By Luis Sandoval

Indio, California - Gary Russell Jr scored another highlight reel type knockout as he destroyed Robert Castaneda with a thunderous right hook in the 3rd round.
 
Russell who is known for his fast hands put them to use as he unleashed combinations to a reluctant Castaneda. Castaneda appeared to be a bit apprehensive due to Russell’s speed as it was Russell bringing the fight to the Mexican native. Russell even decided to lay on the ropes at one point to invite Castaneda in and try to land some of his counter shots.
 
In the 3rd round, Castaneda would try to attack Russell and Russell would answer with a monster right hook that knocked out Castaneda before he even hit the mat. Referee Pat Russell immediately called the fight as Gary Russell Jr improved his undefeated record to 21-0 with 13 knockouts.

Super Middleweight Terrell Gausha not only put his power on display during the Olympic games, he also put it on display for his professional debut against Dustin Caplinger as he was able to stop him in just 2 rounds. Gausha landed thumping shots on Caplinger and was eventually dropped in the first round from a combination of punches. Caplinger would make it out the first round but his end would come in the 2nd as Gausha’s attack would force an end to the action.

Errol Spence Jr put on a great display of his skills as he scored a 3rd round knockout over Jonathan Garcia. Garcia wasted no time taking the fight to Spence from the opening bell as he set a fast pace to the bout. Spence would respond to Garcia’s aggressiveness as he began to measure and put on a controlled attack on the Puerto Rican fighter. The rounds would begin with Garcia backing down Spence but would end with Spence walking down Garcia. In the 3rd round, Spence was finally able to hurt Garcia and put him down after a string of flush shots. Garcia would get up but would get hit flush again as referee Russell Mora would jump in and put a halt to the bout.

Southpaw Cruiserweight Marcus Browne put on a solid performance as he punished the smaller Codale Ford for three rounds before finally stopping him. Browne worked diligently behind his jab and would unleash his straight left as it continued to find a home on Ford’s head and body. Browne mixed his attack and after a sustained body attack in the 3rd round, Ford finally went down from a hard left hook to the body. He would beat the count but Browne would jump on him once again as he unleashed another vicious attack to the body forcing the referee to stop the bout at 2:04 of the 3rd round.

Heavyweight Dominic Breazeale’s professional debut ended as quickly as it began as he stopped his opponent Curtis Tate in the very first round. Breazeale landed a hard straight right hand that made Tate crumble to the ground but Tate would somehow beat the count. In a bizarre sequence, referee Pat Russell appeared to call the fight off but then allowed it to continue. It didn’t matter as Breazeale landed a hard left that dropped Tate again as referee Pat Russell called the fight off for good this time.

Three time Olympian Rau’shee Warren may have failed to record a win at the Olympic games but he secured his first professional victory over Puerto Rican Luis Rivera in the opening bout of the Night of the Olympians.
 
From the get go Warren put his dazzling speed on display as he unleashed lighting fast combinations to Rivera who was clearly overwhelmed. Warren mixed his offense up beautifully as he worked both the head and body. Even when Rivera would try to exchange with Warren, Warren would beat him to the punch as he landed flush hard shots. In the 4th and final round however, Rivera scored a flash knockdown as after a punch made Warren’s gloves touch the canvas.
 
The knockdown only invigorated Warren as he went in for the kill as if the fight was on the line. Both men exchanged violently down the stretch with Warren landing thunderous left hooks but Rivera refused to go down. The fight went the 4 round distance with judges scoring the fight for Warren with scores of 40-36 and 38-37 twice.

Junior Featherweight Manuel Robles (2-0) of Los Angeles made short work of Tim Ibarra (2-2) as he disposed of him in the very first round. Robles immediately jumped on Ibarra who was clearly outgunned and outclassed. The harder hitting Robles landed thumping combinations which caused Ibarra’s corner to throw in the towel and stop the bout at 2:31 of round one.

In a battle of undefeated prospects, Junior Middleweights Daquan Arnett (9-0, 6KOs) and Jeremiah Wiggins (10-1-1, 5KOs) put on a fun fight as Arnett’s skill overcame Wiggin’s aggression as he stopped him in the 4th round. Arnett was in control of the fight after the first 2 rounds as he landed his right hand and left hook to the body almost at will. In the 3rd round however, Wiggins landed a hard right hand in an exchange that hurt and dropped Arnett. Visibly hurt, Arnett held on and moved until he got his legs back. In the 4th round, Arnett pinned Wiggins on the ropes after landing a  right and left hand combination. Arnett battered Wiggins with a barrage of punches that caused Wiggins to fall through the ropes and forcing the ref to call an end to the fight.