2016 U.S. Olympian, San Fernando Valley's junior lightweight Mikayla Mayer (13-0, 5 KOs) was dominant in winning a unanimous decision over Nigerian veteran Helen Joseph (17-5-2, 10 KOs) as Meyer made history becoming the first woman to headline a Top Rank on ESPN main event.
Joseph came out aggressive letting her hands go as Mayer stuck the jab. Mayer boxed as Joseph continued to go forward in round two. Letting her hands go in the third, Mayer connected Joseph with some combinations as the Nigerian continued to be the aggressor. Mayer was very effective in the fourth as she continued to work well of the jab following up with combinations. Joseph was aggressive but on the receiving end of the combinations. In the fifth, Meyer continued to dominate as she was on point with her combinations and keeping Joseph away with the jab.
Halfway through in the sixth, it was all Mayer but Joseph continued to display her toughness. Mayer was in complete control late in the fight as Joseph had taken some good shots. Late in the fight Mayer worked patiently but continued to connect well on Joseph working her way to a unanimous decision win.
The judges scored the fight 100-90, 100-90, and 99-91.
“Bob said, ‘Great fight,’ and that the next one will be for the title," Mayer said. "We’ve been trying to get a world title fight for a while now. I said, ‘Don’t let Eddie Hearn {outbid} us.'”
“Cassius” Clay Collard (8-2-3, 3 KOs) of Indiana stopped LT “Smash” Nelson (5-4, 4 KOs) of Colorado in two rounds. Off to a fast start, Collard dropped Nelson with a hard right in the opening round. In round two, Collard sent Nelson to the canvas twice and finished him off shortly after.
Colombian lightweight Ruben “El Tigrillo” Cervera (12-2, 10 KOs) won a unanimous decision over Clay “3rd Degree” Burns (9-9-2, 4 KOs). Cervera floored Burns with a left hook in the opening seconds of the fight. The Columbian boxed well and landed some solid shots as Burns stalked. Burns was cut in the fifth, as Cervera pressed but Burns held his own standing with him mixing it up. The sixth and final round saw Burns press sensing the urgency as Cervera circled and boxed. Judges scored the bout 59-54, 54, and 58-56,
Making his professional debut, amateur standout super middleweight Javier Martinez (1-0) of Milwaukee won a unanimous decision over Ryan Burrs (2-2). Martinez started slow but connected with some good shots in the opening round. In the second, Martinez stalked and landed the solid straight left on Burrs. Staying on the inside in the third, the taller Martinez stood in the pocket with Burrs. Late in the round, Martinez staggered Burrs in the closing seconds. The fourth and final round saw Martinez outwork Burrs in closing working his way to the decision. All three judges scored the bout 40-36.
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