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UNDERCARD ACTION

by Lawrence Hidaka

Israel Vasquez (121) added the WBC super bantam title to his IBF title with an upset victory over Oscar Larios (120½). Larios was hurt and down in the 1st by a series of clean punches. In the 3rd, Larios suffered a bad cut over his left eye, and the doctor advised referee Tony Weeks to call a halt to the bout, which he did. The cut was caused by a punch, so Vasquez scores a TKO3 and improves to 39-3, 28KOs, while Oscar Larios suffers his first defeat in five years and drops to 56-4-1, 36KOs.

Following the Vasquez-Larios fight, some scenes were filmed for the new “Rocky” movie. First Rocky made his way to the ring, accompanied by Paulie, some kid playing Rocky Jr., and a lady who was not Adrian. Then they splashed some water on Rocky and dabbed fake blood on his face and filmed his exit from the arena. Then came Antonio Tarver making his way to the ring, accompanied by Las Vegas’ own Jacob “Stitch” Duran and Don House. They didn’t bother altering his appearance for his arena exit. Then Rocky came back and they filmed his exit a few more times.

Former WBA welterweight champ Ike Quartey (155) continued his comeback with a 10th round stoppage of Carlos Bojorquez (157). Bojorquez threw a whole bunch of punches at Quartey, but according to Compubox, landed only 9% of them. Quartey was not as busy, but landed 51% according to Compubox, and busted up Bojorquez’ face pretty good. There were no knockdowns, but Bojorquez suffered a bad cut in the 6th, which eventually resulted in referee Joe Cortez stopping the fight with less than a minute left in the 10th and final round. Kind of an odd time to stop the fight on a cut, but Quartey was well ahead on all cards. Quartey improves to 37-2-1, 31 KOs, while Bojorquez falls to 25-8-6, 21KOs.

2004 U.S. Olympian Andre Berto (149½) barely broke a sweat in stopping Taronze Washington (150) at 2:50 of the 1st of a scheduled 8. Berto now 9-0, 7KOs, Washington 8-3, 4KOs.

Henderson’s Jesse Feliciano (141½) was in over his head against undefeated junior welter contender Demetrius Hopkins (142), suffering a devasting KO loss at 2:23 of the 4th in a scheduled 10. A huge right uppercut sent Feliciano crashing to the canvas and referee Joe Cortez waved immediately. Hopkins now 22-0-1, 9KOs, while Feliciano falls to 13-5-2, 8KOs.

Joshua Clottey (154) scored a 10 round shutout against Marcos Primera (154). No knockdowns. Scores were 100-90 twice and 100-89. Clottey now 29-1, 20KOs, Primera 19-12-2, 12KOs.

Kofi Jantuah (160) had his way with Donny McCrary (161) until McCrary’s corner threw in the towel at the end of 3 of a scheduled 8. Jantuah now 30-2, 19KOs, McCrary 13-3-1, 9KOs.

Larry Mosley (149) stopped Jeremy Yelton (147) at 2:25 of the 2nd in a scheduled 8. Mosley 15-1, 6KOs, Yelton 18-4, 9KOs.

Rock Allen (140½) stayed perfect with a TKO end of 2 over Calvin Pitts (141). Pitts was down twice in the 2nd, after which Pitts’ corner called it a day. Allen now 4-0, 4KOs, Pitts 3-5-1, 1KO.