Former IBF World Super Lightweight champion Subriel Matias stopped Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela in the eighth round of a title eliminator on Saturday night at the Coliseo Tomas Dones, in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
Matias, 22-2 (22) defeated Valenzuela, 30-4-1 (17) at 2:55 of the eighth round of a scheduled 12 rounds, of an IBF light welterweight title eliminator to determine the mandatory for champion Richardson Hitchins.
In the first round, Matias, a known slow starter, was outjabbed by Valenzuela. In the second round, Matias came out landing left hooks to the chin of Valenzuela. Midway Valenzuela came back well making it a close round. In the third round, Matias had the crowd reacting when he rocked Valenzuela with a left hook midway. Valenzuela returned to using his jab, getting through the round on unsteady legs. In the fourth round, Matias cut Valenzuela’s right eyebrow. Matias worked on the cut in the fifth round and had Valenzuela in trouble throughout.
Matias worked on the cut in the sixth round, causing Valenzuela to fight in spurts. The ring physician checked the cut between rounds with the right eye almost closed. Valenzuela fought back gamely in the seventh round, though losing the round.
In the eighth round, a left from Matias on the head dropped Valenzuela, forcing referee Roberto Ramirez to wave it off.
WBO NABO Super Light champ Alfredo Santiago, 17-2 (8) stopped former southpaw WBA super featherweight champ Javier ‘El Abejon’ Fortuna, 39-6-1 (28) at 0:01 of the ninth round of a scheduled 10 rounds. Santiago scored a knockdown in the eighth round.
In the first round, Fortuna midway landed a left to the chin of Santiago, who seconds later landed a right to the chin. In the final seconds both tumbled to the canvas. In the second round’s midway point, they exchanged punches on one another’s chins, seconds apart. In the final seconds Santiago rocked Fortuna with a right on the chin.
In the fifth round Santiago came back well enough to outwork Fortuna whose right eye was closing. In the sixth round Santiago chased Fortuna who was reluctant to return punches. In the seventh round, after a minute, Fortuna hit Santiago low. Referee Pena gave him time to recover. Santiago came right back after Fortuna ended the round, showboating. Fortuna’s right eye was almost closed.
In the eighth round, Santiago came out midway and dropped Fortuna with a left on the chin for an 8-count from Referee Pena. At the end of the round Fortuna’s corner threw in the towel.
WBA Continental Light welterweight champion Nestor Bravo, 23-1 (16) lost a disputed 10 round split decision to Xolisani ‘Novema the Wasp’ Ndongeni, 33-6 (19).
In the first five rounds, Bravo chased Ndongeni, who countered him well. In the final five rounds, it was back and forth, with Bravo chasing and, for the most part, getting more punches in than Ndongeni in a close fight.
The scores were 95-94, 98-92, Ndongeni, 97-92 Bravo.
Heavyweight Pryce ‘Is Right’ Taylor, 7-0 (5) knocked out southpaw Trevor Kotara, 4-4-1 (1) at 2:12 of the first round of a scheduled six rounds.
In the first round, Taylor dropped Kotara with a left to the body for an 8-count from referee Ramon Pena a minute into the round. Halfway through the round again a body shot from Taylor dropped Kotara for another 8-count. A third knockdown from Taylor ended it.
The Ring Announcer was Pete Trevino, Jr.
Last Updated on 03/01/2025
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