By Jake Donovan

Former title challenger Armando Torres scored the biggest win of his career on Friday night with an upset fourth round knockout of previously unbeaten Omar Rosales.

The bout aired live on Telemundo from the Jose Cuervo Salon in Mexico City.

Torres – who used to fight under the alias Ichiro Ozeki while fighting in Japan during his first four years as a pro – was just two months removed from a career-worst beating at the hands of junior flyweight titlist Juan Carlos Reveco when he received the call for this fight against Rosales, who was being groomed for a title shot at strawweight.

That chance may still come, but it won’t happen anytime soon, thanks to Torres, who dropped his countryman in the third round and picked up the attack in the fourth.

Rosales showed just enough reluctance to convince the referee to intervene in a call viewed by many as erring on the side of caution, as time was winding down in the round.

Protests aside, it goes in the book as a stoppage at 2:29 of the fourth round for Torres, who improves to 14-7 (9KO). The win is his third of 2010, with the aforementioned title fight loss to Reveco wedged in between what is otherwise a fairly successful campaign this year.

Rosales suffers his first defeat as a professional, falling to 11-1 (7KO).

Looking at his record, it’s easy to dismiss Torres as a never-was, but between Friday’s performance and a deeper look into his career credentials, it might be wise to not quite yet write off the veteran. His uncle, German Torres, was a former junior flyweight champion, winning the belt on his fifth try.

OTHER TELEVISED BOUTS

Super featherweight Daniel Hernandez scored a sixth round stoppage over late sub Azael Gonzalez.

Hernandez (10-5, 8KO) remained in control throughout and ended matters with a flurry in the sixth, punctuated by a right hand that prompted the referee to step in as Gonzalez (8-13, 3KO) willingly surrendered his gumshield upon command.

Gonzalez, who has now lost three straight, was a late replacement for Adrian Tellez (11-6-1, 8KO), who pulled out of his scheduled all-Mexico City battle with Hernandez earlier in the week.

The upset bug was hardly limited to Torres’ surprising performance in the main event. Carlos Jimenez (7-8-2, 4KO), having won just one bout in the past two years, fought the fight of his life in taking a shocking split decision over previously unbeaten Francisco Barrera (12-1, 7KO).

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.