Pagan Stops Montgomery In 9th-Round War

Joshua Pagan (14-0 (5 KOs) stopped Maliek ‘Mayhem’ Montgomery (20-2 (18 KOs) at 2:44 of the ninth round of a scheduled 12 rounds for the vacant WBO NABO Lightweight title on Thursday night at the Coliseo Pedrin Zorrilla, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Pagan Rises Through Blood and Chaos

In the first two rounds, it was all-action with Montgomery the aggressor having an edge, but cut on the left eyebrow in the final seconds. In the third round, it was more of Montgomery, but the ring physician was called in to check the severe cut covering both fighters.

In the fifth round, Montgomery, having turned southpaw, outlands Pagan for the most part, but his blood is all over both rounds again. In the sixth and seventh rounds, Pagan was having a good round until the final minute when Montgomery attacked the body, hurting Pagan, whose left eyebrow was cut. The Ring Physician again checked the eye of Montgomery between rounds.

Right Uppercut Seals the Finish

In the eighth round, Pagan fought back, having an edge at the end of a bloodbath. In the ninth round during an action round, Pagan landed a right uppercut on the chin of Montgomery as Referee Pena suddenly waved it off due to the cut of Montgomery.

Lozada Outworks Parker in Close Battle

In the co-feature super bantamweight Olympian Ashleyann ‘La Maquina’ Lozada (3-0 (1 KO) defeated Melissa Oddessa Parker (6-4-1 (2 KOs) by an eight-round unanimous decision. In the first three rounds, both fighters exchanged without a break, and Lozado had an edge. In the fourth round’s final minute, Lozada drew blood from the nose of Parker with a right hook.

In the fifth and sixth rounds, Parker kept coming forward, having an edge at the bell. In the seventh round, it was close until the final seconds, Lozado finished stronger. In the eighth and final round, Lozada finished stronger, taking the round.

The scores were 79-73, 80-72, and 80-72. Jose H. Rivera was the referee.

Tapia Scores Knockdown, Stays Perfect

Super Featherweight southpaw Kiria Tapia (8-0 (1 KOs) beat Marianela ‘La Chila’ Soledad Ramirez (13-10-2 (6 KOs) by an eight-round unanimous decision, scoring a knockdown.

In the first two rounds, Ramirez kept coming forward while southpaw Tapia outlanded Ramirez with a jab. In the third through the sixth rounds, Ramirez, coming low, got hit by left and right uppercuts from Tapia.

In the seventh round, Ramirez landed a left hook, and Tapia came back with three punches on the chin. In the eighth and final rounds, in the final seconds, a combination from Tapia drove Ramirez into the ropes with a combination on the chin for an 8-count from Referee Ramon Pena. The scores were 80-72, 80-72, and 80-72, not 80-71, due to a knockdown.

Parrilla Flattens Taylor in Third-Round KO

Featherweight Felix Parrilla (12-0 (10 KOs) knocked out Kenneth ‘The Problem Child’ Taylor (15-6-2 (6 KOs) at 2:38 of the third round of a scheduled eight rounds.

In the first round’s final seconds, while winning the round, Parrilla dropped Taylor with a combination to the chin and a knee to the head for an 8-count from referee Billy Rosario. In the second round, it was all Parrilla. In the third round, a right and left combination dropped Taylor again to a knee for the count from Referee Pena.

The Ring Announcer was Ralph Velez, Jr.