Super-bantamweights Jesus Martinez (3-0) & Jose Lopez (4-2-1) opened up Matchroom Boxing’s promotion headlined by Jesse Rodriguez & Cristian Gonzalez as Rodriguez aims to add the WBO world flyweight crown after a spell as the WBC world super-flyweight champion. The main event and promotion are taking place at the Boeing Center at Tech Port, San Antonio, Texas.
Martinez & Lopez fought to a split draw over four rounds in a fight of two halves based purely on activity. Martinez started brightly with an entertaining first round before the middle rounds became scrappy affairs. Martinez tired in the fourth and final round, which allowed Lopez to press the pace as he used his physicality and strength to finish the fight strongly. Ultimately the pair could not be separated with a scorecard of 39-37, a piece with one score of 38-38 officially making the contest a split draw.
Khalil Coe (4-0-1) would score a highlight reel knockout of Jimmy Quiter inside three rounds despite being under-matched upon reflection. Coe would score a knockdown in the opening round from a short pull hook sending Quiter down heavily after 1:50. Quiter would survive the round despite being on very shaky legs. The second would see Coe falling foul of trying to finish the contest with a big shot, loading up too much on his shots, and becoming very sloppy. Coe would come back strong and conclusively in the third round. Another pull hook would send Quiter down again after 1:38 of the round before a huge right uppercut would floor Quiter down for the last time. The referee, Rafael Ramos, immediately waved off the contest, with the official time of stoppage coming after 1:51 of round three.
Marc Castro (9-0) produced a stoppage in seven rounds against Ricardo Lopez Torres (16-6-3), with Castro now hoping to progress into ten-round contests following his latest victory. He turned up the gas in the seventh round in a controlled and testing affair for the 23-year-old Castro. Castro would unleash hard hooks and single punches, which left Torres hurt early in the round. Castro would go for the stoppage with several combinations. Lopez would be pinned on the ropes, and Castro would tee off on Lopez with referee Mark Calo Oy, waving off the after 2:28 of the round. Lopez was not throwing back, turning away slightly, leaving the referee no option but to call a halt to proceedings.
Israil Madrimov (8-0-1) returned after a lengthy lay-off to claim a unanimous points decision over ten rounds against Raphael Igbokwe (16-3) with scores of 100-90 & 99-91x2. Madrimov had not fought since his technical draw against Michel Soro last July, but after three competitive rounds, Madrimov took control of the fight and showed his superior ability compared to Igbokwe. Madrimov used a variety of angles, judged the distance well and outboxed Igbokwe. Igbokwe demonstrated his toughness and, despite being outgunned and outboxed, never looked in danger of being stopped during the contest and attempted to fight back at all times. The contest was officially a contest at middleweight and will see Madrimov return to his natural 154lbs weight category.
