Former WBC super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo (32-1, 16 KOs) got off to a slow start before brutally knocking out Jorge Cota (28-4, 25 KOs) in the third round on Sunday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The bout was even until the third round, but Cota slowed down just enough for Charlo’s big right hand to land behind a double jab and that was a game changer. The referee allowed Cota to continue as he was highlight reeled moments later at 2:14 of the third round.

This was Charlo’s first bout since losing his world title in December to Tony Harrison. Harrison was injured a few weeks ago, and pulled out of the bout which prompted Jorge Cota to fill-in.

Unbeaten super welterweight prospect Joey Spencer (8-0, 6 KOs) faced adversity and took some punches in his six-round win over Akeem Black (5-3, 2 KOs). The judges saw the bout 59-55 on all three card

The WBC super bantamweight elimination saw lineal super bantamweight world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (19-1, 13 KOs) dazzle the crowd with an eighth-round TKO over Julio Ceja (32-3, 28 KOs). The fight was bizarre as the decorated Cuban gold medalist, Rigondeaux opted to fight Ceja in the pocket and seemingly was losing the bout. The finish was bizarre as both fighters got a point taken away in the eighth round only for Rigondeaux to land a game-changing punch that sent Ceja to the canvas. Ceja beat the count and appear okay to continue, but referee Russell Mora decided Ceja couldn’t continue and waived it off at 2:59 of the eighth round

Rigondeaux is now the number one contender to face WBC super bantamweight world champion Rey Vargas.

Lightweight Chris Colbert (12-0, 4 KOs) shutout Alberto Mercado (16-3-1, 3 KOs) over the course of eight rounds. The judges had it 80-72 on all three cards.

Welterweight Jesús Ramos (10-0, 9 KOs) went the full duration of a fight for the first time in his career going all four rounds with Kevin Shacks (3-4-3, 3 KOs). The judges saw it 40-36 for Ramos.