Last night’s HBO “Boxing After Dark” offering delivered a dandy double dip with WBO s/feather champion Joan Guzman in with Mexican bandido Humberto Soto in the main bout - and NABO s/bantam champ Abner Mares defending against Damian Marchiano in the semi-final. 

Curtain opens on a hot note with Mares, a 21 year old Mexican transplant now living in California, displaying skills normally reserved for quality veterans - poised, quick with pinpoint accuracy he easily claims stanza one. 

Marchiano answers back in round two - picks up the pace with flurries of bad intentions in attempt to reduce the Mares sniper fire - steals the round, but it would be a long night at the office. 

The pace remains hot with Mares holding the better hand against the rugged Argentine that would absorb just about every combination in the proverbial book - the chances of scoring an upset lessened with each passing round for the man with the predictable offense. 

Short of amazing to see Marchiano still around come the final bell in a non-stop battle of attrition that saw him claiming no more than one round over twelve chapters - although he made a few of them close to call. 

Scoring went unanimous Mares 118-109, 118-109, 117-109 - my unofficial agreed 118-109 in points and 10-1, with one even. 

Post Scripts: Abner Mares (15-0, 9 KO) ~ just a baby - turns 22 later this month - the NABO minor league trinket a nice trophy, but if not handled with care could convert to a Trojan Horse. Well tutored in a boxer/puncher style - handled the heat when a desperate Marchiano tossed caution to the wind. Amber light: young enough to enjoy the small club scene until reaching full maturity in the power punch department.
       Damian Marciano ( 14-3-1, 5 KO) ~ age 28 - took a major league licking but kept on ticking to the final bell - tremendous heart, but in style had to have skipped too many classes at the pugilistic school of learning - or, maybe the tutors were out to lunch. Now needs a long respite to help heal the hidden wounds suffered in last noche’s mismatch.

       Referee Sparkle Lee ~ take note boyz - this sweetheart puts most of the male arbiters to shame. Goes with the flow with no trace of watch my style - questionable call in stanza six that was followed in candle 11 marred an otherwise unblemished assignment. In round six a Marchiano in need of rest down from more body punch than low blow. No debit, but a warning - then in numero eleven a borderline finds Mares deducted a point in round he had clearly won. No damage. Regardless, the lady is good!

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Main event with defending champ Joan Guzman and durable challenger Humberto Soto had a tough act to follow - but answered the call in flying colors. 

My first peek at Guzman, and impressed doesn’t do justice - slick and physically strong for starters. Age 31 veteran with moves in and out of the book makes this guy a 130 pound unification qualifier - and maybe only a Juan Manuel Marquez able to handle what Joan brings to the office. 

Humberto Soto you ask? Arrives unbeaten in last 21 outings - made it competitive over the front side - but from seven to eleven it was all Guzman - simply too much in skills and imagination for Soto the brawler. 

Went to the judges - the ballots favored Guzman 118-110, 117-111, 117-111 - my cheat sheet agreed Guzman 117-111 in points and 9-3 in rounds. 

Closing Comments: Joan Guzman (28-0, 17 KO) ~ a young age 31 - has all the trappings of the past special ones - when to relax and when to work - toss in a bit of showboat and entertainment is part of his shtick. Handled some big right hands without distress. HBO should grab this transplanted Dominican now living in Brooklyn, USA while he’s hot - (WBA) Valero, (IBF) Fana maybe? 
       Humberto Soto ( 43-6, 27 KO) ~ age 27 but already has 49 kept appointments logged. A valid test for most shareholders put in front of him. Guzman, Marquez exceptions to the rule.

        Referee Harvey Dock - this one his maiden voyage working title gig. Passing grades.