By Miguel Maravilla

2014 undefeated Brazilian Olympian Yamaguchi Falcao (16-0, 7 KOs) beat Elias Espadas (17-4,12 KOs) of Mexico over the distance in a 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.

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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.

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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.