Later tonight in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, on HBO Pay-Per-View, it will be champion vs. champion as WBC super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera (60-4, 42 KOs) takes on IBF super featherweight champion Robbie Peden (25-2, 14 KOs). Peden was Barrera's former sparring partner and helped prepare Marco for some of his biggest fights, including Naseem Hamed.
Peden says that he knows Marco so well, it will not be an all-out war in the ring. Confident of his power, Peden feels that he is stronger man at 130 pounds. Barrera is looking to capture Peden's title and move one step closer to unifying the entire 130 pound weight class. Barrera has never held two major world championships at the same time. Peden achieved his dream of winning a world championship earlier this year, when he he scored an 8 round stoppage over Nate Campbell on on February 23, 2005. Peden promises that he will do everything in his power to make sure that Marco does not take his title away.
The main supporting bout features three division world champion, Sugar Shane Mosley (40-4, 35 KOs), facing unbeaten Jose Luis Cruz (32-0-2, 27 KOs) in a bout scheduled for ten rounds. They always say that undefeated fighters do not know how to lose. Is an upset brewing? Mosley looks to get by Cruz and move on to bigger and better things. Cruz sees Molsey as his ticket to stardom and wants to make Shane knockout victim number 28.
The first fight of the evening will be IBF lightweight champion Levander Johnson taking on Jesus Chavez.
Jim Lampley and Larry Merchant are talking about last week's fight between Erik Morales and Zahir Raheem. They are talking about whether or not we will see an upset tonight. Manny Steward is talking about Shane Mosley in the 147 pound division.
There will be updates on the first bout and Round by Round Coverage of Barrera-Peden and Mosley-Cruz.
Tonight Johnson is 144 pounds and Chavez weighs 145 pounds. The pro-Mexican crowd is going wild for Chavez.
First round is almost looking like a war, Chavez is getting the better of the punches.
Second round is more war, Johnson is bleeding outside of his right eye and Chavez is beating him up right now and winning the exchanges. Some fight right now.
Four rounds are in the book and Chavez is still coming out on top in a very good fight.
After eight rounds of action, the body work of Chavez is really starting to get to Johnson and is slowing him down.
Richard Steele is the ref for tonight's main event.
After ten rounds, Johnson is taking a beating. Steward thinks they should stop the fight.
The fight is over, Chavez beating the hell out of Johnson in the eleventh and the ref Tony Weeks jumped in and stopped the fight.
Chavez is now the IBF lightweight champion.
Sugar Shane Mosley (40-4, 35 KOs) vs. unbeaten Jose Luis Cruz (32-0-2, 27 KOs) is next.
Tonight Molsey is 155, Cruz is 157. The very pro-Mexcian crowd is very behind Cruz and they are on their feet to cheer him coming down to the ring.
Molsey is actually getting a decent amount of cheers as he makes his way down to the ring.
Mosley looks ripped like a lightweight, he must be ready to bring on the speed tonight.
Round 1 - Jab by Cruz, sharp right by Mosley. Cruz to the body. Both men are jabbing. Cruz tried to back Mosley into the ropes and Mosley runs out of the way. Huge Mexico chant starts for Cruz. Bodyshot by Mosley. Pretty even round, close for Mosley.
Round 2 - Jab by Cruz, they exchange bodyshots. Combo by Mosley. Right by Cruz and Mosley combos. Cruz to the body and Mosley goes upstairs. Shane to the body. Right by Cruz, Cruz jabbing. Left and right for Cruz and Cruz hits Mosley with two shots well after the bell. Warning by the ref. Close round for Mosley. Cruz looks very slow.
Round 3 - Left hook by Cruz, and Mosley with a right hand over the top. They tie up. Uppercut by Shane. Cruz misses some bodyshots. Mexico chant breaks out. Uppercut by Mosley. Cruz to the body. Shane goes for a punch, misses and almost falls, Cruz tries to catch him, also misses and falls. Close round for Mosley.
Round 4 - Mosley jabbing. HBO has it three rounds to nothing for Mosley. Accidental clash of heads. Cruz rushes Mosley into the ropes. Right by Mosley, Cruz with two short lefts. They exchange bodyshots. Ref warns Mosley for low bodyshots. Shane jabbing. Cruz gets Mosley against the ropes and Shane ties him up. The fight is not pretty to watch so far. Another round for Shane.
Round 5 - Mosley jabbing and moving to his left. Cruz with a decent right hand. Left hand by Cruz pushes Mosley back. Three punch combo Cruz, hard right hand by Mosley. Cruz walking through the punches and lands a combo on Shane. Mexico chant breaks out. Huge right by Shane and Cruz says it didnt hurt. Best round for Shane.
Round 6 - Shane is jabbing. Straight right lands by Mosley. Both of Cruz's eyes are swelling up. They get tied up, ref breaks them. Cruz trying to chases after Shane and Shane ties him up. Right by Cruz and Mosley with a big left. Cruz says c'mon, let's fight! Both men start to exchange and tie up. Another round for Mosley. Cruz is a very slow puncher.
Round 7 - HBO has it scored 6 rounds to nothing, all for Shane. Right by Shane. Cruz tries to flurry. They exchange bodyshots. Cruz gets warned for hitting on the break. Shane with a bodyshot. Cruz chasing him around and gets caught with some boydshots.
Round 8 - Cruz with a good right hand. Left landed by Shane as Cruz comes in. They are fighting on the inside, Mosley blocking most of Cruz's shots. Triple left hook by Mosley. Mosley landing on the inside. Another round for Mosley.
Round 9 - Shane with a combo. A right by Shane. Both men are jabbing. Mosley jabbing and switching to bodyshots. They tie up. Shane with another round.
Round 10 - Molsey to the head and body of Cruz, the left eye of Cruz appears to be swelling shut. Two good combos by Cruz and Molsey stumbles. Right by Shane. Molsey digs to the body. They exchange hard bodyshots. Right by Shane, Cruz to the body. Shane with a good combo at the bell. Shane wins the last round.
I have Shane winning every single round. HBO has Shane winning every round. Official scores are coming up.
A correction, HBO gave Cruz the final round.
98-92, 96-94 and 97-93 for Shane Molsey. Mexican crowd is booing loud. Cruz threw 738 punches, landed 114. Shane threw 452 and landed 173.
It has been announced that Johnson is the hospital and having emergency surgery for bleeding on the brain from the beating in the Chavez bout earlier tonight.
There will be three national anthems.
Robbie Peden is making his way down to the ring.
Barrera has made his way down to the ring, getting a huge reaction from the Mexican fans.
Michael Buffer says "LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE"
Round 1 - Peden jabbing and feinting. They both combo close. Left hand by Barrera and another. Hard jabs by both men. Peden fighting with his hands very low. Barrera winning the jabbing contest. The exchange some good shots on the inside, right hand by Peden. Right by Barrera. First round goes to Barrera.
Round 2 - Peden jabbing. Barrera starts countering Peden's jab. Right by Peden. Marco jabbing and stepping to the left. Peden tries to come in and Barrera steps to the side. Marco with the right hand. Left by Peden to the body. Combo by Barrera. Another round for Barrera.
Round 3 - Barrera jabbing, Peden with two lefts. Right hand by Barrera. Peden missing an uppercut. Right by Peden. Barrera with four right and two left hooks on Peden against the ropes. Barrera with a combo to the head. Big round for Barrera.
Round 4 - HBO has it three rounds for Barrera. Peden jabbing, Barrera misses a big right. Outside the left eye of Barrera is bleeding from a clash of heads. Jab by Peden and a combo, Peden with another combo. Big bodyshot by Peden. Barrera misses a left, Peden to the body. Left hook by Peden. Good round for Peden.
Round 5 - Athletic Commission ruled the cut was caused by a punch. Both men are jabbing. Barrera gets off with a combo. They tie up. Jab by Barrera, left hook by Peden. Both men are jabbing , Barrera is winning the contest. Big right hand by Barrera. Round scored for Barrera.
Round 6 - Combo by Peden. Big right hand by Barrera as he circles. Peden stalking Barrera and Marco is popping the jab. Left hook for Peden. Three jabs for Marco. Marco with a stiff jab, right for Barrera. Another round for Barrera.
Round 7 - HBO has it 4 rounds to 2, for Barrera. Barrera is jabbing. Peden with a three punch combo. Barrera traps Peden into the ropes and licks off a few power shots. Barrera now jabbing Peden. Another round for Peden.
Round 8 - Barrera with a combo. Peden is jabbing. Combo by Barrera to the body and gets Peden against the ropes and lands the hard right hands. Peden with a hard jab, Marco with some jabs back. Peden to the body. Right by Barrera. Marco jabbing and moving around. Another round for Barrera.
Round 9 - Peden with a right hand. Barrera jabbing and lands a left. Both men are jabbing, Barrera to the body. Marco gets him against the ropes and starts pounding on Peden. Ref warns Peden for a low blow. Barrera jabbing and lands a left. Another round for Barrera.
Peden's corner has yelled at him for the last few rounds to knock him down and start getting brave in the fight or he will lose.
Round 10 - HBO has it seven rounds to two. Barrera jabs and lands a right. Barrera is jabbing. Marco with a combo. Barrera has just lost a point for a low blow. Barrera jabbing and backs Peden off. Marco wins the rounds, lost a point and the round becomes a 9-9 round.
Round 11 - HBO gave Peden the last round, the fight is only three points apart on their card. Peden rushes in and Marco ties him up. Barrera pumping the jab. Aussie fans start chanting for Peden. Barrera is jabbing Peden to death right now. Barrera warned for hitting on the break. Combo by Peden on the inside. Solid right lands for Barrera. Another round for Barrera.
Round 12 - Peden's corner telling him he needs a KO to win. Barrera's corner telling him he needs to close the show big. Peden is not trying to come in with big punches and Barrera is lumping him a left hook to the body and a right hand. Right by Peden, left hands by Barrera. Huge right by Barrera, Peden stumbles back and Barrera on the attack and lands two big rights, Peden may be hurt. Marco landing hard shots on the inside. Marco jabbing lands a big combo. Huge round for Barrera.
I have Barrera winning easy, so does HBO. Official cards are coming up.
118-109, 118-08 and 118-108 for the winner and unified champion Marco Antonio Barrera.
