Former world champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios (27-2, 18 KOs), now campaigning at welterweight, scored an impressive eighth round TKO against Jovanie Santiago (14-3-1, 10 KOs) in the Vargas-Foster co-feature on Saturday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Barrios progressively broke down Santiago, finally dropping him in round eight. He then pounced on Santiago and Santiago’s corner stopped it. Time was 1:42. Barrios led 70-63 on all three judges’ scorecards at the time of the stoppage.
In a clash of unbeaten heavyweights, 2016 Olympian and WBA #6 rated Lenier Peró (9-0, 6 KOs) stopped Viktor Faust (11-1, 7 KOs) in round eight. Faust staggered Pero in round three, dictated the pace and was outworking Pero until Pero suddenly hurt him with a body shot in round eight. Faust turned his back and the bout was stopped. Time was 2:28. Enterng the eighth round, Faust was up 68-65, 67-66 on two cards, Pero was up 68-65 on the third card.