By Jake Donovan
Jose Lopez fought his first scheduled eight-rounder, needing each and every round to finally put away Sergio Gomez in their UniMas-televised headliner Saturday evening in Juncos, Puerto Rico.
Aptly named 'Wonder Boy,' the 19-year old super bantamweight prospect was forced to labor a bit in order to remain unbeaten. Gomez has long ago transitioned from any-hoper to journeyman. The best he could do on this particular night was make Lopez go some rounds.
The brutal ending came in the eighth and final round. Lopez scored the bout's lone knockdown, the sequence leading an eventual stoppage as Gomez' corner came in to rescue their fighter.
The official time was 2:26 of round eight.
Lopez improves to 11-0 (9KO) with the win, his fourth of 2013 and with possibly one more fight to squeeze in before year's end.
Gomez heads back to Nicaragua now a sub .500 fighter, dipping to 17-18 (13KO).
UNDERCARD
Ken Alvarez overcame several anxious moments to take a six-round decision over Kevin Nieves in the matchup of unbeaten lightweights.
Scores were 57-56 and 58-55 (twice) in favor of Alvarez, who was dropped hard in round three and momentarily out on his feet. The rising prospect managed to regain his senses and remain focused long enough to cross the finish line and advance to 5-0 (3KO).
Nieves suffers his first pro loss as he falls to 6-1 (3KO).
Angel Acosta truly remains a knockout every time out. The free swinging Puerto Rican light flyweight was extended some rounds before taking out Pedro Diaz in the fourth and final round.
Acosta (5-0, 5KO) scored three knockdowns in the fourth to put away the normally durable Diaz (2-2-1, 0KO).
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com, as well as the Records Keeper for the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and a member of Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
