By Miguel Maravilla at ringside
Featherweight Eduardo Ramirez (23-2, 10 KOs) of Mexico took advantage of the pay per view opportunity scoring a fourth round knockout over Leduan Barthelemy (15-1-1, 7 KOs) in a rematch in opening up the FOX pay-per-view on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The southpaw Barthelemy was flashy in the first as Ramirez charged and looked to make it a rough fight. Sticking the jab in round two, Barthelemy used his quickness to keep off Ramirez. Staying close to Barthelemy in round three, Ramirez outworked Barthelemy. Ramirez kept the pressure in the fourth as he connected Barthelemey with a solid straight left that dropped the Cuban. Barthelemy was up on his feet and turned away from referee Russell Mora forcing him to wave it off at 2:59.
New Jersey’s Vito Mielnicki Jr. (3-0, 3 KOs) looked promising in scoring a second round knockout over Marklin Bailey (6-6, 4 KOs) in a welterweight bout. The young 17-year-old prospect Mielinicki worked the jab effectively and was patient as he backed up Bailey. Snapping Bailey’s head back with the jab, Mielinicki finished him in the second hurting Bailey as the referee Russell Mora stepped in to stop the fight at 2:31.
Dustin Long (3-1-2, 3 KOs) of Tennessee scored a highlight knockout over Deontay Wilder’s youngest brother, Marsellos Wilder (5-2, 2 KOs) in a cruiserweight bout. It was a slow-paced first round as Wilder and Long were limited. In round two, Wilder popped the jab tagging the taller opponent Long. Wilder staggered Long in the third round as he was patient in picking his spots. However, a huge left hook by Long in the fourth, knocked Wilder out as referee Jay Nady immediately waived it at 1:51 of the fourth.
Ukrainian super featherweight Viktor Slavinskyi (10-0-1, 6 KOs) and Mexico’s Rigoberto Hermosillo (11-1-1, 8 KOs) of Mexico went the distance in a super lightweight bout opening up the FS2 telecast. The tall and lanky Hermosillo used the jab to keep away the shorter Slavinskyi in the opening round. The Ukrainian closed the gap in round two as he worked his way in connecting on Hermosillo. In the fourth round Slavinskyi snapped Hermosillo’s head back with some solid shots but a clash of head complicated things in the fourth which caused a cut. Hermosillo attempted to take advantage of the opportunity in the fifth as Slavinskyi bled from his right eye, the Mexican kept his distance landing straight shots. The sixth and final round saw Hermosillo and Slavinskyi exchanging going at it as they sensed the urgency with the fight appearing to be a competitive one all along. In the end the judges scord the bout 60-54, 59-55, and 58-56 as Slavinskyi pulls out a unanimous decision.
Featherweight Angel Alejandro (8-0, 4 KOs) of Dallas, Texas won a hard fought unanimous decision over Mark John Yap (30-15, 15 KOs) of the Philippines in a six round bout. Alejandro boxed well throughout the fight as Yap was aggressive. Tagging Yap with big punches Alejandro circled as the Filipino pursued. Yap was bleeding from the nose in the fifth as Alejandro popped the jab and stuck to the plan boxing the aggressor. Credit to Yap for fighting on despite being bloodied in the final round as Alejandro finished strong in staggering Yap in the closing seconds in route to a unanimous decision victory. Scores were 59-55, 58-56, and 58-56.
John Gemino (21-12-1, 10 KOs) of the Philippines scored a fifth round knockout in handing lightweight prospect Arnold Alejandro (11-1, 10 KOs) of Dallas, Texas his first loss. Gemino sent Alejandro to the canvas to start off as Gemino attacked continuously throughout the opening round. However a solid right by the Filipino did it as Alejandro was laid out on his back, referee Robert Byrd immediately waived it at 1:45
Huntington Park, California’s super featherweight José Manuel Gómez (12-0, 5 KOs) stopped Miami’s Daniel Placeres (8-3-1, 7 KOs) in three rounds opening up the Wilder Ortiz 2 preliminary card from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. A short right hand by Gomez floored Placeres in the opening round as Placeres quickly got up. Gomez sent Placeres to the canvas a second time in round two with a crunching left hook to the body as he was able to get up finishing the round. Placeres was down a third time in the third as he continued to fight but somehow the referee let him continue and finished the round. However the corner had seen enough and the fight was waved off at the end of the third.