The Times is ringside tonight at Staples Center, as the pay-per-view undercard to theShane Mosley-Sergio Morajunior-middleweight main event is underway. Here are the results so far:
Mexico’sSaul“Canelo”Alvarezshowed the promise that caused his fans to erupt in applause as he entered the ring by leaving it with an assassin-like sixth-round attack of veteran former world welterweight championCarlos Baldomir.
Alvarez (34-0-1, 26 KOs) belted the 39-year-old Baldomir with a few impressive counter-punches and other selections through five rounds in which the 20-year-old’s former Miss Mexico girlfriend,Marisol Gonzalez, generated more ringside conversation than the fight.
In the sixth, Guadalajara’s Alvarez got everyone’s mind out of the gutter by turning his junior-middleweight bout into a street fight with consecutive overhand rights followed by a hard right that got Baldomir’s attention. Earlier in the bout, Baldomir had tapped on his chin after a clean Alvarez shot to show it couldhandle a pounding.
Alvarez wanted to prove he could handle a former world champ, and he did by delivering a big right and a left hook that might be the sport’s knockout of the year. Baldomir had started throwing a right when struck, and he collapsed to the canvas at the 2:58 mark. Baldomir (45-13-6) hadn’t been knocked out since 1994.
“It’s true that he hits hard … really hard,” Baldomir said. “His power really surprised me. This kid is the real deal and he’s going to be a champion. No one has hit me like this kid hit me.”
That credibility in the U.S. heaps the attention upon Alvarez has in Mexico, where he has packed venues and draws staggering television ratings. He’ll return to the welterweight division next.
“This is for Mexico and all of my fans,” Alvarez said. “He wasn’t very fast. That was a favor for me. I want to be a world champion. I want to be the best in the world.”
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Ventura’sVictor Ortizclaimed the sensational victory he needed overVivian Harrisat Staples a year after he wilted in his main-event loss at the arena to junior-welterweightMarcos Maidana.
The 23-year-old Ortiz (28-2-1, 22 knockouts) knocked the veteran Harris (29-5-1) down three times in the second round before dropping him for good with a hard right uppercut 45 seconds into the third round.
In the second round, Ortiz dropped Harris with rapid-fire left hands, then knocked him down again with a right hand to the head. Ortiz tried to finish former world champion with a combination that dropped him, but Harris rose to survive the bell– a moral victory at best.
Ortiz, jeered by fans after his Maidana as not a“real Mexican,” rallied to adoring support after Saturday’s showing, eliciting cheers and ensuring he’ll remain a major player in boxing’s best division: junior-welterweight.
“The fans love me or hate me,” Ortiz said. “Hopefully, they love me now.
“I progressed and learned a lot since the fight with Maidana and I still want him, wherever he is. I’m not dodging anyone. I’m ready for everyone.”
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Mexico'sDaniel Ponce De LeonhammeredAntonio Escalantewith a brutal right to the jaw, winning by third-round knockout in an outcome that leaves him poised as the mandatory challenger to world featherweight championJuan Manuel Lopez.
The southpaw Ponce De Leon (40-2, 32 knockouts) usually dismisses foes with his lefts. After landing two clean lefts, he belted Escalante (23-3) with the clean right, sending him to the canvas at the 2:40 mark of the third round.
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East Los Angeles'Frankie Gomez, 18, improved to 6-0 with six knockouts with a third-round knockout ofRicardo Calazada.
Mosley and Mora are in the building, and we'll update the action at key points, with The Times'John Cherwaready to file round-by-round updates when Mosley-Mora begins.
--Lance Pugmire
Photo: Victor Ortiz goes on the attack against Vivian Harris on Saturday night at Staples Center. Credit: Harry How / Getty Images
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