In the main event of an HBO Boxing “Boxing After Dark” Telecast, we saw a slow-paced main event as lesser-known Lucas Matthysse (39-4 36KOs) knocked out Tewa Kiram (38-1 28KOs) in a fight Matthysse lost every round up until the fateful stoppage in the eighth round. Kiram used his length and size to frustrate Matthysse, who couldn’t get past Kiram’s jab. Kiram kept Matthysse out of the pocket and frustrated, early and often as Matthysse never really had moments of success at any point as the fight just saw the fight as Kiram jabbing and Matthysse struggling to get by. The eighth round turned the tide as Matthysse knocked Kiram down twice, the second time Kiram did not get to his feet and in fact needed to be stretchered away from the ring.

WBA lightweight champion Jorge Linares (43-3 27KOs) overcome some early adversity to defeat game challenger Mercito Gesta (31-2-2 17KOs) in a competitive affair in the co-main event. Gesta, who started strong rising to the occusasion found frustrations with the elusive target of Linares, who was also much quicker. Quite simply at range, Linares was too fast and as the fight progressed, Gesta struggled to close the distance effectively. Linares had blood sprinkle from his right eye in the eighth round, but it did not affect him.

The judges saw the bout 118-110, 118-110 and 117-111 for Jorge Linares

Undercard results

Welterweight Marcelino Lopez (34-2-1, 19 KOs) stopped a game, but past prime Breidis Prescott (30-12, 22 KOs) to pick a fifth round knockout

Filipino lightweight Romero Duno (16-1, 14 KOs) made quick work of Yardely Armenta (21-10, 12 KOs) by stopping him a little after the first minute of the first round.

Francisco Vargas-trained Francisco Esparza (7-0-1 3KOs) handed-out a one-sided beating by way of to a sixth-round stoppage of Tenochtitlan Nava (7-1 1KO) in a featherweight bout.

Ferdinand “Lucky Boy” Kerobyan (8-0, 4 KOs) defeated  Lucius Johnson (4-2-1, 3 KOs) in a six-round super welterweight bout despite getting hurt late in the fight.

Middleweight Daquan Pauldo (formerly Daquan Arnett) picked up a unanimous decision over  Osbaldo Gonzalez.

The opening bout saw Javier Martinez (5-0, 3 KOs) pick-up a hard-fought decision over Danny Flores (11-10-1, 5 KOs).