In a fight that started with a knock down ended with a no decision. Jorge Arce (60-6-2, 46 KOs) started quickly, scoring a first-round knockdown against Puerto Rico’s Jesus Rojas (18-1-1, 13 KOs), but Rojas finished the round strong. In the second round Rojas, 25, landed a left punch below the belt followed by an accidentally head-butting and a left punch to the ear, sending Arce crumbling to the canvas.
After a couple of minutes, Arce told the ringside doctor he couldn’t continue and the Nevada State Athletic Commission director Keith Kizer prompted the referee Kenny Bayliss to waive off the bout at 9 seconds of the round.
In a clash for the vacant IBF welterweight title formerly held by Andre Berto, former two-division champ #2 rated Randall Bailey (43-7, 37 KOs) scored a spectacular eleventh round KO over previously unbeaten #1 rated Mike Jones (26-1, 19 KOs).
What looked like a great fight on paper failed to materialize for the first nine rounds as Jones was very careful to avoid Bailey’s big right hand and appeared to be headed to a lackluster decision. However, Bailey finally connected in round ten and put Jones on the deck just before the bell. Bailey then absolutely leveled Jones with an uppercut in the eleventh to end it. Time was 2:52.
Junior featherweight titlist Guillermo Rigondeaux (10-0, 8 KOs) destroyed Teon Kennedy (17-2-2, 7 KOs) with ease, dropping him five times en route to a fifth-round knockout before the bout was waved off by referee Russell Mora. Time was 1:11.
All Photos by Chris Farina
Besides the illegal combo in the Arce fight, the undercard which I labeled as “okay” actually delivered. It was good to see a guy who would probably never win a world title get his moment and to see Rigondeaux shine. Bailey had his moment and even though it was more luck than skill I had to stand and clap for the man who was humbled and stunned in his own victory.
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