04:16:49
BARRIOS TAKES IT BY 12-ROUND UD
This fight is over. Barrios did what he had to do, but at 4 a.m. it was pretty heavy going. No knock on the fight favourite, who conserved his energy, protected his damaged eye and preserved his winning streak.
The onus was really on the visitor to push the action. Fabian Maidana may never receive an opportunity on this stage again. He let it slip by doing next to nothing and the final totals show just how near he was to forcing a fight.
All three judges, Max DeLuca, Glenn Feldman and David Hudson, posted identical scorecards of 116-111. Pretty close.
03:49:46
MAIDANA LEAVING IT TO CHANCE
Halfway through the fight, Bob Santos calls for more bodywork in the Barrios corner. The jab is key for Mario as he dictates range.
Maidana occasionally throws flurries of his own, but they’re few and far between. Maidana gives the impression that he could be a problem if he just let the hands go. So far, it’s conservative counterpunching. Barrios’ right eye appears to be closing.
Mario Barrios (Getty Images)
03:37:42
BARRIOS PUTS MAIDANA DOWN
Maidana is dropped heavily in round three as Barrios explodes with a right hand off the back of a sneaky feint jab.
Mario showed patience and stepped back behind the left jab for the rest of the round. Early breakthrough for the champ.
03:23:02
BARRIOS AND MAIDANA READY FOR CO-MAIN
An understated entrance for ‘El Azteca’ Mario Barrios, who is accompanied by a host of ceremonial dancers. Barrios is quite the specimen. How he ever coped sub-147 is anybody’s guess.
Opponent Fabian Maidana comes from good stock himself, as the brother of Marcos Maidana. The Argentine can bang a bit so this should be good value.
03:04:44
FIGUEROA KOs MAGDALENO
“And just like that, it is over!” screams Todd Grisham as Brandon Figueroa tucks in a lovely left hand to the body.
It may not have been pretty for the Texan, but that is a highlight reel finish. The referee counted Jessie Magdaleno out at 2-59 of round nine.
Interim king Figueroa now turns to full WBC featherweight king Rey Vargas. That would be an interesting stylistic affair, given Vargas’ ability to box and move.
“I just had to be patient. He was blocking the body shot with his arm, but I had to wear him down to get the opening. I waited and I got it,” said Figueroa.
“I heard the 10 second sound and I wanted to create some space and right when I extended my right arm, he threw the left hook to the body and caught me right in the liver. It just took my legs out,” said Magdaleno.
Brandon Figueroa vs Jessie Magdaleno
02:54:56
MAGDALENO MIX UP
Magdaleno has done a really good job of slowing Figueroa’s output. That said, the southpaw does appear to be tiring. A combination of missing weight and getting hit south of the border a few rounds back have taken their toll on Jessie.
Magdaleno vs. Figueroa (Getty Images)
02:42:09
FIGUEROA GOES LOW
Jessie Magdaleno is writhing in agony after shipping a low blow in the fourth. Referee Allen Huggins lacks sympathy for the recipient, trying to hurry things along.
Away from the dirty stuff, Figueroa is struggling to impose his will. Jessie’s corner is happy with their man’s strategy, though Mr Huggins has grown tired of his blatant holding.
Jessie Magdaleno (Getty Images)
02:30:09
HEARTBREAKER FIGUEROA IN THE RING
Mercifully, the card is moving along swiftly. Our next participants are already sizing each other up as Brandon Figueroa attempts to get past a Jessie Magdaleno banana skin.
Magdaleno starts out strongly in round one and lands the right hook, but Jessie suffers a cut. Cuts have been prevalent across the night. Hopefully, it won’t affect things too much.
02:26:46
STANIONIS AND MAESTRE ASSESS THEIR PERFORMANCES
“I know I said there would be no ring rust, but of course it’s different once you’re in the ring with all the lights,” said Eimantas Stanionis. “It was very emotional to be back in the ring after such a long and frustrating time. It wasn’t my best performance. I’ll be back next time and better for sure.
“The power shots were the difference. He was just touching me and I was hitting him with big shots and putting pressure on him all of the time. It was a do-or-die fight for him and I think he had a good performance and I was just okay.
“I just want to be active. That’s the main priority. I was off for two years and in my country of Lithuania where there isn’t the best sparring. Next camp everything is going to be better.”
Gabriel Maestre said: “I felt Stanionis respected me, it was a tough fight. It didn’t turn out the way I wanted with the world title, but we gave the fans a show and, like I said in the press conference, it was a show stealer.”
“My corner gave me good advice and encouragement throughout the fight. I’m very appreciative of Coach Salas and my entire team.
“I’m going to come back stronger. No doubt about it. I’m eager to see what’s next.”
02:10:28
STANIONIS BEATS MAESTRE UD12
We go the full 12-round distance, and the results are in. Our three judges handed in scorecards of 119-109 (Chris Migliore), 118-110 (Don Trella), and 117-111 (Steve Weisfeld). There is no real doubting the winner, although Migliore’s card seemed a little harsh on Maestre’s efforts.
A really good, honest scrap for the WBA title. The body exchanges, in particular, were terrific. Stanionis’ hard left jab and underrated defence saw him through. A true rust shaker following his extended ring absence.
No shame for Maestre, who suffers defeat for the first time as Father Time also hunts him down. This might’ve been his one and only chance to grab a huge win.
01:52:29
MAESTRE COMING ON STRONG
We’re into the championship rounds here in Las Vegas. Eimantas Stanionis is still grinding away. Maestre touching the body frequently.
Maestre is running out of rounds to cash in those cheques as a left hook lands between Stanionis’ punches. A possible late twist in the tale?
Stanionis vs. Maestre (Getty Images)
01:39:41
WHO WILL LAST THE PACE BETTER?
It’s a battle of will versus will as we hit the middle portion of the bout. Stanionis promised to bring a Mexican style, and so far, he’s delivering.
A few questions need to be answered as the bout goes on. Stanionis has been out of action for around two years, while Maestre is 37 years old. Stamina and energy will be tested.
01:30:26
TWO PUNCHERS LOOKING TO LAND HEAVY
Stanionis started strong, but Maestre’s uppercut is working well. Two very evenly matched boxers.
Our referee, Robert Hoyle, said, “Don’t make this about me” while giving his pre-fight instructions.
MC Jimmy Lennon Jr announced the judges as Chris Migliore, Don Trella and Steve Weisfeld which differs from our list. We’ll keep an eye on that as this one progresses.
Stanionis vs. Maestre (Getty Images)
01:19:20
STANIONIS VS. MAESTRE BEGINS
Eimantas Stanionis is back in the ring for the first time in forever. His former amateur opponent, Gabriel Maestre, is in the opposite corner.
Two head-down bangers who like to slug it out. Should be tasty.
00:53:05
RAMOS IS BACK, SCORES BIG KO
The finish time is recorded at 2-56 of round nine. Ramos wins by TKO. Good work from Harvey Dock, who jumped in at the right time.
No post-fight comments from Ramos. Perhaps they took him away to stitch up the cut.
Shout out to Las Vegas-based Gonzalez, who was super tough and knocked out for the time in his career.
Max DeLuca, Glenn Feldman, and David Hudson were the unused judges. With the prelims over, the pay-per-view portion is next.
00:46:52
THE BEATDOWN IS OVER IN ROUND 9
When there’s a long smear of blood across the camera, you know someone is having a rough time of it.
While it’s Ramos’ blood, Gonzalez is finally stopped. The ubiquitous Ismael Salas offered him a strenuous pep talk in the corner before the ninth.
However, even the legendary Cuban could only watch as his man was dropped, marginally beat the count, and suffered a follow-up battering.
While the ending flurry was impressive, the initial left hand that dropped him was a cracker.
00:36:32
RAMOS SUFFERS A CUT
An accidental headbutt leads to a steady stream of blood down the side of Ramos’ left eye. It’s a bad one.
Gonzalez is tough, but he’s taking a tanking right now. The corner no doubt having a scan over him.
00:30:20
‘IT’S A MUGGING RIGHT NOW!”
Mauro Ranallo is enjoying the all-action approach of Jesus Ramos, who comes out throwing early-round bombs.
Can Gonzalez do anything more than just stay within touching distance? That’s the question.
Jesus Ramos (right) vs. Johan Gonzalez (Getty Images)
00:21:27
BOTH MEN BANGING AWAY IN RD4
Both men are tattooing the body. Ramos has always been a scything body puncher and this fight is no different.
Gonzalez arrives off the back of a good win over Guido Emmanuel Schramm and has gone the distance with Magomed Kurbanov. Ramos, meanwhile, controversially lost to Erickson Lubin.
00:10:18
JESUS RAMOS IN ACTION
Big southpaw Jesus Ramos is in the ring against Johan Gonzalez, who is billed as a knockout artist. The Venezuelan’s record suggests he can certainly bang.
Body hunter Ramos is looking to put his first career loss behind him. Third-man Harvey Dock was the ref for Haney-Garcia, and he might be looking to put that performance behind him as well.
23:53:53
VITO MIELNICKI JR DEFEATS RONALD CRUZ OVER 10 ROUNDS
It’s all over and Vito Mielnicki Jr wins the fight by scores of 99-89 (Chris Migliore), 96-92 (Don Trella Sr) and 98-90 (David Sutherland).
That was a good test for Mielnicki Jr. Even though Ronald Cruz wasn’t in danger of winning many rounds, or even many minutes of individual rounds, he punched hard and never stopped pitching.
Onward and upwards for 21-year-old Mielnicki Jr from New Jersey, who described the win as a great learning experience.
“This is my first time getting cut. I was getting a little hyped up, a little pumped. I’m still young, still growing,” said the victor.
23:34:28
MIELNICKI JR SHUTOUT?
Cruz is putting it on ‘White Magic’ who is dealing well with the cut. Mielnicki’s body shots are landing sweetly in the seventh round.
Veteran trainer Ronnie Shields is urging Vito forward and encouraging the body attacks. PBC ringside scorer Larry Hazzard has awarded Mielnicki every round, including a couple of knockdowns.
Vito Mielnicki Jr vs. Ronald Cruz (Getty Images)
23:25:16
CRUZ DOWN FOR A SECOND TIME
It’s going from bad to worse for Cruz. He’s down at the end of the fourth from another left hook, this one high on the head.
Mielnicki turned pro young and has a loss on the slate, but he’s punching hard. Especially at the end of the rounds. Cruz needs to switch on.
23:21:38
CRUZ CONTROLLED
This is Cruz’s first time fighting in Las Vegas and he’s been dropped at the end of the third by a left hook. Referee Robert Hoyle counted is as a legitimate knockdown even though the actual punch landed after the bell. Mielnicki the boss but he’s cut over the left eye.
23:11:29
A VERY WARM WELCOME!
Good evening/night/morning. Thank you for joining me on this live update blog. We’ll be following all the punches until Canelo and Munguia go at it later on in the main event.
Vito Mielnicki Jr is in the ring now against Ronald Cruz. It’s scheduled for 10 rounds or less in the super-welterweight division. Good solid jab from Mielnicki so far.
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez faces Jaime Munguia in a huge all-Mexican battle for Canelo’s four belts and undisputed super-middleweight status at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.
Undercard action begins on the PBC YouTube channel from 11pm UK, 6pm ET and 3pm PT.
Canelo vs Munguia Weights and Running Order
10 x 3 mins super-welterweight
Vito Mielnicki Jr (153.6) vs. Ronald Cruz (152.2)
10 x 3 mins super-welterweight
Jesus Ramos (154.6) vs. Johan Gonzalez (153.6)
12 x 3 mins WBA welterweight title
Eimantas Stanionis (146.6) vs. Gabriel Maestre (146.8)
Referee: Robert Hoyle
Judges: Max De Luca, Glenn Feldman & David Hudson
12 x 3 mins WBC Interim featherweight title
Brandon Figueroa (125.4) vs. Jessie Magdaleno (128.6)
Referee: Allen Huggins
Judges: Eric Cheek, Patricia Morse Jarman & Dave Moretti
12 x 3 mins WBC Interim welterweight title
Mario Barrios (146.6) vs. Fabian Maidana (146.2)
Referee: Harvey Dock
Judges: Max De Luca, Glenn Feldman & David Hudson
12 x 3 mins WBC, WBA, IBF & WBO super-middleweight titles
Canelo Alvarez (166.8) vs. Jaime Munguia (167.4)
Referee: Tom Taylor
Judges: Tim Cheatham, David Sutherland & Steve Weisfeld