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The PPV card is underway in Las Vegas, and we started with a good one, as Carlos Castro dropped and stopped Oscar Escandon in the 10th and final round of their featherweight battle.
Castro (27-0, 12 KO) had a couple of scares in the opening round, as the veteran Escandon (26-6, 18 KO) definitely rocked him a couple of times, once early and then again right before the bell to end the first.
But the 27-year-old Castro settled into the fight nicely as the rounds wore on, out-landing Escandon, 37, and not giving the rugged Colombian the chances to stand and trade, as Castro figured out very quickly that was his worst possible idea, as much as he might love to get into a tear-up.
Escandon, who was also giving up about six inches of height here, plugged away as best he could, trying to use body work to get Castro to slow down, but it didn’t work out. Castro boxed off the back foot pretty nicely, used Escandon’s aggression against him at times, and then finally dropped him with a great attack, with the official time of stoppage 1:08 of round 10.
The win does give Castro — who has also campaigned at 122 — a minor WBC trinket at 126 lbs, which could be the indication he plans to stick at featherweight and make his first serious career moves in that division. That belt will give him some rankings pull with the WBC.
Óscar Escandón's left hook buckles Carlos Castro at the end of RD1!
— FOX Sports: PBC (@PBConFOX) August 22, 2021
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Óscar Escandón showing no quit in RD7!
— FOX Sports: PBC (@PBConFOX) August 22, 2021
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