MGM Grand Conference Center, Las Vegas - In a super featherweight contest, former world champion Oscar Valdez (28-0, 22 KOs) scored three knockdowns to stop veteran Jayson Velez (29-7-1, 21 KOs) in the tenth and final round. (photos by Mikey Williams)
The action was close in the first, with Valdez landing the better punches. Velez was using his reach and height in the second, pushing forward n Valdez, who was boxing and looking for openings.
After a close third and fourth, Valdez had a big fifth when he dropped Velez with a left hook in the closing moments. Valdez was outboxing and outlanding Velez in the sixth. Velez was coming forward with pressure, but unable to land flush shots. Velez was able to rally in the closing moments of the seventh when Valdez's activity went down.
In the ninth round, Valdez lost a point for a low blow. Valdez was edging the round, but was getting tagged here and there. Velez was making things tough in the tenth, as Valdez was fighting off his incoming charges and attacks. As he was coming in, Valdez knocked him down for a second time. When he got up, Valdez unloaded with a few more punches for the stoppage.
