Luis Ortiz – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Abner Mares has to settle for draw with Miguel Flores in return from four-year hiatus

Abner Mares had to settle for a draw with Miguel Flores in his return to the ring after four-year hiatus Saturday in Los Angeles.

Abner Mares didn’t get the result he had hoped for in his comeback after four years away from the sport.

The former three-division titleholder and Miguel Flores fought to a majority draw in a 10-round lightweight bout on the Andy Ruiz Jr.-Luis Ortiz card Saturday in Los Angeles.

One judges scored it for Mares, 96-94. The other two had it 95-95.

Mares (31-3-2, 15 KOs) got off to a quick start, particularly in a dominating Round 3. In that frame he landed one overhand right after another and seemed to hurt Flores (25-4-1, 13 KOs).

At that moment it seemed as if Mares would deliver a sensational performance.

However, inexplicably, he shifted into a stick-and-move-and-hold mode beginning in Round 4, which gave the more aggressive Flores a chance to climb back into the fight.

Flores seemed to outwork Mares in the second half of the fight to pull even with him on the cards.

Still, Mares thought he did enough to get the nod.

“Obviously it had been over four years, so I was a little off with my timing and a little sluggish,” he said. “But I felt good, and I thought I was landing the more powerful shots throughout.”

Added the Los Angeles-area resident: “After four years away I did enough to beat a young kid and an active fighter. My performance speaks for itself. The crowd was happy and it felt good to be home.

“I definitely felt like I won, but it is what it is. The judges saw a draw.”

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Edwin De Los Santos overwhelms, stops Jose Valenzuela in third round

Edwin De Los Santos overwhelmed and then stopped Jose Valenzuela in the third round Sunday in Los Angeles.

Edwin De Los Santos was too much for Jose Valenzuela from the opening bell.

The Dominican lightweight prospect landed hard, accurate shots almost at will, put his Mexican opponent down twice and stopped him at 1:08 of the third round of a scheduled 10-rounder on the Andy Ruiz Jr.-Luis Ortiz card Sunday in Los Angeles.

De Los Santos (15-1, 14 KOs) was able to connect with his quick, punishing jab and sharp combinations from the opening bell, which put Valenzuela (12-1, 8 KOs) on his heels.

The Mexican fought bravely but couldn’t avoid De Los Santos’ punches or land enough to his own to turn the tide.

The second round was wild, as both fighters went down. De Los Santos also lost a point for punching Valenzuela while he was down.

None of that mattered, however, Valenzuela was clearly hurt as the bell rang for the start of Round 3. And De Los Santos took advantage, putting Valenzuela down once more.

Valenzuela was able to get to his feet but he was in trouble. All it took for a hard combination to his head to convince referee Ray Corona to stop the fight.

De Los Santos hopes that the movers and shakers in boxing took notice.

“I came in against a ranked fighter tonight and I was up for the task,” he said. “Now I want the same name that everyone wants. I want Gervonta Davis.”

Valenzuela, a rising contender, will now have to rebuild.

“I didn’t expect De Los Santos to be as aggressive as he was in the fight,” he said. “He gave it out as he good as he took. I just want to focus on getting back in the ring and redeeming myself.”

[lawrence-related id=32477,32473,32455,32452]

Edwin De Los Santos overwhelms, stops Jose Valenzuela in third round

Edwin De Los Santos overwhelmed and then stopped Jose Valenzuela in the third round Sunday in Los Angeles.