WBO super welterweight champion Jaime Munguia (30-0, 25 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico defended his title for the first time with a unanimous decision over former world champion Liam "Beefy" Smith (26-2-1, 14 KOs) of England, Saturday night at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on the HBO Boxing After Dark main event. It was a fast start as Smith went right at Munguia roughing him up, Munguia followed up with some hay makers. Munguia roughed up Smith on the inside in round two landing some solid left hooks to the body and followed up with big punches upstairs. In round three Munguia landed an uppercut but Smith followed up with a solid right hand, left hook combination that stopped the champs momentum. Munguial landed a solid right hand and followed up with a left hook to the body.
The fifth round saw Munguia hurt Smith with a body shot backing him to the ropes. A thudding right to the body by Munguia to start the sixth got it started for the Mexican as he continued to stay inside as a left hook to the head sent Smith to the canvas. Munguia followed up in the seventh out punching Smith on the inside landing uppercuts. Munguia staggered Smith in the eighth with a combination backing him to the ropes.
The following round Munguia attacked Smith, the champ continued to press landing a solid left uppercut as the Englishman grinned at him. The championship rounds was all non stop as Munguia and Smith traded away. The twelfth and final round Munguia closed strong staying close on top of Smith in route to a decision as the judges scored the bout 119-108, 118-110, and 116-112
In the co-feature bout WBA World Super Featherweight champion Alberto Machado (20-0, 16 KOs) of Puerto Rico won a unanimous decision over Rafael Mensah (31-1, 23 KOs) of Ghana. Fighting at a fast pace in the opening round Machado and Mensah exchange but in the closing seconds of the first, a right hook flush on the chin dropped Mensah. Using his height and reach Machado backed Mensah keeping him away with straight punches. In round four Machado began to go to the body fighting on the inside, later in the round a straight left by Machado stunned Mensah as he was saved by the bell staggering to his corner.
Machado began the breakdown process in the fifth round as Mensah looked out of it. Keeping his distance in the sixth round Machado boxed patiently as Mensah's right side of his face was swollen. Sticking the jab in round seven Machado kept dominating Mensah behind the jab. Mensah's jaw appeared to be broken as he continued to fight on in the eighth with Machado pressing the action.
The champ let his hands go in the ninth round as Machado was clearly ahead, Mensah hung in there. Late in the fight in round ten Machado played it conservative keeping his distance boxing as Mensah shelled up. In the championship rounds Machado continued to box behind the jab keep his distance with Mensah on his back foot keeping his guard up. The Puerto Rican had it in the bag as he clearly dominated in route to a unanimous decision.
All three judges scored the bout 120-107.
2014 undefeated Brazilian Olympian Yamaguchi Falcao (16-0, 7 KOs) and Elias Espadas (17-4,12 KOs) of Mexico went the distance in a scheduled ten rounder. The fight started off rough as Falcao hit Espadas in the back and later held the back of his head. In round two a straight left by Falcao sent Espadas to the canvas as he quickly got up to exchange with Falcao. Referee Jay Nady warned Falcao numerous times in the third round for holding and hitting Espadas behind the head. Things continued to get rough in the fourth as a clash of heads caused a cut on Espadas's nose and it continued to get worst as Falcao intentionally butted Espadas. Moments later Falcao once again was holding Espadas head down and Nady did not take a point.
Halfway through in the sixth Falcao did this version of the Ali shuffle as he backed Espadas and boxed. In the seventh round Espadas picked up the pace as he backed with a solid one-two Falcao. Exchanging in the eighth Falcao and Espadas traded wild punches shortly after Falcao spit out his mouthpiece. Late in the fight in the ninth round Falcao boxed and kept his distance. The tenth and final round saw Falcao hit Espada behind the head and after numerous warnings referee Jay Nady still did not deduct a point. Falcao had Espadas staggered and up against the ropes to close.
In the end the judges scored the bout 96-92, 96-92 and 95-93 as Falcao pulls of a unanimous decision.
Super bantamweight prospect Carlos Caraballo (8-0, 8 KOs) of Puerto Rico scored a fifth round stoppage against the more experienced Jesus Martinez (24-4, 12 KOs) of Colombia. It was a slow paced opening round as Caraballo and Martinez boxed away attempting to figure each other out. Caraballo cornered and attacked the body in round two as he continued to attack, landing a chopping left that staggered Martinez. In round three Caraballo worked patiently backing Martinez, later in the round referee Russel Mora warned Martinez for a low blow. Working behind the stiff jab in round four, Caraballo backed Martinez to the ropes as he landed some chopping punches.
Halfway through in the fifth Caraballo pressed as he continued to back Martinez and breaking him down slowly. Martinez could not continue to fight as the referee Russel Mora stopped the fight at the end of the fifth round.
Caraballo is promoted by former champion and recently retired Miguel Cotto.
In the opening bout from the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas super welterweight prospect Blair Cobbs (9-0-1, 6 KOs) of Las Vegas by way of Philadelphia stopped Emmanuel Valadez (5-5, 4 KOs) of Mexico in two rounds. The southpaw Cobbs box and countered Valadez with solid shots in the opening round. A right by Cobbs dropped Valadez as the Mexican got up, Cobbs cornered Valadez finishing him as referee Jay Nady stepped in to stop the fight at 1:52.
Follow Miguel on Twitter @MigMaravilla