Former bantamweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez, looking ahead to improving his WBC number six slot among the super bantamweight membership, helped the cause with an impressive demolition of former multi-champion Mauricio Pastrana. 

The Colombian grabbed the opening stanza the busier of the two - Gonzalez settled for taking notes - but the taller Mexican would turn the tables late round two with eye catching combinations from both sides that scored body to head. 

Stanza three a busy one with sizzling exchanges - the edge went to Gonzalez who appeared to do damage with hurting left hook body punching - and with it, the viewer could see the writing on the proverbial wall. 

Then the finis - round four a Gonzalez right hand to the head sets up a power left uppercut that drops Pastrana to the canvas. A subsequent barrage sees Pastrana trapped in a corner while on the receiving end.

Third man in charge Ray Corona then pulls the plug at 2:32 mark of numero cuatro.

 

Post Scripts:

• Jhonny Gonzalez (38-6, 32 KOs) ~ age 26 - good size at s/bantam and brings the power up with him from 118. Plenty to choose from at the top with Vazquez, Caballero, Ponce de Leon, Molitor - not to mention a Rafael Marquez at WBC #2 in waiting.

• Mauricio Pastrana (34-9-2, 23 KOs) ~ age 35 - best successes in rear view mirror when wearing crowns at jr. flyweight, flyweight levels. Big puncher at that size but no longer in the hunt since aging process moved him to bigger clientele.
  
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  Semi-final s/bantamweight battle pitted age 22 Antonio Escalante with age 24 Dave Martinez - scheduled for ten but never made it beyond stanza three with Escalante power too much for the lighter hitting Martinez.

Began with Martinez on the bicycle - then stanza two with Escalante body punching slowing Martinez. Then the finis in round three with Martinez down from a barrage of  power punches. Time 2:08 of stanza three.

Closing comments:

• Escalante (17-2, 11 KOs) ~ age 22 - could develop into something serious. Good skills backed by diversified offense. Stickler is one punch KO loss to Mauricio Pastrana. Salvaging memory saw Antonio ahead on points that included having Mauricio on canvas earlier. Walked into “Hail Mary” right hand that shut out the lights.

• Martinez (18-4-1, 3 KOs) ~ age 24 - shortage of power brings zero respect when in with serious opposition. Too tough a division to see a future down the road.

 

GEL  -