PHOENIX – A shakeup in the evening’s headliner saw Fernando Diaz have to adapt to an entirely new challenge.

The streaking flyweight prospect overcame a stiff challenge from—and a knockdown by—Phoenix’s own Lorenzo Smith to take a well-earned, ten-round unanimous decision win. Scores were 96-93, 96-93 and 95-94 in favor of Diaz in their spirited flyweight scrap Saturday evening at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Diaz—a promising 21-year-old prospect from Riverside, California—began fight week originally scheduled to face Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, who was advanced to the main event when former two-time WBC champ Srisaket Sor Rungvisai fell ill and was forced to withdraw from his scheduled WBC junior bantamweight title fight rematch with Carlos Cuadras. Smith agreed to jump in for the local assignment after a young career spent entirely in Mexico.

The result was a momentum-shifting preliminary affair, with Diaz overcoming a difficult opening round to outbox Smith behind a heavy jab. Smith provided drama with a knockdown in round five, depositing Diaz onto the canvas in the corner early in the round. Diaz (11-1-1, 3KOs) beat the count and managed to outbox Smith the rest of the way, though forced to work every second to pull out the victory. Smith (10-1, 8KOs) suffers his first defeat but earn

Khalil Coe made good on his promise to dramatically improve on his previous performance. The opening bout of a six-fight DAZN telecast saw Jersey City’s Coe dominate Dylan O’Sullivan, scoring two knockdowns en route to a second round knockout in a bout fought just above the light heavyweight limit.

Coe dominated from the opening bell, frequently touching up Johnson City, Tennessee’s O’Sullivan (1-1, 0KOs) in the opening round before going for the fantastic finish in round two. O’Sullivan was floored midway through the round courtesy of a right uppercut, beating the count only to get dropped in his corner where his trainers urged the referee to stop the bout at 2:16 of round two.

The win was much needed for Coe (2-0-1, 2KOs), who—by his own admission—looked lethargic in a four-round majority draw with Aaron Casper last November on a DAZN undercard headlined by WBO middleweight titlist Demetrius Andrade in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Elijah Garcia enjoyed his second consecutive early night at the office in his city’s biggest indoor venue.  

The 18-year-old middleweight southpaw turned away a stiff challenge from Kansas City’s Antonio Louis Hernandez in forcing a stoppage after three competitive rounds of action. Hernandez offered a spirited effort early before being overwhelmed in round three, after which point his corner literally threw in the towel during the one-minute rest period.

Hernandez (6-12-2, 4KOs) proved far tougher than his deceptive record, taking the fight to the baby-faced Garcia in the opening round. Phoenix’s Garcia settled down and worked behind his jab in round two, also beginning to work the body which slowed down Hernandez.

Garcia took over for good early in round three, battering Hernandez and slowly breaking down the veteran middleweight. The dramatic shift prompted Hernandez’s corner to inform referee Chris Flores that their charge was done for the night.

Garcia advances to 10-0 (9KOs) with the win. It comes less than three months after picking up a fifth round knockout on the November 13 undercard of a Showtime card at this very venue headlined by locally-bred former two-time super middleweight titlist David Benavidez.

Adam Stewart picked up his fifth consecutive win in front of his adoring public. The locally based heavyweight had his way with Miami’s Alvin Davie, cruising to a six-round, unanimous decision win in the evening’s curtain raiser. All three judges scored the contest 60-53 in favor of Stewart, who floored Davie late in the sixth and final round but had to settle for a distance win.

Action remained in one direction the entire way, with Davie fighting to survive rather than to win. Stewart (13-1-1, 8KOs) hurt Davie with occasional straight rights and left hooks, though he was denied a knockdown in round four when a trip to the canvas by Davie was ruled a slip.

Stewart went for the knockout in the sixth round, dialing up the pressure and forcing Davie to all fours. Davie (6-3, 5KOs) beat the count but had to contend with a busted nose in making it to the finish line. The loss snaps a modest three-fight win streak for Davie. 

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox