In a leading candidate for Upset of the Year – and possible Knockout of the Year – former two-division world champion and knockout artist Jhonny Gonzalez (55-8, 47 KO’s) registered a stunning 2:55, first-round knockout over previously unbeaten Abner Mares (26-1-1, 14 KO’s).
Gonzalez’s shocking upset victory in the WBC featherweight title fight sets up a possible showdown with Leo Santa Cruz (25-0-1, 15 KO’s), who scored two knockdowns en route to an impressive third-round knockout over defending WBC super bantamweight champion Victor Terrazas (37-3-1, 21 KO’s)
Like Gonzalez, Santa Cruz of Los Angeles, by way of Huetamo, Michoacan, Mexico, went to work early and often against Terrazas, throwing 267 punches in just two and a half rounds. Terrazas, of Guadalajara, was cut just under the right eye in the second round and Santa Cruz took advantage landing punch after punch, finally sending Terrazas down for a nine-count, and then again for an eight-count midway through the third. Referee Lou Moret halted matters at 2:09 of the third round.
“This is a dream come true,” said Santa Cruz, 25, who had fought 106 fewer rounds in his career than Terrazas, who is 30. “I’ve wanted the green belt my entire life. Once I saw the eye start to swell I knew I had to go after him and put the pressure on him.”
Terrazas said, “The eye was not a problem. This was a good fight. He was tough like I expected. He just caught me. I wanted to continue the fight.”
In other boxing results
Antonio Orozco (18-0, 14 KO’s), San Diego, Calif., overpowered Ivan Hernandez (29-3, 22 KO’s), Miami, Fla., in round three of a scheduled 10-round junior welterweight bout.
In a battle of featherweights, 2012 U.S. Olympian Joseph “Jo Jo’’ Diaz Jr. (7-0, 5 KO’s) of South El Monte, Calif., looked impressive in a third-round knockout over Noel Mendoza (6-3-1, 1 KO), of Phoenix, Ariz., the referee stopping the bout at 1:54 of the third of the scheduled six-round bout. Diaz knocked Mendoza down with a left cross, right hook combo that sent Mendoza to the canvas for good.
In the first SHOWTIME bout between heavyweights, 2012 U.S. Olympian Dominic Breazeale (6-0, 6 KO’s), of Los Angeles, passed the stiffest test of his young career and remained undefeated with his sixth consecutive knockout, this one coming on a TKO in the fifth round against Lenroy Thomas (16-3, 8 KO’s) of St. Catherine, Jamaica.
