By Jake Donovan

It’s no longer a matter of when, but where undefeated Urbano Antillon will receive his first crack at a world title. Juan Ramon Cruz had little say in the matter, hitting the deck three times before finally succumbing in the fourth round of their scheduled ten-round main event.

The bout headlined a full card from the Alameda Swap Meet in Los Angeles, California.

The tone was set from the outset, with Antillon immediately taking the fight to Cruz. A short right hand sent the Puerto Rican to the canvas just seconds in, though he was quick to rise to his feet. His night wouldn’t get any better, as Antillon was throwing – and far too often landing – with mean intentions throughout the round and fight.

Cruz came out far more purposeful in the second, not preferring the role of punching bag. A pair of left hooks to the body got Antillon’s attention early, though he took both shots well and regained control of the fight soon thereafter. Cruz found himself under siege, as Antillon grew stronger and more confident with each landed punch.

A left hook to the body and right uppercut nearly had Cruz out at rounds end, but would manage to remain upright, the only round in the fight in which he could make that claim.

Antillon picked up in the third where he left off at the end of the prior round, landing an assortment of shots to the head and body. A quick right hand, right uppercut had Cruz frozen, with a right to the body and left hook to the chin sending him down for the bout’s second knockdown, with more than two minutes to go in the round.

To his credit, Cruz managed to recover and at least survive the frame, desperately trying to maintain enough distance to keep Antillon off of him, since his own punching power wasn’t doing the trick.

He tried to offer more movement at the start of the fourth, while Antillon came forward, patiently stalking his foe behind a tight guard. It worked for about a minute, until Antillon cracked him with a left hook upstairs. Cruz remained still, leaving himself open for a series of left hooks and body shots as he was driven into the ropes.

One last body shot finally finished off Cruz, as he fell to the canvas after running out of ring space. He attempted to beat the count, but moved gingerly while clutching his ribs as referee Raul Caiz Jr. reached the count of ten.

The official time was 1:35 of round four.

It was a spectacular 2008 campaign for Antillon, scoring four straight stoppages, all televised (three on Telefutura, one on VERSUS). He’s now won eight straight fights inside the distance, upping his record overall to 25-0 (18KO).

Cruz falls to 15-6-1 (11KO), losing his third straight.

Next stop for Antillon would seemingly be a title shot. He is the mandatory challenger to the alphabet title presently in Humberto Soto’s possession. The only question is whether or not he will be able to squeeze back down to super featherweight.

Most of his career has been fought at or above the division limit, checking in at 135 for tonight’s fight. In fact, the only time in recent years that he’s officially fought at 130 was his last bout, where he needed three tries to shrink down to 130 lb.

Wherever he lands in 2009, good fortunes are sure to follow – unless you’re the guy standing in the other corner on fight night.

UNDERCARD

Former junior flyweight titlist Brian Viloria is finally enjoying something his career has sorely lacked– consistency.

Having failed to post a win in nearly two years prior to the start of 2008, the former U.S. Olympian ends the year having won five straight. His second round knockout of Benjamin Garcia in the televised co-feature sees his 2008 campaign come full circle, having begun and ended the year fighting at the Alameda Swap Meet on Telefutura.

Viloria was in control throughout the brief encounter, easily taking the opening round before picking up the attack in round two. Garcia was game but severely outgunned, a painful lesson he would learn the hard way.

A left hook to the body and follow up hook upstairs midway through the round proved to be the beginning of the end. Garcia was hurt but didn’t have the wherewithal to grab on in efforts to clear his head. Viloria sensed blood in the water and immediately went on the attack.

Combination punching would send Garcia dancing around the ring, before a final left hook and straight right would deposit the journeyman to the canvas. Referee Jack Reiss ran through the entire count, with Garcia on a knee as the third man reached ten.

The official; time was 1:17 of round two.

It’s the fifth straight win for Viloria after having went nearly two years without seeing his arm raised in victory (0-2, 1 no-contest over that stretch). He improves to 24-2 (13KO) as he creeps closer toward another chance at a major title.

Garcia falls to 13-11-2 (1KO) with the loss.
 
A wild one-round swing bout saw Jose Roman climb off of the canvas early to stop Gabe Garcia in the very same round.

Roman went down in the opening minute, courtesy of a left hook to the temple, but quickly recovered to regain control of the brief affair.

A left hook of his own sent Garcia crashing to the canvas in the final minute of the round. Garcia took the eight count and was permitted to continue, but was clearly out on his feet. Roman landed one last left hook, snapping back the head of Garcia and forcing referee Raul Caiz Jr to call it an evening.

The official time was 2:49 of round one.

Roman, who turned pro six months ago, moves to 3-0 (3KO). Garcia’s record dips upside down to 4-5-1 (1KO).

Undefeated lightweight prospect Carlos Molina kept it perfect with a fourth round stoppage of Genier Pit. Molina (6-0, 3KO) won every round before going for the kill in the final round of their scheduled four. A series of right hands hat Pit (1-1-1) looking like a Pez dispenser, prompting referee Jack Reiss to intervene, at 2:17 of the fourth round.

Fleshy super middleweight Mario Evangelista has literally carved out a career of facing pro debuters, with a mixed bag of results. Jaime Ruiz was his fourth opponent in as many pro fights to qualify under the no prior experience category; he certainly fought like it, getting lit up by the Mexican in the opening round of their scheduled four.

A straight right was enough to remove Ruiz (0-1) from his senses, though the official end of the bout came seconds later after referee Jack Reiss didn’t like the way he was reacting to a follow-up sequence from Evangelista (2-2, 2KO). The official time was 1:20 of round one.

Tonight’s show was presented by Top Rank, Inc.

Jake Donovan is a voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Comments/questions can be submitted to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.