Irving native Alejandro "Pork Chop" Guerrero got the action started for the Texas-based fighters in the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi Christi. Pork Chop scored a massive upset over the newly signed Top Rank prospect and heavy-betting favorite Jalan Walker. The Texan worked behind a jab and marched forward a shotgun right-hand, another right-hand dropped walker in the fourth, and the Irving native who now makes his home in Houston unleashed in the fifth. One particular hook again wobbled Walker badly. After Guerrero was ruled down from a barrage in the fifth, Pork Chop got his bearings back and went back to work. He dominated the end of the 6th and rallied with the right hand and hard body shots. Guerror drove Walker up against the ropes in the seventh and again unleashed on him. The Texan put together one more barrage and forced Walker's corner to step in and stop the fight. The bout was officially waved to a halt at 1:35 of the seventh round.
Corpus Christi native John Rincon improved to 9-0(2) by outpointing Yaniel Alvarez of Cuba. Rincon received a massive applause from his hometown faithful as he walked to the ring. He stayed patient and worked behind his southpaw jab, controlling the ring. A huge straight left had Alvarez wobbled in the fourth. Moments later, King Rincon scored with a beautifully placed uppercut as well. The hometown fighter countered with brilliant straight lefts throughout the fight. Entering the sixth and final round, it appeared he was well in complete control, and Alvarez pushed forward aggressively. Coming after Rincon, the Corpus Christi native sat back and used the ring scoring with clean counter shots a, straight left at around the midway point snapped the head back of Alvarez an uppercut wobbled Alvarez just moments later. In what turned out to be a fan-friendly affair Rincon rolled to an easy points victory 59-55, 58-56, and a ridiculous 55-55. Rincon picked up the majority decision and moved to 9-0(2)
In the final fight on the preliminary portion, hometown-hero, Julian Delgado made his pro debut a successful one, taking a four-round unanimous decision over Juan Tames of Laredo, who dropped his record to 1-1. The official scores were 40-36 x2 and 39-37 all in favor of the Corpus Chisti native. The much-anticipated debut from "King Julian" went smoothly after an epic ring entrance that brought the hometown fans to their feet. Delgado got cooking using his long jab and physical size advantage to create space and maintained that range with his jab. Delgado was able to control the range and pace of the fight but it wasn't all smooth sailing as Tamez, a southpaw, was able to score with straight lefts. Tamez tried to engage the Corpus Christi native into a slugfest, but the hometown hero stayed composed and used his skills and jab to control the remainder of the fight and take the well-earned decision.
In the evening main event, Jared "Big Baby" Anderson started quickly working behind his quick jab he was able to outland Ryah Merhy. Merhy had his first flash just moments into the second with a brilliant left hook. Merhy never followed up and kept his hands in a high defensive posture, refusing to let them go as Andrson scored with a jab and landed with a thudding body shot midway through round 3. The fight was marked by Merhy's unwillingness to throw his hands. Anderson fired off jabs and the occasional right hand and even switched to a southpaw stance in brief spots but could not get the reluctant Merhy to open up. Seemingly putting rounds in the bank, Merhy was giving the fight away. Boos poured in from the crows at Amercian Bank Arena. A clearly frustrated Anderson continued to fire the jab and take every round as it became clear as day his opponent was content with losing a decision and lose decision he did as scores came in for Anderson by scores of
In the chief support, we got the action we wanted in the main event as Italian Heavyweight Guido Vianello nearly stopped heavy favorite Efe Ajagba of Nigeria, who now lives and trains in Houston, Texas. Ajagba got nailed with a right hand from the Italian stallion that badly wobbled him, Vianello rushed in and smothered his own work, saving a badly wounded Ajagba who was saved by the bell and wandered into the wrong corner. Ajagba rallied back and controlled many of the middle rounds and switched to a southpaw stance in the 8th as Vianello was still throwing punches but had lost their snap and was the worst for wear as the fight reached the final rounds. Seeing his early lead slip away, Vianello gave it one last push in the final round. He scored with several clean right hands as he emptied his tank. However, it was just too little, too late as the judges preferred the work of Ajagba 96-94x2, with the third judge scoring for Vianello 96-94.
