By Steven Cummings
“Gucci” Manny Flores overpowered Jorge Leyva, ending their bantamweight contest at :55 of the fourth round on Thursday night. A firefight between the 118-pounders favored Flores (20-1, 16 KOs) as he knocked Leyva down in round three before dropping him with a body shot in round four. The count was waved off as Leyva was in no condition to continue.
Flores has now won five straight, all five KOs, after suffering his only loss in 2023, a decision loss to Walter Santibanes.
Leyva (18-4, 13 KOs) engaged the heavy-handed Flores and got his share of shots in, reddening the face of his opponent. But the exchanges regularly favored Flores and the Coachella, CA fighter had his man wobbled in the third before sending him to the canvas with a barrage against the ropes.
Leyva went right back into the fire to start round four and the end came quickly. Staying away from Flores’ power shots would have been the adjustment to make after having been on the canvas once already, but that wasn’t in Leyva’s playbook. Flores dug a vicious left hand into the side of Leyva and it was clear his night was done whether he beat the count or not.
The venue was Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, CA with GoldenBoy Promotions putting on the event and DAZN broadcasting.
UNDERCARD
GRANT FLORES (9-0, 7 KOs) KO2 over LAQUAN EVANS (5-4, 2 KOs)
Quick work for Grant Flores. Official time 1:18 or round two.
RUSLAN ABDULLAEV (1-0, 1 KO) vs. JOSE ALVARADO (3-20-1, 2 KOs)
Uzbekistan’s Abdullaev debuts as a pro. Veteran Alvarado fought nine times in 2024 and has this fight and one more scheduled for this month.
Abdullaev landed heavy shots with both hands against the awkward Alvarado. Brutal left hand ends the fight with about 30 seconds left. Good power on display.
FEDERICO PACHECO JR. (8-0, 6 KOs) TKO6 over. ARNUFAL CAZARES (2-5, 2 KOs)
Huge size difference, Cazares much smaller. Moving around and showboating to some extent in front of the massive 270-pound Pacheco Jr. Pacheco not able to reel him in in the first round, missing a lot as Cazares uses head movement to avoid big shots.
Cazares attacks to start the second, Pacheco comes back with a combo that lands. Cazares leaping in and winging punches. Pacheco gets there more, catching Cazares on the way in with head shots.
Cazares rocked the big man with a left in the third, sent him backwards, then jumped on him. Pacheco came back with a thudding left hook to the body and switched the momentum. Both winging power shots. Pacheco’s left to the body is getting it done. Cazares’ leaping left hook is his most consistent weapon.
Round four, Pacheco’s reach is starting to carry the day. Cazares has slowed down with the movement and is taking on more damage as the fight goes on.
Pacheco dialed it in as the fight moved along and Cazares’ corner stopped it in the final round.
JONATHAN CAŇAS (7-0, 2 KOs) UD6 over JESUS PEREZ (14-20-1, 8 KOs)
6 Rounds, Lightweights
Undefeated Caňas takes on veteran Jesus Perez. Perez has lost his last five fights but has 171 rounds professionally compared to Caňas (20).
Early rounds show that Perez is definitely a veteran in there and he’s firing back at the more polished Caňas. A low blow sends Perez down in round three. And again in round four, but no point deduction.
Caňas definitely outpunched Perez over six rounds but he didn’t start rocking him until the last round. He also took some solid right hands coming back. Good step up fight for Caňas. 60-54 X 3 for Jonathan Caňas.
