By Cliff Rold

What looked on paper to be an evenly matched battle between journeyman Jr. Bantamweights turned out to be a vicious beating in favor of 24-year old Jesus Jimenez (19-5, 12 KO) of Mexico.  Picking up his seventh stoppage in eight straight wins, Jimenez may even be ready to test the contender waters.  The latest victim, 21-year old Jonathan Perez (13-4, 10 KO), never even had a chance to get started on Friday night at the Salon Marbet Plus in Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl, México.  In his previous bout, Perez went the distance competitively with former Jr. Bantamweight titlist Martin Castillo.

Both men weighed in just below the division limit of 115 lbs. at 114 ¾ lbs. 

Jimenez, a southpaw, dominated from the opening bell with his right jab creating openings for whipping body blows and hard rights.  In the fourth, the dominance would equal out to a pair of knockdowns, both of which saw Perez barely beat the referees count.  Both drops came as a result of body shots, the first a single right hand, the second a right-left downstairs.  The accumulation of punishment was steadily eroding any hope Perez had for victory.

In the fifth, Perez did his best to make a stand, working in close quarters with body shots but his legs still looked unsteady.  A punch fired after a referee’s break bought Perez extra recovery time even as it cost him yet another point on the scorecards.  The steady pounding recommenced, Jimenez assaulting to the body and sneaking in the left uppercut.  Seconds before the bell, a borderline low blow allowed Perez to take a knee, finding some more precious seconds where he wouldn’t be hit.

What had been a methodical sixth took a twist towards the explosive in the final thirty seconds. A perfect right hook to the body dropped Perez yet again.  He bravely rose but the fight was clearly in bloodletting mode and a final body salvo dropped Perez at the bell, prompting the referee to step in and protect Perez from what would have been senseless punishment going forward.  The official time of the stoppage was the 3:00 minute mark.

Other Televised Results

Jr. Middleweights: Aldo Mena (2-1, 1 KO) W KO2 William Escobar (4-10, 4 KO)
Jr. Featherweights: Miguel Rojas (1-2-1)  W SD6 Fernando Salazar (0-2)

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com