Sunny Edwards’ comeback fight ended in a stoppage – just not in the form he would have preferred. Nevertheless, his return fight in the co-main event at the Footprint Center in Phoenix was a successful one on Saturday.
The Coydon, England native Edwards (21-1-0, 4 KOs) was cut by an accidental headbutt from opponent Adrian Curial of Mexico City (24-6-1, 5 KOs) at the end of the sixth round, opening up a giant cut above his right eye. After two more rounds of fighting, the ring doctor rendered the cut too bad for Edwards to continue, stopping the fight before the ninth round.
The fight went to the scorecards, and Edwards earned a well-deserved unanimous decision victory over Curial despite the booing from the partisan Arizona fans. The scorecards read 90-82, 88-84, and 87-85 in Edwards’ favor.
Edwards listened to the boos raining down on him from the fans, and pointed out the early end to the fight wasn’t his doing. “I’m more upset than any of the 10,000 fans in here,” said Edwards. “I thought I was clearly ahead, and I felt my opponent stopping down. I’m disappointed. I thought I was going to get him out of there.”
In the rounds before the stoppage, Edwards proved why he remains one of the top fighters in the flyweight division. Against Curiel and all opponents not named Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, Edwards used his footwork and defense to open up counter shots and peppered Curial at will.
The only drama in the fight was the cut, and whether it was the result of a punch or accidental headbutt. Referee Mark Nelson cleared up this concern immediately.
“I managed to leave Arizona uglier than when I came twice in a row. That wasn’t my intention,” said Edwards as he pointed to the cut.
Return to Form for Sunny Edwards
It was a comeback fight for Edwards after his December defeat to Rodgriguez in Phoenix. While he entered the ring to a chorus of boos the last time, he entered the ring to cheers in this fight, even with the partisan Mexican crowd. However, this time around, the crowd booed Edwards because of the premature ending to the right, at least to their liking.
Mercado Defends Flyweight Title
The seventh flyweight title defense of Yamileth Mercado of Chihuahua, Mexico (24-3-0, 5 KOs) was a successful one, as she defeated Ramla Ali of London (9-2-0, 2 KOs) by unanimous decision. The scorecards were 98-92, 98-93, and 97-93 in Mercado’s favor.
Ali was far too inactive to have a shot in the fight. While she landed some clean shots, it was Mercado’s busier work rate resulted in more shots landing giving her the winning edge.
Cardenas Beats Barrios
In a fight for the WCW Continental Americans super bantamweight fight, Arturo Cardenas of Michocan, Mexico 14-0-1, 8 KOs) defeated Danny Berrios of Glendale, Arizona (15-1-0, 5 KOs) by majority decision. The scorecards read 95-95, 97-93, and 96-94.
Barrios started off the fight strong, landing clean power shots and making Cardena miss most of his power punches. As the fight went on, Barrios still landed consistently, but Cardenas was able to put together combination punching to turn the tide in his favor.
For every punch Barrios landed, Cardenas was able to land two or clean punches of his own.
At the end of the ninth round, Barrios began to move. Cardenas responded by challenging him to fight in the middle of the ring. Barrios refused, and was met with a chorus of boos from his hometown fans. Barrios kept on the move and was met with the same disdain by the fans.
Undercard Wins For Muratalla, Rojo, and Rubalcava
Gabriel Muratalla of Fontana, California (12-0, 6 KOs) earned a unanimous decision victory over veteran Carlos Fontes of Hermosillo, Mexico (23-4-1, 19 KOs) in an eight-round bantamweight contest. The scorecards read 79-73, 78-74, and 77-75 in favor of Muratalla.
Neither fighter was ever in danger of hitting the canvas, but Muratalla landed cleaner shots at a far more consistent rate in the fight.
In welterweight action, Fabian Rojo of Phoenix (9-0, 7 KOs) brought the raucous hometown crowd to its feet with a one-sided destruction of Daniel Gonzalez of Albuquerque, New Mexico (5-2, 2 KOs). Rojo ended the action early at 1:13 of the second round, finishing matters with a left hand to the face of an already-staggering Gonzalez.
Rojo knocked Gonzalez once in the first round, and twice in the second. He overwhelmed Gonzalez with left-handed power punches the entire fight.
Chants of “Leo, Leo” filled the air in the opening contest, as newly-signed Matchroom super lightweight prospect Leonardo Rubacava of Jalisco, Mexico (8-0, 3 KOs) earned a six-round decision over William Flenoy of Fresno, California (3-4-1, 1 KO). Scores read 60-54, and 59-53 twice for the 21-year-old Rubalcava.