Omar Salcido picked up the most important win of his profession tonight in a ProBox most important occasion, overwhelming Chris Colbert and forcing a ninth spherical nook stoppage.
Pre-fight Colbert appeared dialed in and prepared for enterprise, with no creamsicle haircut or wild trunks. However Salcido (20-1, 14 KO) set the tone early, popping Colbert with an enormous left to the top instantly. Salcido was very hittable, however the distinction in energy made Colbert’s greatest work look virtually meaningless.
Colbert (17-3, 6 KO) tried to hold in and commerce, however had largely deserted that technique by the center of the 4th spherical. His greatest work was footwork, utilizing motion to drive Salcido to chase all evening, seldom getting cornered and refusing to let Salcido minimize off the ring.
Salcido damage Colbert badly on the finish of the sixth spherical, and Colbert’s stability by no means appeared absolutely regular once more. Colbert’s nook threatened to cease the combat throughout at the very least two totally different spherical breaks. Referee Michael DeJesus warned Colbert for holding within the ninth spherical, and Colbert’s nook adopted via on their phrase and stopped the combat not lengthy after.
It’s a devastating loss for Colbert, who has now dropped three of his final 4 fights, with just one win out of the final 39 months of his profession. He’s appeared very fragile at 135 kilos, and even a comparatively unpolished Salcido was in a position to chase him across the ring and break him down.
As for Salcido, he delivers one other fan-friendly motion efficiency, and exits with a reputation-boosting win over a former (interim) champion. Only one yr after making his US debut, he’s established himself as an entertaining, credible, however flawed and doubtlessly beatable opponent for any variety of lightweights in search of marketable fights.
Tsendbaatar Erdenebat UD-10 Frency Fortunato
Dominant displaying from Erdenebat (11-0, 5 KO), who was relentless all through. Fixed ahead motion and aggressive combos excessive and low established a tone early, and a conflict of heads with a minute to go within the 2nd spherical might have saved Fortunato. Erdenebat landed a simultaneous imply left hook to the physique, however the unintended head conflict purchased Fortunato a while to get better.
Fortunato (15-2, 11 KO) couldn’t preserve Erdenebat away, resorting to a low blow on the finish of the 4th spherical that earned him a harsh warning. If there’s a knock on Erdenebat’s efficiency, it’s an lack of ability to complete up early. Presumably, the one-shot ending energy simply isn’t there, as Erdenebat spent the later rounds clowning a bit, blowing kisses between missed punches from Fortunato as a substitute of urgent him for a knockout. Judges rightly had it extensive for Erdenebat, with official scores of 98-92, 98-92, and 100-90.
Najee Lopez KO-3 Ismael Ocles
Recreation effort from Ocles, who was a final minute substitute that got here in considerably smaller and was clearly feeling Lopez’s energy even on blocked punches. Lopez (12-0, 9 KO) put him down for good on a physique shot early within the third. Ocles (15-17-2, 3 KO) took the complete 10 rely, and was nonetheless wincing minutes later when the end result was formally introduced.
David Navarro UD-8 Mykell Gamble
Wider than anticipated scorecards, however not quite a bit to guage due to how properly Gamble used his attain benefit. Numerous lunging and punches developing quick for Navarro (7-1, 3 KO), however he was a lot busier, and that will have swung rounds his manner. Gamble (7-1, 4 KO) repeatedly misplaced his mouthpiece on massive pictures, lastly taking some extent deduction the third time it occurred. Didn’t actually affect the end result, because the official playing cards of 78-73, 78-83, 77-74 would have been 2-4 factors forward for Navarro even with out it.