Estrella Drills Lopez In One, Eyes Title Fight With Miura

By Jake Donovan

The Mexico vs. Puerto Rico in-ring rivalry is always hyped up any time fighters from those respective areas face each other in the ring. Make no mistake, though; very few expected the Televisa-televised headliner between unbeaten Adrian Estrella and Edwin 'Bazooka' Lopez to resemble a competitive fight. 

It's a good thing, because it wasn't. 

The night was less about nationalistic bragging rights than it was a showcase for Estrella to move closer towards a desired title shot. The unbeaten super featherweight contender made it without even breaking a sweat, blasting out Lopez inside of a round Saturday night in Monterey, Mexico. 

Plenty of credit to the event handlers, Promociones del Pueblo for turning the evening into a star-studded event. It was an emotional night on site, as the venue formerly known as Arena Solidaridad donned its new name, Arena Jose Sulaiman, named after the former longtime WBC President who passed away earlier this year. The entire Promociones del Pueblo stable - chief among them, reigning featherweight titlist Jhonny Gonzalez - made guest appearances throughout the week and were an active part of the promotion. 

Once the opening bell rang to start the main event, it was all Estrella - and it didn't take very long to make his way back to the knockout column. 

Each of the past two bouts for the 22-year old have went the full 12-round distance after stopping each of his first 17 foes as a professional. The former TV heartthrob rediscovered his swagger, teeing off on Lopez' leaky defense in a fight that resembled a young lion against an aged veteran. The 39-year old Lopez probably wouldn't have been much of a match for Estrella even at age 29, though. 

A flurry on a defenseless and unresponsive Lopez was enough to prompt the stoppage inside the opening round. 

Estrella cruises to 20-0 (18KOs), the knockout win his first since stopping Bert Batawag in less than three rounds this past March. Lopez sees a 21-fight win streak come to an end, falling to 21-4-1 (19KOs). The loss was his first since his sputtering out to an 0-3-1 to begin his career. All four career defeats have come by knockout. 

With the win, Estrella will become the latest fighter from Mexico to step to reigning 130 lb. titlist Takashi Miura. The defending beltholder from Japan has faced nothing but Mexican fighters beginning with his title-winning effort over Gamaliel Diaz last year. Plans call for a potential showdown in February, with Estrella likely to have to travel to Japan for his first career title fight.

In the evening's chief support, Mexico's Arely Mucino picked up the biggest win of her career, unseating flyweight titlist Shindo Go (14-3, 9KOs) over ten rounds. Mucino (21-2-2, 10KOs) is now a two-time flyweight champ (excluding interim title reigns); Go's reign ends after 19 months and just two successful defenses, having now lost in each of her two trips outside of her native Japan. 

Both bouts aired live on Televisa in Mexico. 

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter:@JakeNDaBox