Fast Results from San Antonio: Munguia TKOs Brave but Out-gunned O’Sullivan

Jaime Munguia had a nice run as the WBO 154-pound champion, successfully defending his world title belt five times in a span of 14 months. Tonight, the Tijuana knockout artist made his first foray into the middleweight division. It was his second fight since hooking up with Mexican boxing legend turned trainer Erik Morales.

In the opposite corner was Ireland’s Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan who at age 35 was 12 years the older man. O’Sullivan hung tough for a few rounds, but Munguia gradually pulled away and was in firm control when O’Sullivan’s corner tossed in the towel in the 11^th. The official time was 2:17.

During the bout, Munguia was warned several times and ultimately had a point taken away for low blows. With the victory, he improved his record to 35-0 (28 KOs). O’Sullivan (30-4) returns to Ireland a richer man and may want to think about sliding gracefully into retirement.

Co-Feature

In a bout certified for two shares of the world female super middleweight title, Mexico City’s Alejandra Jimenez (13-0-1) turned away Baltimore’s Franchon Crews-Dezurn (6-2) in an entertaining, if inelegant fight. It was a split decision but there was no controversy regarding the outcome. In previous bouts, Jimenez carried as high as 236 pounds. Crews-Dezurn had won six straight coming in after losing her pro debut to Claressa Shields.

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It was a big night for Robert Garcia, the former IBF 130-pound champion (and older brother of Mickey Garcia) who had three of his prized prospects on the show, all of whom fared well.

Undefeated lightweight Hector Tanajara (19-0, 5 KOs), a Garcia protege making his first appearance as a pro in his hometown, scored a unanimous decision over Tijuana’s battle-tested Juan Carlos Burgos (33-4-2). The scores were 99-91 and 97-93 twice.

Tanajara’s San Antonio stablemate Joshua Franco (16-1-2, 8 KOs) scored a ninth-round stoppage of Guadalajara’s Jose Alejandro Burgos (17-3) in a super flyweight contest scheduled for 10. This was a good action fight. Burgos was busier, but he repeatedly left himself open for counters and Franco took advantage. Burgos was on his feet but taking a pounding with his back against the ropes when the referee intervened.

Dallas super bantamweight Hector Valdez 12-0 (8 KOs) took a step up in class and made a statement with a third-round knockout of Panama’s Luis Alberto Rios (25-6-1) a former world title challenger. Valdez ended matters late in the third with a left hook.

Travell Mazion, a junior middleweight from Austin, Texas, knocked out Mexican veteran Fernando Castaneda with a body punch in the opening round. It was the eighth time that the undefeated (17-0) Mazion has stopped an opponent in the opening round. Castaneda declined to 26-14-1 while suffering his eighth loss inside the distance.

Mazion has his sights set on match with Brazilian southpaw Patrick Teixeira who upset Carlos Adames to win an interim title at 154 pounds in one of the more entertaining fights of 2019.

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