By Miguel Maravilla at ringside
Opening up the PBC on FOX telecast former world champion Antonio DeMarco (33-6, 24 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico handed Eddie Ramirez (17-1, 11 KOs) of Aurora, Illinois his first defeat in scoring a first round stoppage. Ramirez attacked Demarco inside to the body in the opening seconds of the fight however Demarco staggered Ramirez and the former world champion continued his attack cornering Ramirez landing a series of unanswered punches as the referee stepped in to stop the fight at 1:56 of the first.
Bantamweight Jose Balderas (2-0) of Santa Maria, California won a unanimous decision over Victor Torres (2-6-1, 1 KO) in a scheduled four rounder. Balderas stunned Torres in the second round and continued his dominance throughout the fight in route to the decision as all three judges scored the bout 40-36.
Roberto Marroquin (27-4-1, 19 KOs of Dallas, Texas stopped Mexican veteran Ruben Tamayo (26-11- 4) in the fifth in a scheduled eight round super featherweight bout. Marroquin dropped Tamayo in the third with a right hand. Tamayo was down again in the fourth as Marroquin cornered him. A left hook by Marroquin in round five did it as Tamayo was down a third time. The referee Eddie Hernandez stopped the fight at 1:49 of the fifth.
2016 Mexican Olympian middleweight Misael Rodriguez (4-0, 2 KOs) of Parral, Mexico won a unanimous decision over Cesar Hernandez (3-3-1, 1 KO) of Modesto, California. Rodriguez and Hernandez had some heated exchanges in the early rounds. Trading in the center both Rodriguez and Hernandez exchanged one-two’s and did not take a step back as they had some brief words towards the end of the third. Hernandez’s nose was bleeding in the fourth round as Rodriguez began to land combinations inside with the uppercut. Rodriguez began to breakdown Hernandez inside in the fifth, going to the body and following up with big punches to the head. The sixth and final round saw Rodriguez fighting at a faster pace as Hernandez was tired as the 2016 Mexican Olympian. All three judges scored the bout 60-54.
Lithuanian welterweight Eimantas Stanionionis (4-0, 3 KOs) went the distance for the first time in his career against Todd Manuel (14-14-1, 3 KOs). Stanionionis took time to adjust to the awkward style Manuel presented in the early rounds. The Lithuanian pressed behind the jab, stalking the flashy Manuel. Manuel continued to present difficulty throughout the fight switching up his stance displaying elusiveness as Stanionionis continued to be the aggressor. In the later rounds the Lithuanian landed some effective punches. In the final round Stanionionis continued to stick to the plan boxing Manuel patiently as he worked his way to a decision victory the judges scored the bout 80-72, 80-72, and 79-73.
Featherweight Percy Peterson (3-14-3, 1 KO) squeaked by with the upset winning a unanimous decision over Luis Coria (4-1, 3 KOs) in a scheduled four round bout. The fast-handed Peterson dropped Coria in the opening round with a short right as he quickly got up. In round two Peterson staggered Coria as he quickly regained his composure, Peterson pumped the jab boxing away. Coria pressed in the final round sensing the urgency as Peterson was cut above the left eye. Peterson continued to let his hands go but Coria continued to pressure his flashy opponent. All three judges scored the bout 38-37 as the knockdown proved to be the difference.
Antonio Santa Cruz (6-3, 3KOs) the younger cousin of world champion Leo Santa Cruz scored a third round knockout over Jesus Algandar (2-2, 2 KOs). The taller Santa Cruz boxed and kept his distance jabbing away as Algandar pressed. Santa Cruz tagged Algandar who continued to be the aggressor with one-two combos. An overhand right by Santa Cruz did it as Algandar did not get up from the canvas the referee reached a ten count at 1:37 of the third.
Jerry Perez of Oak Hills, California (4-0, 2 KOs) outpointed Juan Sandoval (7-20-1, 4 KOs) of San Bernardino, California. Perez dominated from the start as he landed the clean solid punches. Sandoval stood his ground for the entire fight getting his shots in but Perez displayed the better skills in route to a decision as all three judges scored the bout 39-37.
In the opening bout from the Stub Hub Center in Carson, California super bantamweights Jose Vargas (3-0, 2 KOs) of Pasadena, California scored a second round knockout over Jose Perez (1-1, 1 KO). Vargas dropped Perez twice in the opening round and finished him off in the second as the referee stopped the fight at 2:00.