By Fransisco Salazar
Unbeaten heavyweight Oscar Rivas is solidifying his status as contender, stopping late-sub Sergio Ramirez after the second round late Thursday night at the Montreal Casino in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Rivas (23-0, 17 knockouts) battered Ramirez from the opening bell, landing vicious combinations. Rivas did his best work when he pinned Ramirez against the ropes, connecting to the head and body with hooks and overhand right hands.
Ramirez wound mount an offense, but most of his punches connected to the arms of Rivas. After the end of the second round, Ramirez's corner told referee Alberto Padulo, Jr. that Ramirez was unable to continue.
The 30-year-old Rivas represented Colombia in the 2008 Olympic Games and now resides in the Montreal area.
"I'm ready for any challenge that comes my way," Rivas told Boxeo De Colombia after the fight. "That is why we train hard in the gym."
Ramirez (16-6, 8 KOs), who resides in Tijuana, Mexico, has lost four of his last six bouts.
In super middleweight action, Christian Mbilli knocked out Argentina's Luis Eduardo Paz (12-5-1, 8 KOs) at 1:44 of the opening round. A right hand to the body dropped Paz to the canvas, prompting referee Yvon Goulet to stop the fight.
Mbilli (9-0, 9 KOs) was born in Cameroon and represented France at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Super middleweight Shakeel Phinn won an eight round unanimous decision over Poland's Bartlomiej Grafka (20-30-3, 9 KOs). Scores were 80-72, 80-72, and 79-73 in favor of Phinn, who improves to 17-2, 11 KOs.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing