Last noche’s Telefutura show from Ontario, CA featured Cristobal Arreola and Thomas Haynes in a battle for the (WBC) Continental Americas heavyweight minor league belt.

Arreola arrives undefeated at 21-0 with 19 via stoppage while Hayes enters with resumé of 27-1, 19 KOs - opens with both going the jab-counter route - then stanza two it’s Arreola picking up the pace.

Was clear Hayes lacked the clout needed for respect from the bigger in size and heavier punching Arreola - and then a stunning finish at 1:45 mark of three with the Mexican finishing a barrage with big left uppercut at close quarters that drops Hayes to the canvas.

Referee Tony Crebs rightfully saw no need for a count with Hayes motionless and flat on his back.

Rest of story: Arreola ~ age 26 at 6-4 and some 240 pounds looks fine as wine at the Triple A level of heavyweight boxing. The win sees him WBC Continental Americas champ and a likely spot in its top ten. Has been quoted as looking ahead to becoming first ever Mexican heavyweight champion. Timing ideal today with no less than four available straps at the upper levels. Problem is Arreola not as yet close to being title timber.
                         Hayes ~ age 26 - style hinted of skills - but firepower strictly small arms loaded. When the pressure arrived late in round two, the translation was this one doesn’t make the deep end of the pool.

Referee Tony Crebs - excellent work on all counts from start to finish.
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Card opened with co-feature ten round middleweight bout between Ricardo Cortes and veteran Fernando Zuniga - on paper it looked interesting, but with help from local super hack in charge "Dr." Lou Moret, it became a travesty of major proportions.

Round one action sees both shooting for the cheap seats - Zuniga having a slight edge - then the Ecuador native strays with a low blow during a flurry of body punches - point deduction numero uno as Cortes, after getting the not very good doctor attention, begins crawling on the canvas as if in agony.

Now stanza two and Cortes again playing Moret for assistance while on the losing end of another Zuniga barrage - signals he was hit low, and punctuates by dropping to the canvas for a repeat canvas crawl routine - Bingo!

This visit carries a bonus as we hear Moret advising the scoring judges it would cost Zuniga an additional two points deduction.

Pretty much lost during episode two was a Zuniga right hand to the head that resulted in flash knockdown - still loses the stanza with the double debit misdemeanor.

Finally, stanza three - and even the most novice of fight fan could smell a DQ in the offing -  and sure enough, with Zuniga on the attack a body punch finds the belt line. Sure enough the cued Cortes once again goes with the choreography.

This one a curtain dropping finale of slapstick with Cortes on the canvas with no intention of climbing to his feet until getting the word he wins via disqualification.

Enters the books Cortes win via DQ at 55 seconds mark of stanza three.

Post Scripts: Ricardo Cortes (21-1-1, 14KO) ~ age 27 - this, my first peek thus no snap judgments. Looked willing to exchange with heavier hitting Zuniga in opening round - once seeing Dr StrangeMoret wearing the home sweater he uses the hack to steal a win. Until straying from the comforts of home there’s no need for jury selections. Club fighter the likely future.
                      Fernando Zuniga (26-9-1-1, 14 KO) ~ young looking age 34 - had the playing field been balanced the guess here is he scores stoppage number 21 - victim of white collar crime.

                      Referee Dr. Lou Moret - interesting that this company man gets three of the five prelim bouts. More interesting is when first seeing him announced as referee of the Cortes-Zuniga bout the knee jerk reaction here was "Here we go again" - this guy needs a seat at ring apron with pad and pencil to doodle on instead of competing with the fighters inside the ring ropes.

Closing comments: The name is Rafael Lopez - age 18 middleweight -  scores round one knockout with picture perfect left hook capping a neat combination. Tall at 6-1 and relaxed in demeanor in only his second pro fight. Give this kid two years and we have a super middleweight prospect.
     
GEL  -