By Rick Reeno
MGM Grand, Las Vegas - 2012 Olympian Josh Taylor (8-0, 7 KOs) went the distance for the first time in his career, with an eight round unanimous decision over tough as nails Alfonso Olvera (8-3-1, 3 KOs) in a super lightweight contest. The scores were 79-72, 78-73, 78-73.
Olvera was game and came out looking to exchange punches with Taylor at close range in the first round. Taylor rocked the knees of Olvera in the second round with flush hooks to the head. Not quit in Olvera in the third, as he continued to let his hands go to entice Taylor into a slugfest.
Taylor once again rocked the knees of Olvera during the fourth. Olvera was able to recover and fought his way out of trouble. Taylor was deducted a point in the sixth round for a low blow, but otherwise dominated the three minutes.
Taylor and Olvera were slugging away at the start of the seventh and continued a very active pace of punches for the entire three minutes. They continued to slug away during the eight, with both getting in their shots until the final bell.
Cuban featherweight prospect Leduan Barthelemy (12-0, 6 KO’s), who is the younger brother of two-division champion Rances Barthelemy, won a six round unanimous decision over Jesus Aguinaga (5-4-1) of Phoenix. The scores were 59-55, 59-55, and 58-56.
Featherweight Antonio Santa Cruz (5-2, 2 KOs), who is the younger brother of Leo Santa Cruz, had all he could handle in winning a four round unanimous decision over Victor Torres (2-5-1, 1 KO). It was a really close fight where Torres was very hurt in the first and then dropped Santa Cruz in the second. They threw a lot of punches between them. All three judges scored it 38-37 for Santa Cruz.
Featherweight Jerry Perez (1-0, 1 KO) made his pro debut with a first round stoppage of Javier Cepeda (0-5). Referee Jay Nady waved off the contest after Cepeda was dropped for the third time. Perez is trained by Jose Santa Cruz.
Welterweight Herbert Acevedo (13-2, 6 KOs), who is trained by Jose Santa Cruz, won a six round unanimous decision over Chris Singleton (18-3-2, 8 KOs), who suffered a flash knockdown in the second round. Acevedo was busier, landed the harder punches and pushed the pace of the fight. All three of the official judges scored it 59-54.
