By Mark Vester
British boxing fans who made the trip to Las Vegas received an early treat with the "British Invasion - The UK vs. the World" event at the MGM Grand Conference Center. In the main event, a battle of middleweights turned into a war. Enrique Ornelas (26-4, 16KOs) got off the deck to stop Bronco McKart (51-8, 31KOs) in the fifth round of their twelve-round contest. Ornelas avenges as July split-decision loss to McKart.
After the first two rounds, it appeared like another win was in the bank for McKart. He dropped Ornelas with a huge left hook in the first round, and followed it up with a right hand in the second to score another knockdown. After two rounds, he was up by four points. Ornelas would not be denied, he kept coming and kept punching, eventually catching up with McKart in round four, returning the favor by scoring his own knockdown. After dropping McKart for the second time in the contest in the fifth round, McKart's corner saved their fighter by stopping the fight soon after.
McKart now stopped for the second time in his career, the other stoppage loss was to current middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik last July.
Lightweight John Murray (23-0, 12KOs) won a ten-round decision over Miguel Munguia (16-10, 13KOs). The scores were 96-94, 98-92 and 97-93.
Dean Harrison (10-0, 2KOs), a junior welterweight prospect, stopped Ramon Guevara (8-14-2, 6KOs) in the fifth round.
Lee Meager (21-2-2, 8KOs) battled Jose Gonzalez (14-4-1, 6KOs) to an eight-round draw. The scores were 76-76, 77-75 Gonzalez and 79-73 Meager.
Middleweight prospect Craig McEwan (9-0, 6KOs) won an easy eight-round decision over Alfredo Contreras (6-2-1, 1KOs) The scores were 79-73 across the board.
