By Luis Sandoval, at ringside

Honda Center, Anaheim, California - Bantamweight Eric Morel (46-2, 23KOs) put on a pedestrian performance against the game Jose Silveira (12-6, 4KOs) of Merida, Mexico. While his performance wasn’t scintillating, it was effective as he controlled the fight with his jab and movement. Silveira tried to impose himself on Morel, but it was Morel who landed the cleaner punches throughout the fight. After 10 rounds, Morel walked away with a unanimous decision victory with scores of 97-93 and 98-92 twice.

Red hot prospect Frankie Gomez (12-0, 9KOs) put his power on display as he knocked out his opponent James Hope (6-9-1, 4KOs) in the 3rd round of their bout. Things started a bit sloppy as there were a few head butts and excessive holding. But Gomez landed a thunderous right hand that rendered Hope unconscious as the referee immediately waived the fight off at 53 seconds of the 3rd round. Hope stayed down for a few minutes after the knockout.

In an entertaining junior welterweight affair, undefeated Carlos Molina (15-0-1, 7KOs) put on an impressive performance against the tough Manuel Leyva (18-4, 10KOs) over ten rounds. Molina started with a measured approach as he picked his spots against Leyva. As the fight progressed, Molina began coming forward and increasing his offensive attack. There were some intense exchanges but it was Molina who was landing the harder cleaner punches. If anything can be said about Leyva is that he was game as he took Molina’s best shots and tried to return fire. In the end it was Molina who walked away with a dominant unanimous decision victory with scores of 100-90 and 99-91 twice.

 

Making his return a year after losing to Andre Ward, Sakio Bika (29-5-2, 20KOs) took on Los Mochis, Mexico native Alfredo Contreras (11-13-2, 5KOs). Bika wasted no time as he came out aggressive and putting pressure on the retreating Contreras. In the third round, both fighters got into a heated exchange with Bika getting the best of it and causing a cut over Contreras’ eye. The fight was stopped after the third as the ring doctor determined Contreras could not continue even though the cut did not appear to be that bad.

Junior middleweight prospect Omar Henry (11-0-1, 9KOs) fought Lester Gonzales (12-5-3, 6KO) to a second round technical draw, after Gonzales suffered an accidental cut above his right eye. The fight was stopped by the doctor at the end of the second round.

Featherweight Richard Contreras (9-0, 8KOs) stopped Juan Sandoval (5-8-1, 3KO) in the fourth round.