Showtime's tripleheader:
Nonito Donaire TKO-8 Luis Maldonado -- Donaire looked sharp again, but Maldonado was very game, fighting through blood on the corners of both eyes. Donaire put Maldonado down in the seventh, then the fight was stopped the next round with Maldonado reeling badly. I had Donaire ahead 69-62 at the time of stoppage.
Vernon Forrest TKO-11 Michele Piccirillo -- Forrest knocked Piccirillo down in the sixth (it was a shot to the back of the head, but ruled a knockdown), the ninth, and the 11th. Piccirillo fought tough, but was never in the fight. I had Forrest up 100-88 when it was stopped. Piccirillo also hurt his ankle or foot on the fall in the 11th, and I hope he's OK. But Forrest looked good tonight, breaking down a very competent fighter and owning him with beautiful feints and a heavy right hand. Forrest-Mayorga III would interest me.
Antonio Tarver TKO-4 Danny Santiago -- Horrible fight. Tarver looked God awful out there, but it was against an absolute zero of a fighter, so he was never in trouble. I had him up 3-0 before some body work put Santiago out. Steve Smoger stopped it on the second knockdown of the fourth round, and I, as a spectator, thank him. After the fight, Tarver rambled about how it was time for people to step up to the plate and fight him, since he rules the division. Bernard Hopkins might have actually beaten Tarver senseless last year.
Top Rank PPV:
Jorge Arce KO-1 Medgoen Singsurat
Mike Alvarado TKO-1 Michael Clark
Ivan Calderon UD-12 Juan Esquer
Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. KO-6 Ray Sanchez
This went as I expected. I thought Arce would destroy Singsurat, and he did. I figured Calderon would win another UD, and he did. I figured Chavez would score a mid-rounds knockout, and he did.
What comes next here? I want to see Calderon against Ulises Solis. We know Chavez will face Alfonso Gomez on HBO in April. And Arce always has options because he's exciting and beatable.
Other Results:
Panama City: Celestino Caballero TKO-8 Mauricio Pastrana
Montreal: Sebastien Demers UD-12 Mohammed Said
Araneta Coliseum: Rey Bautista UD-12 Antonio Meza
Bautista challenged Daniel Ponce de Leon to a rematch immediately afterward, which I don't think is a good idea at all. Leave it alone, Rey, you're 21. You've got time.