Centro de Usos Multiples Arena in Hermosillo, Mexico - Croation Filip Hrgovic, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, waxed Mario Heredia in three rounds with a knockout win. (photos by Ed Mulholland).
Hrgovic (9-0, 7 KOs), who was eight inches taller and 40 pounds lighter than Heredia (16-7-1, 13 KOs), made easy work of him from there as the unheralded Heredia spilled down. He picked himself up halfheartedly, but it was too little, too late.
Former world champion Liam Smith stopped battle-tested Mario Alberto Lozano of Chihuahua, Mexico.
Smith (28-2-1, 16 KOs), who debuted as a middleweight, looked sharp throughout as he pressed forward and picked apart Lozano with measured punches in a competitive scrap that ended in a seventh round TKO.
Jono Carroll returned to the ring following a clear but competitive loss to IBF champion Tevin Farmer earlier this year.
Carroll (17-1-1, 3 KOs) was met by Eleazar Valenzuela (20-12-4-1, 16 KOs). The 27-year-old Carroll, a former Prizefighter winner from Dublin, Ireland, was a -4000 betting favorite.
But he never truly looked like it as he won a unanimous decision with scores of 98-92 across all three judges’ cards.
