By Francisco Salazar

Undefeated bantamweight Christian Carto keeps winning. He is also doing it in impressive fashion.

Carto hopes to continue that trend tonight when he faces toughest test on paper when he faces once-beaten Alonso Melendez.

The eight round bout will take place at the famed 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Carto (11-0, 11 knockouts), who resides in Philadelphia, last fought on Aug. 11, stopping Philip Adyaka in the second round.

In fact, that has been the theme of all of Carto’s fights, which end quickly and impressively. His aggressive boxer-puncher has turned heads in and around the Philadelphia area, where he has fought all, but two of his fights.

The 20-year-old Carto has been very active thus far in 2017. Tonight will mark Carto’s sixth fight this year.

Melendez (14-1, 12 KOs), who hails from Chihuahua, Mexico, will be fighting for the first time in over two years. He has won his last three fights.

Lightweight Carlos Rosario (7-2, 4 KOs) will square off against Jerome Conquest (8-2, 1 KO) in an eight round bout.

Maynard Allison (9-1, 6 KOs) faces Juan Rodriguez (7-7-1, 5 KOs) in an eight round junior welterweight bout.

Junior middleweight Erik Spring (10-1-2, 1 KO) battles Anthony Prescott (6-7-2, 2 KOs) in a six round bout.

Marshall Kauffman will promote tonight’s card. 

IN OTHER NEWS: Junior lightweight Gabriel Flores Jr. will face Donnie Reeves tonight, Top Rank matchmaker Brad Goodman confirmed to Boxingscene.com Thursday night.
The four round bout will take place at Gilley’s in Dallas, Texas.

Flores (3-0, with 2 knockouts) is 17-years old and a senior at Cesar Chavez High School in his hometown of Stockton, California.

The former amateur standout, who made his pro debut four days after his 17th birthday earlier this year, became the youngest person to sign a promotional deal with Top Rank.
In his last bout on Aug. 12, Flores won a one-sided four round decision over Jorge Padron in Fallon, Nevada. He is trained and managed by his father, Gabe, Sr.

Reeves (1-0, 1 KO) won his pro debut on Apr. 1, stopping Dakota Lester in the opening round in his hometown of Hannibal, Missouri.

In the main event, which will air on beIN Sports (9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT), junior middleweight contender John Vera (17-0, 10 KOs) will square off against Sunday Ajuwa (13-2, 10 KOs) in an eight round bout.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper, RingTV.com, and FightNights.com. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing