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Tonight at 10:30 pm ET on ESPN, it’s a world title doubleheader from Glendale, Arizona, as Ray Beltran and Isaac Dogboe put their belts on the line.
Beltran (35-7-1, 21 KO) defends his WBO lightweight title in the main event, facing former super featherweight titleholder Jose Pedraza (24-1, 12 KO), with a fight against Vasyl Lomachenko in December likely on the line along with the belt.
The 37-year-old Beltran scratched and clawed his way to a world title, beating Paulus Moses for the vacant strap in February of this year. Pedraza, 29, has won two straight since moving up to 135, following a loss to Gervonta Davis in 2017.
In the co-feature, Dogboe (19-0, 13 KO) returns for his first WBO super bantamweight title defense, after winning the title from Jessie Magdaleno in an action fight on April 28. The 23-year-old Ghanaian will face 37-year-old veteran challenger Hidenori Otake (31-2-3, 14 KO) of Japan.
Wil Esco will be on the round-by-round call. Join us!
RESULTS
- JOSE PEDRAZA def. RAY BELTRAN by UD (117-110, 117-110, 115-112)
- MIKAELA MAYER def. EDINA KISS by TKO (End of Round 3)
- ISAAC DOGBOE def. HIDENORI OTAKE by TKO (2:18 of Round 1)
ROUND BY ROUND
RAY BELTRAN vs JOSE PEDRAZA
Round 1: Beltran comes out to center ring and measure with a couple pawing jabs. Pedraza tries to jab to the body. Pedraza lands the jab squarely this time as Beltran paws his nose. Beltran lands a right hand to the body. A couple more jabs to the body lands for Pedraza. Jab upstairs lands for Pedraza this time. I think Pedraza takes the opening frame. Pedraza 10-9.
Round 2: Beltran takes the lead with the jab this time and comes out in a much more aggressive posture, looking to get in close on Pedraza. Both fighters trade shots and Pedraza tries to back off and manages to land a nice left to the body. Beltran continues to stalk and partially lands a left uppercut. Beltran is cut over his left eye. Jab lands for Pedraza, then another one, then another one. Beltran lands a grazing left but Pedraza moves his head off center. Right hand lands for Beltran towards the end of the round but I think Pedraza edges it, particularly due to the cutting Beltran’s face. Pedraza 10-9, 20-18.
Round 3: Pedraza comes out and switches to an orthodox stance after fighting southpaw to start. Now Pedraza quickly goes back southpaw and lands a couple jabs. Beltran having real difficulty evading Pedraza’s jab from the southpaw stance. Pedraza touches that left eye with a couple more shots on Beltran’s bleeding eye. Beltran tries to sneak in some short shots but he’s not getting off much. Beltran lines up a big right hand but it can’t find the target. I still got Pedraza outboxing Beltran. Pedraza 10-9.
Round 4: Beltran comes out going rifht after Pedraza and looking to rough him up a little. Pedraza is able to smother most of Beltran’s work but that’s what Beltran wants to do to turn the tide in this fight. Two body shots lands for Pedraza. Beltran eats a jab and misses on the return right hand. Now Beltran lands the right hand on Pedraza. Another right hand lands for Beltran who is pushing forward and applying more pressure on Pedraza. Short combination lands for Beltran. Beltran 10-9, 37-39.
Round 5: Beltran comes out again and tries to find his effective range on Pedraza. Both fighters throwing a lot of feints as Pedraza picks up his rhythm. Left-right combination lands for Beltran. A couple jabs land clean for Pedraza, followed by a right hand. Fighters are both trying to exchange shots at mid-range but neither are terribly effective but Beltran is forcing the action. Close round, I edge to Beltran ever so slightly. Beltran 10-9.
Round 6: Beltran stalks and lands a jab, then a left to the body. Pedraza tries to bury his head in Beltran’s chest but takes a couple body shots for his trouble. Now Pedraza is making a real effort to push Beltran back, trying to break up his forward momentum. He’s working a little but he has to be careful to avoid any well-placed counters from Beltran. Two short shots land for Pedraza. Now both fighters are trading shots on the inside but Pedraza is pushing Beltran backwards. Pedraza 10-9, 58-56.
Round 7: Beltran comes out and lands a right hand and Pedraza is forced to throw back to fight Beltran off of him. Jab lands for Pedraza, then another one. Beltran misses on three straight punches. Beltran jumps forward and lands a left hook upstairs. Sharp jab lands again for Pedraza who is timing Beltran as he walks in. Leaping left hook partially lands for Beltran. Beltran 10-9.
Round 8: Beltran catches a jab to start the round, then walks forward as he tries to get Pedraza in his sights. Right hand lead lands for Beltran, then another one as a counter. Beltran lands a hard left hook to the body as Pedraza lands a right hook to the head. Beltran slips a shot and walks in with a couple punches that don’t land clean. Beltran’s face is looking more and more like a mess to be honest, and Pedraza’s looks clear. That could influence the judges. Beltran 10-9, 76-76.
Round 9: Beltran lands a right uppercut to the body as a counter shot. Belttran lands a left hook to the body as the fighters get tangled up. Pedraza whips off a few shots once he gets caught in the corner and Beltran just moves his head and maintains his composure. Nice right hand lands for Beltran. Pedraza lands a sharp jab and body shot off a break and I think that takes the round for him. Pedraza 10-9.
Round 10: Pedraza lands a jab, trying to keep Beltran at arm’s reach. Hard left uppercut to the body lands for Pedraza. Pedraza poking with the jab again at center ring so that he can measure his other punches. Right hand lead lands for Beltran. Beltran tries to land another but Pedraza is able to duck it this time. Hard jab and check hook lands for Pedraza as Beltran walks in. Pedraza 10-9, 96-94.
Round 11: Jab picks off Beltran as he tries to march in on Pedraza. Now Beltran lands a left hook to the body and Pedraza circles the ropes. Pedraza tries a jab on the outside and Beltran tries to counter with a left hook of his own. BIG LEFT UPPERCUT FROM PEDRAZA CATCHES BELTRAN WALKING IN AND DROPS HIM! Beltran beats the count but he’s hurt and Pedraza is trying to pour it on. Pedraza 10-8.
Round 12: The fighters touch gloves for the final round. Pedraza pokes with a jab and catches Beltran in the mouth with it the next time. Another sharp jab snaps Beltran’s head. Beltran looks a little defeated in his eyes but he’s still going through the motions. Beltran throws a left to the body and Pedraza lands a right hand upstairs. Another jab scores for Pedraza at mid-range. Beltran mounts an attack but Pedraza is able to easily escape it. Now Pedraza comes forward and tries a hook along the ropes. and gets Beltran in the corner and assaults him through the final bell! Pedraza 10-9. I’ve got it scored for Pedraza, 116-111.
MIKAELA MAYER vs EDINA KISS
Round 1: Mayer starts with a feint followed by a couple long jabs. Now Mayer lands a straight right Kiss finds herself on the deck! Kiss beats the count but takes a few more hard punches from Mayer who is beating Kiss up comprehensively. Another right hand stuns Kiss who is just trying to keep from getting hurt. Mayer 10-8.
Round 2: Mayer double jabs and backs Kiss to the ropes. Kiss is nearly running backwards to keep as much distance from Mayer as possible — this is what it feels like when you throw a mouse into a snake pit. Left hook lands for Mayer followed by another long left jab. Mayer 10-9, 20-17.
Round 3: Mayer stalks Kiss to the corner then plants a left jab on her face. Right hand lands clean for Mayer. Kiss turns right into another right hand and Mayer throws a quick flurry to the body. Right hand to the body lands for Mayer now and Kiss holds on. Mayer 10-9.
Fight stopped in between rounds. Mayer TKO-3.
ISAAC DOGBOE vs HIDENORI OTAKE
Round 1: Otake starts with a double left hand to which Dogboe responds with an uppercut. Otake throws a number of more punches but Dogboe is game and is willing to mix it up early, responding with a flurry of his own. This fight is a slugfest already. HUGE LEFT HAND DROPS OTAKE! Otake beats the count but Dogboe follows up with a overhand right hand that forces another count! Dogboe continues to assault Otake with impunity and we have a first round stoppage. Dogboe TKO-1.