Victor Ortiz, Mario Barrios Win Big In San Antonio

By Jake Donovan

SAN ANTONIO - Victor Ortiz managed to get the best of both worlds in his first fight back in 52 full weeks - a knockout win and much needed rounds. 

The former welterweight titlist scored two early knockdowns en route to stopping Mexico's Gilberto Sanchez-Leon in eight rounds Saturday evening at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Ortiz was at this very point one year ago, of the belief that a win after a long layoff would lead to big things. It didn't at all work out that way, as a badly fractured wrist kept the charismatic California-based southpaw out of the ring for most of 2015.

It showed at times in his performance, although there never existed the threat of an upset. Ortiz was quick to strike, flooring Sanchez-Leon with three power punches upstairs in the final minute of the opening round. 

Sanchez-Leon was hurt but managed to make his way to his feet and labor on for several more rounds. Ortiz - while in need of rounds - would have been content with an early stoppage and going on to enjoy the rest of his night. 

"I asked him after the fight why he didn't just stay down," Ortiz told BoxingScene.com after the fight, grinning from ear-to-ear as he's done throughout fight week. "He told me it was an honor to be in there with me and wanted to go as many rounds as possible."

Sanchez-Leon - a late replacement for Orlando Lora - was down again in round three, but remained determined to finish the fight on his feet. He fell two rounds and one second short of that dream, absorbing several more rounds of punishment before the fight was stopped at 2:59 of round eight. 

Ortiz advances to 31-5-2 (24KOs), having now won two straight after suffering three consecutive losses over a disastrous 2 1/2 year stretch. The three-fight losing streak all came on the heels of his Fight of the Year-level welterweight title winning effort over Andre Berto in April '11.

From there came his infamous knockout loss to Floyd Mayweather later that September, followed by a low point in his career in June '12. Ortiz was ahead on all three scorecards in his slugfest with Josesito Lopez, but the pain of fighting from the fourth round on with a broken jaw finally caught up to him as he was forced to retire on his school after nine rounds. 

A long break came before returning last January, facing fellow former welterweight titlist Luis Collazo in Brooklyn, New York. The night couldn't have played out any worse, suffering a 2nd round stoppage loss and was believed to be done for good. 

Two rounds later, his thought process is that the door is wide open to return to early glory.

"Bro, look, I'm 28 years old and I still have my faculties intact," Ortiz told BoxingScene.com. "I want everyone in the welterweight division."

Anyone in particular?

"Danny Garcia and Robert Guerrero are fighting each other next month. I wouldn't mind the winner of that," Ortiz said of the forthcoming welterweight clash, which takes place at Staples Center in Los Angeles, not too far from Ortiz' home base. "If not, hey Josesito Lopez is still talking a lot of s***." 

BARRIOS CAPS BREAKTHROUGH 2015 CAMPAIGN ON A HIGH NOTE

Mario Barrios made his way to television for his second straight fight, having a much easier go of things this time around as he stopped Manuel Vides in six rounds.    

The 20-year old super featherweight prospect was coming off of a tough win in Austin less than five weeks ago in outlasting a determined Enrique Tinoco, which aired live on Fox Sports 1. The opening bout of Saturday's presentation of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC Sports Network saw Barrios land at will, chopping down Vides round after round.

Left hooks repeatedly found their mark before finally causing Vides to collapse in round six. The lone knockdown of the fight also produced its end, with Vides declared unfit to continue.

The official time was 0:36 of round six. 

Barrios cruises to 14-0 (8KOs), ending 2015 on a high note in picking up his seventh win on the year. He hopes for a similar campaign in the 12 months ahead. 

"We ended 2015 with a bang, we're real happy," Barrios told BoxingScene.com after the fight. "I want 2016 to be just like that. We want to keep busy." 

NON-TV UNDERCARD

Unbeaten featherweight Adam Lopez treated his fans to a knockout finish, forcing Eric Aiken into submission inside of two rounds. The rising prospect from San Antonio was relentless in his attack against the aged former featherweight titlist, battering him into submission at 2:09 of round two. Lopez (14-0, 7KOs) is trained by Ronnie Shields. The 35-year old Aiken (16-11-1, 12KOs) - who ended a three-year retirement in taking this fight - remains winless since claiming a featherweight belt in 2006, as he is now 0-7-1-1NC over that stretch. 

Brandon Figueroa was given a stiffer test than expected but still prevailed by unanimous decision over Francisco Muro in a four-round battle of 18-year old bantamweights. Scores were 40-36 (twice) and 39-37 in favor of Figueroa (4-0, 2KOs), the baby-faced younger brother of Omar Figueroa Jr., who headlines later this evening. 

Lanell Bellows picked up his eighth straight win, scoring an eight-round unanimous decision over Michael Gbenga (20-24, 20KOs). Scores were 79-72 across the board in favor of Bellows (14-1-1, 7KOs), who fights under the Mayweather Promotions label.

Javier Rodriguez pounded out a unanimous decision over Alejandro Moreno (24-35-3, 11KOs) in a four-round battle of super bantamweights. Scores were 40-36 (twice) and 39-37 in favor of Rodriguez (14-2-1, 2KOs), a 21-year old from San Antonio who hopes to use this fight as a springboard after having dropped two of his previous three starts.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox