Two undefeated Golden Boy fighters met in a promising main event, Antonio Orozco (26-0, 17 KOs) emerged with his record still unbeaten with a stoppage victory over Keandre Gibson (16-1-1, 7 KOs). Former title challenger Mercito Gesta and two other unbeaten prospects were also in action.
Keandre Gibson looked like he would be in the fight for about a round and a half. He used his lateral movement and quick, clean shots from the outside to at least stay on even footing with his opponent, but a sustained assault on Gibson’s midsection over the second half of the second round changed the tone of the fight for good. From there Gibson was reluctant to let his hands go, instead focusing on protecting his damaged right side of his body. When a chopping right hand dropped him in the fourth, he seemed like he would be okay to continue. However, when veteran referee Russell Mora asked him if he wished to continue, Keandre Gibson apparently indicated otherwise and the fight was appropriately stopped. He did not protest.
One would assume from this that Orozco is near a title shot, but the only organization he is currently ranked highly in is the WBO. That belt is held by Terrance Crawford. Would Golden Boy want to make that fight?
On the televised undercard Mercito Gesta improved to 30-1-2 (16 KOs) by keeping to the outside and tallying points against power punching, but otherwise limited Gilberto Gonzales (26-4, 23 KOs). Gonzales showed his power in the third by hitting Gesta hard enough in the arms and chest to knock him over in a clean knockdown, but otherwise he struggled to land more than one at a time with his crude, winging style. Gesta was just too high level for him and the rightful winner, though it should be noted that two of the three cards were too wide.
Gesta lost a 2012 world title bid to Miguel Vasquez, his only loss to date, and it is not difficult imagining him getting another shot. It is very difficult to imagine him winning one them, however.
Streamed on ESPN3.com were two off-tv preliminary fights. The first of which pitted now 14-0 (9 KOs) Super Bantamweight Emilio Sanchez against Ciudad Juarez journeyman Jose Busto (now 13-8-3, 8 KOs). Sanchez started dominant with two flashy rounds landing at will, but he seemed to tire as the bout went on and it was more competitive down the stretch. He would have righting won the fight on the cards, but he did not have to as he was granted a very questionable stoppage in a the eighth.
Fairing more favorably was now 16-0 (8 KOs) Joet Gonzales, a featherweight prospect who was dominant in route to another kind of weird stoppage on this card over now 13-2-1 (5 KOs) Derrick Murray. Gonzales was dominant bell to bell against his seemingly overwhelmed foe, but Murray was only beginning to get hurt when the fight was stopped in the fifth by Russell Mora.
