered him in the corner and the referee wisely put a stop to the fight. Maidana improves his record to 34-3, with 31 KOs, and Lopez drops to 30-6, 18 KOs.
TELEVISED UNDERCARD RESULTS
LARA STOPS ANGULO
In what was a tremendous battle that portrayed a complete contrast of styles former Cuban amateur standout Erislandy Lara stopped a game and determined Alfredo Angulo, of Mexico in round 10 of a WBA interim junior middleweight (154lb) title bout. Lara,the counterpuncher, gave Angulo, the brawler, a systematic beating throughout the fight.
Lara vs Angulo
However the Mexican piled on the pressure, although sometimes effective, he absorbed an array of straight left hands and right hooks from the southpaw. In round four Angulo dropped Lara with an uppercut while on the ropes and the Cuban was hurt but survived the round. Lara controlled the next few rounds, but was caught again by a hook in round 9. Lara once again survived. He then continued to pile on the punishment and got the stoppage after a battered, bloody and bruised Angulo was hurt by a left hand and turned his back. Referee Raul Caiz Sr. had no choice but to put a halt to the bout. Lara improves to 18-1-1, 12 KOs. Angulo drops to 22-3, 18 KOs. It was truly a crowd pleaser.
JERMELL CHARLO DEFEATS DEMETRIUS HOPKINS IN TELEVISED SNOOZER
Ina tough fight to score without much action and little to choose from, Jermell Charlo won a lackluster unanimous decision. All three judges had the bout 115-113 for Charlo.
-Story and photos by Kevin Perry