In front of over one thousand U.S. Marines at Camp Pendleton's Marine base in Oceanside, California, former IBF lightweight champion Julio Diaz made quick work of veteran Russell Jones, knocking him out in the first round. The fight was the main event in a special "Salute to America's Heroes" card from Camp Pendleton presented by Sycuan Ringside Promotions.

    The former IBF champ spent the first half of the opening round stalking Russell Jones. Finally, about midway in, Diaz cornered Jones, and landed a solid stiff right hand on Jones eye, which sent Jones down. As referee Raul Caiz Jr. counted, Jones continuously pawed at his eye, almost as if he had something in it. It appeared he was going to beat the count, as he did rise to his feet, but then he he pawed at his eye again and went back down. The referee then counted him out and Diaz earned himself his second consecutive KO victory at 1:59 of the first round. Diaz improved to 32-3, while Jones fell to 19-11. Diaz's head cornerman, Frank Espinoza, told me after the fight that the shot by Diaz busted Jones' eye open and that was why he didn't want to continue.

    In a special attraction, the king of the four rounders, Eric "Butterbean" Esch defeated Rick Zufell by 3rd round TKO. Butterbean, a huge crowd favorite, entered the ring with the crowd chanting, "Butterbean, Butterbean," but couldn't induce any sort of action out of Zufell in the opening stanza. Butterbean landed one overhand right, and Zufell seemed content to throw an occasional slapping jab, and to mainly stay far away from Butterbean. The round was so slow, that some chants even turned to "Buttercup" and "Butterball".

    Zufell continued to do more of the same in the second round, to the frustration of Butterbean. Zufell seemed like he wanted to do anything but fight. Butterbean started to clown around in this round. On one occasion Butterbean even laid against the ropes and dared Zufell to hit him, but Zufell would not budge. As the round continued Butterbean began to yell at Zufell to start fighting, but again, Zufell wouldn't budge. At the end of the round, Butterbean tried to pursue Zufell only to have him run away. , Butterbean even complained to referee Pat Russell about Zufell's unwillingness to fight. Round three looked like more of the same, much to the frustration of Butterbean and the Marines in attendance.

    Finally late in the round Butterbean cornered Zufell, and wailed away until he dropped him with a left hook. Zufell beat the count, but looked very wobbly, Butterbean jumped on him again, this time dropping him with a right cross. Pat Russell stopped the fight at 2:39 of the third round. Butterbean gets his 75th win, while Zufell falls to 6-6.

    In other action, in what was probably the fight of the night, Ricardo Dominguez squeaked out a unanimous decision over Rafael Ortiz in an 8 round lightweight battle. Dominguez started off strong in the first three rounds. He was able to find a consistent home for his left hand. Dominguez also appeared to be out-working Ortiz. At the end of the third round, Ortiz started to show life, landing  some good left hooks.

    Ortiz became the aggressor in the fourth round as the fight went to close quarters. There was back and forth action, and the round could have probably gone either way. Ortiz was solid in rounds five and six, seemingly landing the bigger shots. Dominguez came back in round seven, capping off a close round with a couple of big overhand rights. The eighth and final round was Ortiz's best round,  as he was able to do good damage with solid left-right combos. Both fighters ended the fight with a good exchange. Dominguez won a unanimous decision by the scores of 77-75,77-75, and 78-74. BRC scored the fight 76-76. Dominguez improves to 14-1, while Ortiz drops 11-8.

   In other action, junior welterweights Felipe Campana and Rafael Ortiz fought to a draw in an exciting fight. The bout was dominated by back and forth action. Campana appeared to stun Ortiz with a left hook in the third round. The scorecards would eventually read 39-37 for Ortiz,39-37 for Campana, and 38-38.

    All U.S. Marines were allowed free admission into Tuesday's show, which was billed as a "Salute to America's Heroes." It took place in the middle of the Marine Base football field. Camp Pendleton is the largest Marine Corps Base in the United States. This special night of Boxing was presented by Sycuan Ringside promotions and televised on ESPN2's Tuesday Night Fights.