Zurdo in a holding patterns

Undefeated WBO super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez made the fourth defense of his title on Saturday night in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma by defeating Alexis Angulo in a twelve-round main event.

That is about where the flattery stops at. Ramirez looked flat getting buzzed, but very inexperienced fighter at the world-class level as well as showing little urgency and/or separation. The end result was a sleepy main event that produced little positive buzz about “Zurdo” as it appears fight fans are somewhat tired of seeing the super middleweight fight against opponents that seemingly have a low chance of dethroning him.

Kudos to Saucedo and Lenny Z

Super lightweight Alex Saucedo of Oklahoma City is a fun fighter to watch and put himself smack dab in the middle of the fight of the year conversation with his seventh-round TKO of Leonardo Zappavigna in his hometown of Oklahoma City.

The two punched each other until one couldn’t stand. Saucedo, who is a prototypical Abel Sanchez fighter coming forward with little head movement, but offensively gifted, found himself in a war with Zappavigna, who is a tremendous puncher.

The third round was a classic as the two stood in front of one and another and tried to figure out who hit harder. The question was answered when a massive swelling that shut Zappavigna’s eye.

Saucedo now is rumored to be in the mix to fight for the WBO super lightweight title against a world champion, Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker.

Alvarado, Mayer, Zavala

Welterweight Mike Alvarado picked up a ninth-round stoppage win on the undercard when a cut stopped the bout from continuing. Alvarado will more than likely face Jose Ramirez later this year if Ramirez makes a successful title defense next week in Fresno, CA.

Future women’s lightweight world champion Mikaela Mayer got a decision win in a six-round bout. Mayer is building up to a title fight for next year.

Tommy Morrison’s son, Trey Lippe Morrison got a third-round TKO in the same place his father use to sell-out years prior.

2016 Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceicao got a third-round stoppage as television swing bout. Conceicao fights in the crowded super featherweight division.

Chris Zavala, who just signed with Top Rank Inc., got a four-round decision in the opening bout.

Michael Conlan, dull at home.

Featherweight Michael Conlan has a rocky relationship with the professional game of boxing as he has had more lows than highs, Conlan’s homecoming to Northern Ireland was more of the same. Conlan went eight rather uneventful rounds with Adeilson Dos Santos.

Conlan, who in the amateurs made headlines after getting robbed by the judges and then flipping them off has found himself relatively out of place in the pros as even in stoppage wins, he doesn’t appear to show separation from the class of opponent until the time of the stoppage.

Ruben Villa’s star shines brightly

Featherweight Ruben Villa of Salinas, CA picked a dominant and violent sixth-round technical knockout in Sacramento, Ca. Villa, a fully faceted fighter who can fight on the inside and the outside, with some of the fastest foot speed in the sport of boxing currently. The blue-chip prospect, Villa is Banner Boxing and Thompson Boxing’s brightest young star and a fighter.

Villa is staying incredibly active and getting closer and closer to fight for a title. The only real question is; when will he use the nickname of “Drac” instead of RV4 in the pros.

The ugly – former friends fight

Heavyweight LaRon Mitchell of San Francisco, Ca lost his junior NABF heavyweight title to former sparring partner Rodney Hernandez is an ugly and awkward fight.

Things were contentious as Mitchell considered Hernandez a friend and also found it offensive that he would take a fight with him. In a fight that I saw as a draw, the majority saw Hernandez outworking Mitchell when they were in close, the fact of the matter was it was clumsy and awkward. Not much happened as it appeared both were fighting off emotion and looking to prove a point as opposed to boxing. Jabs were thrown out the window as the fight took place in cquartersarter with Hernandez picking up the split decision win.

Light heavyweight Ryan “The Rhino” Bourland of Vallejo, CA started the night’s action off right with a decision win. Bourland lost his mother this week and battled emotions during the week to make it to fight night. This was a big win for him given the circumstances.

WBU cruiserweight champion Blake “The Beast” McKernan of Sacramento, CA won once again against Miguel Cubos in a competitive affair.

Lightweight Pedro Moreno of Sacramento, CA picked up a six-round decision over Luis Zarazua in an eight-round bout.

Alberto Torres of Sacramento, CA  as well as super lightweight Maximiliano Becerra both picked up decision wins on the undercard.

Speedy Ellis wins on ESPN

Welterweight Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis continued to do what he has done in recent memory as he clocked in a methodical, but not really noteworthy ten-round decision win over Alberto Mosquera. Ellis did what was needed, but did not show a ton of separation as the fear still remains that once his early speed and power advantage is nullified in later rounds, Ellis has to rely on reflects and tenacity to win bouts.

This bout was on Friday night in Cancun, Mexico.

Joe Smith, Kali Reis win

Former light heavyweight world champion Joe Smith Jr. lived up to his moniker of being one of the hardest hitting punchers in the sport of boxing needing only minutes to stop his foe in the first-round. This was Smith’s first bout after losing his world title to Sullivan Barerra in a bout in which Smith Jr.’s jaw was broken, which I believe is the second time that has happened in his career.

Women’s welterweight and former world champion Kali Reis got a eight-round decision on the undercard as well.