Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

There were 11 fights altogether on tonight’s big card in California headlined by Jake Paul’s match with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. The first six aired on youtube, teasers for the pay-per-view.

The final fight of the prelim card marked the return of Albuquerque’s Holly Holm to professional boxing after a 12-year absence. While she was away, Holm became the first person to win world titles in pro boxing and in the UFC, scored one of the biggest upsets in combat sports history, knocking out Ronda Rousey before 50,000-plus in Melbourne, Australia, and was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame (class of 2022).

Moving around the ring as smoothly as a boxer 20 years her junior, Holm won all 10 rounds against Mexico’s hard-trying but outclassed Yolanda Vega. Fighting at the catch-weight of 137 pounds, the former WBC welterweight champion, now 43 years old, elevated her pro boxing record to 34-2-3 (9).

In her post-fight interview, Holm said she hopes to win another title before she retires for good. She mentioned Amanda Serrano or Katie Taylor as a possibility. The ladies are scheduled to renew their great rivalry on July 11 at Madison Square Garden on Netflix. Jake Paul’s company is the lead promoter.

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Undefeated Bakersfield, California welterweight Joel Iriarte was extended the distance for the first time in his career but won a comfortable 8-round decision over late sub Kevin Johnson. The scores were 80-72, 79-74, and 78-74.

None of Iriarte’s first seven opponents lasted beyond the second round. It was the fifth straight loss for Johnson (12-7) who went 10 rounds with Richardson Hitchins in 2019 and has never been stopped.

Eddy Reynoso prodigy Alexander Gueche, a 19-year-old junior featherweight, won a wide but ho-hum 8-round decision over Stockton, California’s Vincent Avina. The scores were 79-73 and 80-72 twice.

It was the first 8-rounder for SoCal’s Gueche (8-0, 5 KOs). Avina, who trains in Las Vegas, declined to 8-2-1.

KO

Houston’s Joshua Edwards, who represented the U.S. in the Paris Olympics, needed only 63 seconds to dismiss Chicago insurance salesman Dominic Hardy, advancing his record to 3-0 (3 KOs). A straight right hand that landed flush on the jaw knocked the Chicagoan on his rump and the fight was waived off when he rose on jelly legs. Hardy (6-4) took up pro boxing four years ago at age 31.

UPSET

Nicaragua’s Rene Alvarado, a former WBA junior lightweight champion, rejuvenated his flagging career with a surprisingly one-sided 10-round decision over Vancouver, Washington’s previously undefeated Victor Morales.

The 36-year-old Alvarado had lost eight of his previous 10 heading in. Morales, now 20-1-1, was a consensus 15/1 favorite in the betting markets.

The judges had it a confounding 96-94 and 99-91 twice.  Although there were no knockdowns, Alvarado (35-16) dominated from the get-go and Morales’s face was a puffy mess at the conclusion.

Alvarado’s twin brother Felix Alvarado, also a former world champion, was a prominent voice in the Nicaraguan’s corner.

Also

In the first fight on the card, LA’s John “Scrappy” Ramirez moved to 15-1 (9) with an 8-round unanimous decision over late sub Josue Morales (33-19-5). The judges had it 79-73 and 80-72 twice.

This bout, contested at the catch-weight of 119 pounds, started shortly after 12:00 noon local time with only a handful of paid customers in the arena.

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Photo credit: Al Applerose