Shane Mosley Jr. became the first opponent to stop Cristian Olivas on Saturday night.
The 30-year-old Mosley severely damaged Olivas’ right eye and battered him during a one-sided fifth round that prompted referee Thomas Taylor to halt the action halfway through their scheduled 10-rounder at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. Mosley, of Pomona, California, improved to 17-3 and produced his 10th knockout.
Mexico’s Olivas (20-8, 17 KOs) is 4-6 in his past 10 fights, but he hadn’t been stopped inside the distance before Mosley beat him by technical knockout. Olivas, whose right eye was swollen shut, fought Saturday night for the second time in three weeks.
Mosley was supposed to oppose Jason Quigley on Saturday night, but Quigley (18-1, 14 KOs) withdrew from their bout due to an illness.
Mosley took advantage of Olivas’ damaged eye throughout the fifth round, when he landed numerous left hooks and right hands. Olivas did catch Mosley with a flush left hook just before the fifth round concluded, but Taylor halted the action immediately after the bell sounded.
Taylor had a ringside physician take a look at the cut and swelling beneath Olivas’ right eye before they allowed the fourth round to begin.
Olivas landed a right hand with 1:10 to go in the fourth. Olivas also caught Mosley with a right hand just before the fourth round ended, only to have Mosley unload a right of his own that knocked Olivas into the ropes.
Olivas complained to Taylor that Mosley’s punch landed after the bell, but Taylor considered it a legal blow.
In what was an impressive third round for Mosley, he drilled Olivas with a right hand with about 1:15 remaining in it. Mosley’s left hook turned Olivas’ head around about 30 seconds into the third round.
Mosley landed a left hook up top with just under 10 seconds to go in the second round. He spent much of the second round working off his jab and keeping his distance from Olivas.
Mosley nailed Olivas with a straight right 1:15 into the first round. Olivas landed a left and then a right that made Mosley move away from him about 35 seconds into their fight.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.