By Jake Donovan

For those who complain that the Solo Boxeo series is no longer what it used to be, Friday night’s main event is a great example to support such argument.

The Mandalay Bay House of Blues in Las Vegas played host to an ugly super flyweight title eliminator, with the winner going on to face recently crowned titlist Simphiwe Nongqayi. That very opponent will be fringe Mexican contender Juan Alberto Rosas, who boxed his way to a unanimous decision over Filipino journeyman Federico Catubay.

Rojas weighed the super flyweight limit of 115 lb; Catubay was one pound lighter at 114 lb.

If there was anything worth debating in this sloppy, uneven 12-round affair, it was which proved be uglier – Rosas’ reverse Mohawk haircut, or Catubay resembling the crudest imaginable poor man’s version of Vic Darchinyan.

Sadly, his tactics proved effective enough for Rosas to immediately solve. Catubay managed to land uppercuts that were thrown from his waist, often behind as close to a straight left as the Filipino could manage.

Rosas struggled to find a rhythm in the first couple of rounds before settling down in the third and momentarily taking control of the bout. Both fighters had their moments in the fourth and fifth round, with scoring coming down to Rosas’ straighter punches, or Catubay’s busier workrate, even if being produced from a much uglier style.

Action came to a grinding halt in the sixth, with Catubay searching for a time out after getting tapped below the belt. Rounds seven and eight were fought in a phone booth, with Rosas landing down the middle but Catubay scoring over the top from unimaginable angles.

Both fighters appeared sluggish in the ninth, a round that was marred by clinching, headbutts and elbows replacing clean punching. That momentarily changed at rounds end, when the diminutive contenders traded clean head shots.

A more concentrated effort at a body attack was offered by Rosas down the stretch, while Catubay was perfectly content to stick with his “45” upstairs.

With most of the rounds virtually impossible to score, it appeared to be anybody’s fight in the 12th and final round. Catubay let his hands go as if to suggest a more disciplined attack and a desire to pull out the fight, even electing to play defense in spots. Rosas remained far more measured, either failing to properly impose his will, or fighting under the belief that the fight was long ago in the bag.

The latter proved to be true.

Scores of 116-112, 117-111 (2x) were unanimous in favor of Rosas, who wins his third straight as his record advances to 31-5 (25KO).

Catubay falls to 25-16-3 (13KO).

Next up for Rosas will be a title shot against Nongqayi, though when exactly he receives it is to be determined. The South African titlist won a clear decision over Jorge Arce this past September, though rumors have swirled of a potential rematch next month.

ROSALES OUTWORKS MELLIGAN IN CO-FEATURE

The first big upset of this loaded fight weekend took place in the televised co-feature, as Michel Rosales kept his wavering career afloat with a split decision over Mark Melligan.

An unofficial rule for fighters to abide by when fighting in Vegas, is to never fight going backwards. Rosales adhered to the logic, moving forward for the entire duration of the bout, no matter how often Melligan was able to plant his feet and land his straight left.

Melligan’s problem was that he didn’t stand his ground often enough, nor did he outbox Rosales long enough to justify his spending virtually the entire fight in reverse. The Filipino southpaw certainly had his moments, but ultimately allowed himself to be outworked by Rosales, a one-time highly touted prospect in desperate need of a win.

Victory is precisely what the Mexican welterweight earned, even if judge Burt Clements tried his damnest to steal it from him in favor of the house fighter. His scorecard of 98-92 for Melligan warrants an investigation, whereas Paul Smith and Eric Cheek were much closer to reality, with matching scorecards of 96-94 for Rosales.

The win came at the perfect time for Rosales, who was teetering on opponent status after suffering his third knockout loss earlier this year. He improves to 25-3 (21KO), scoring his second straight upset, having outlasted previously unbeaten Luis Uribe en route to an eight-round decision this past June.

A ten-fight win streak comes to an end for Melligan, who heads back to Philippines with a record of 16-2 (12KO).

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.