By Ernest Gabion, live at ringside

In a few short hours, WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao will rise to the junior middleweight division to face former three time welterweight champ Antonio Margarito for the vacant WBC title. Pacquiao will attempt to capture a record eight divisional title. A wild scene is expected at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Top Rank's Bob Arum has predicted an estimated crowd of 60,000 or more fans. There were more than 41,000 fans in attendance at Cowboys Stadium in March to witness Pacquiao's one-sided twelve round decision win over ex-champion Joshua Clottey.

Jones-Soto Karass Result - https://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=32816
    
FULL NON-TELEVISED UNDERCARD RESULTS

Juan Martin Elorde seems to be the latest in a long line of young fighters making their name off of their more famous ancestors. Angel Hernandez did his part to expose the grandson of the legendary Flash Elorde, taking a well deserved unanimous decision in the final non-televised bout of the evening. Scores were 40-36 (twice and 39-36 for Hernandez, who improves to 6-4-2 (4KO). Elorde suffers his first loss dropping to 11-1 (4KO).

Local fan favorite Robert Marroquin made short work of Francisco Dominguez stopping him in at 1:33 of the first round. A short left hook dropping Dominguez marked the beginning of the end. While he beat the count, Marroquin finished the job in impressive fashion to please the hometown crowd. Marroquin now moves to 17-0 (13KO) while Dominguez’ record evens up at 8-8 (2KO).

Mike Lee, a former football player for the University of Notre Dame, needed all of  1:33 to dispatch of Keith Debow. A thudding right hand ended the night for Debow ,as he could not beat the ten count. Lee, physically imposing but still crude, raises his record to 3-0 (2KO), while Debow remains winless at 0-3-1.

Jose Benavidez Jr. showed exactly why he is so highly regarded as one of the sport’s more promising prospects after a dominant third round stoppage of Winston Mathis. Benavidez dropped Mathis hard twice in the opening round with thunderous left hooks to the body, only for the bell to prevent him from finishing the job. Crisp left-right combination dropped Mathis in the third with the referee questionably stopping the fight, as it seemed Mathis could have continued. Perhaps it was for the better. Benavidez now moves to 9-0 (9KO). Mathis now stands at 6-3 (2)

Filipino flyweight Richie Mepranum barley edged Anthony Villareal in a hotly contested split decision. Crisper punching and overall ring experience seemed to give Merpranum the edgem but Villareal found a lot of success also landed over the top of the southpaw. Scores were 58-56(twice) for Merpranum (17-3-1, 3KO) and 58-56 for Villereal (10-4, 5KO).

Mexican featherweight Oscar Meza (20-4, 17KO) scored a spirited unanimous decision over local favorite Jose Hernandez (10-3, 4KO). Scores were 38-37 (twice) and 39-36. Both guys went at each other with everything they they had, but with Hernandez getting the better of exchanges in the early rounds. Just as the fourth and final round was coming to a close, Hernandez went down on a sharp left hook. This affected the decisions, as he went from a probably two point victory on two cards to falling one point short.

Welterweight Dennis Laurente (35-3-4, 17 KOs) won an eight round unanimous decision over Rashad Holloway (11-2-2, 5 KOs). The scores were 77-75, 79-73 and 78-74. From the outset it was clear that the outcome of  the fight would be determined by which fighter was able to press their style against the other. The naturally aggressive Laurente, winner of his last 12 fights, pressured Holloway all night and smothered his way to a clear win.