It was shaping up to be a nail-biting thriller, and that’s exactly what happened at the Footprint Centre in Phoenix, Arizona, when Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez regained his WBC super flyweight title with a stunning seventh-round knockout of Juan Francisco Estrada, despite having to go down during the fight.

In the first match, Rodriguez took to his task early, throwing combinations in a tactical session. Rodriguez’s footwork caused problems for Estrada, allowing him to score on several unanswered shots in the third round that Estrada couldn’t find an answer to.

Rodriguez made the breakthrough in the fourth round when a brilliant three-punch combination floored the Mexican. Estrada survived the count but wobbled again, surviving a round in which he started with a massive punch.

That led to Rodriguez finishing in fifth, landing a few more combinations as he went blind, but his steady progress was halted a round later when Estrada’s combination dropped the Texan to the canvas.

It was more of a lightning-quick takedown that refocused Rodriguez, who closed the show in the seventh round in some style. A wild left hook to the body crumpled on impact and Estrada writhed in agony, and the fight was stopped midway through the count.

Edwards returns to form despite cuts

The preliminary event saw the return of the previously mentioned Clear Edwards (21-1, 4 KOs), who defeated Adrian Curiel (24-6-1, 5 KOs) via technical decision in the flyweight division.

Edwards dominated the main event, but an accidental headbutt in the sixth round left him with a nasty gash on his forehead, and the fight went to the cards in the ninth round. The Englishman was declared the winner by scores of 90-82, 88-84 and 87-85.

Ali can’t handle Mercado

Yamileth Mercado (24-3, 5 KOs) defended her WBC super bantamweight title for the seventh time and proved too experienced and tricky for Ramla Ali (9-2, 2 KOs) to score in their encounter, Mercado outscoring the handy winner by scores of 98-92, 98-93 and 97-93, although the fight was much closer than the scorecards suggested.

Further summary of the initial stages:

Arturo Cardenas (14-0-1, 8 KO) defended his WBC Continental Americas super bantamweight title with a majority decision victory over Danny Barrios Flores (15-1, 5 KO). The 95-95 score was replaced by Cardenas scores of 97-93 and 96-94.

In the bantamweight division, Gabriel Muratalla (12-0, 6 KO) won his eighth victory over Carlos Fontes (23-4-1, 19 KO). Scores of 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75 ensured Muratalli remained undefeated.

Welterweight Fabian Rojo (9-0, 7 KO) demolished Daniel Gonzalez (5-2, 2 KO) in two rounds, while super lightweight Leonardo Rubalcava (8-0, 3 KO) scored a decisive points victory over William Flenoy (3-4-1, 1 KO) in six rounds.

Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of the legendary Muhammad Ali, boldly challenged Teofimo Lopez, the WBO junior welterweight champion, accusing Lopez of insulting his legacy. The 23-year-old boxer not only triumphed over Sona Akele via unanimous decision in her fight this weekend, but also turned down huge amounts of money to step into the ring with social media phenom turned boxer Jake Paul.

In an impassioned statement, Ali Walsh expressed his dismay at Lopez’s comments: “One thing I need to make clear, Teofimo Lopez said in an interview a few weeks before this fight that he was disrespectful to my family by saying that I am only in boxing because I am money and fame and I thought it was really inappropriate for someone I admired,” Walsh revealed.

He continued to define his journey in the world of boxing, dismissing any notions of pursuing money or clout: “But you know, that’s what it is. I just want everyone to know that I chose the path of boxing, I chose the path of legacy.

“I could be a millionaire right now if I wanted to. Before this fight, I turned down a multi-million dollar contract with MVP Promotions to fight Jake Paul, and today I’m fighting a real fighter. I’m not part of this circus league of boxing, and that’s what I’m going to do.

Jake Paul himself joined the fray, mocking Ali Walsh’s claims on social media. He labeled him a imitation and undercut Walsh’s complaint with further criticism: “Exactly. All his attention is working against him,” Paul wrote.

He then ridiculed: “I tried to fight this scam and now he admitted he was avoiding me by calling me a circus performer. He gave me the decision tonight because of his name. I shook my head.”

Walsh was met with jeers during his post-fight interview at the James L. Knight Center, and Akele was supported by a forceful group. Despite battling a shoulder injury, Walsh defeated his opponent.

“I don’t know what happened. I’ve never been through anything like that and it came out, but I survived and I definitely beat him,” Walsh noted of his injury.

“I don’t know what’s got him so worked up. I feel like if it happened to him, he’d cry like a baby, sit on the ground and quit the fight, but it happened to the right person and I’m just content I won. I feel like I’m winning twice now because the first time they gave him a decision, but I felt like I won.”

A trilogy between Walsh and Akele could be in the cards. “I feel like I’ve beaten him twice now, but if this fight doesn’t prove it, I’ll fight absolutely anyone,” Akele said.

Teofimo Lopez defended his WBO super lightweight title for the second time at the James L. Knight Center in Miami Beach, defeating Steve Claggett for a crushing twelve-round points victory.

Claggett tried to impose himself in the early rounds, but although he was the aggressor, Lopez constantly counterattacked and outboxed the challenger. Lopez maintained this pattern throughout the fight, and in the fifth fight, he countered Claggett with several uppercuts, then fought mostly from the ropes, fending off any attacks Claggett could muster before the championship rounds.

In the tenth set, Lopez landed at least four right hands to the head of his opponent, and another right hand a round later bloodied the nose of Claggett, who had long been racing to win. He never stopped trying, however, and in the final frame landed a solid left hand that was probably his best of the fight, but the result was academic as both were exposed.

Two scores of 120-108 and a third of 119-109 reflected dominance for Lopez, who will be hoping to step into a gigantic fight next time out.

Ramirez returns in devastating form

Robeisy Ramirez (14-2, 8 KO) returned from his last loss of the WBO featherweight title, and the Cuban scored in the seventh round against Brandon Leon Benitez (21-3, 9 KO) to win the vacant WBO NABO title. A huge uppercut dropped Benitez to the canvas and everything at sea, and the fight ended spectacularly.

Santana finally hears the final bell

Also in the featherweight division, Yan Santana (12-0, 11 KO) went the distance for the first time in his career, and the Dominican defeated Brandon Valdes (15-5, 7 KO) and secured a comfortable points victory. Santana won by scores of 98-91 (twice) and 96-93.

Full Undercard Summary

Super lightweight prospects Elvis Rodriguez (16-1-1, 13 KOs) and Jino Rodrigo (12-4-2, 10 KOs) both went down in the first round of their clash, but it was Rodriguez who came out on top over the course of ten rounds, winning by two scores of 98-91 and a third by a score of 97-92.

In eight-round fights, welterweight hope Rohan Polanco (13-0, 8 KO) defeated Luis Hernandez Ramos (23-5, 20 KO) in two rounds, and in the middleweight division Euri Cedeno (9-0-1, 8 KO) needed less than minutes to knock out Dormedes Potes (14-7-1, 10 KO).

in six rounds Nico Ali Walsh (10-1, 5 KO) took revenge for his only defeat in his career, scoring points in six rounds against Sona Akale (9-2, 4 KO), where he knocked down Ali in the third round. Walsh’s favor decided about their middleweight fight.

Emiliano Vargas (11-0, 9 KO) scored another quick victory, this time against Jose Zaragoza (9-9-2, 3 KO), needing just over 90 seconds to win their super lightweight fight. In the heavyweight division, Lorenzo Medina (11-0, (9 KO) was forced to go the distance against Detrailous Webster (7-4, 3 KO), winning wide on the card.