Alberto Mora scored a knockout victory over Benito Garcia on Friday night at the Domo del CODE in Garcia’s hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico. Mora improves to 12-0, 9 knockouts.
From the opening bell, Mora was effective at boxing out Garcia, using distance to consistently land combinations. Garcia tried to cut off the ring but was not consistent enough as Mora effectively moved in and out of striking range.
Mora was more aggressive and started exchanges in the third round, putting Garcia on the defensive with accurate punches and combinations. During an exchange in round four, Mora landed a right-left combination to the body that dropped Garcia to the canvas. Garcia struggled to his feet, grimacing in pain as he was counted out at 2:26.
Including Friday’s win over Garcia, Mora, who lives in Mexico City and spends his time training there and in the United States, has stopped five of his last six opponents and has a regional title under his belt.
The 26-year-old stopped Raul Galaviz Hernandez in the fifth round of his previous fight on June 14. Three months before the win over Galaviz, Mora defeated the once beaten Fernando Romero Hilario by unanimous decision.
Mora is signed to BXSTRS, which promotes Friday’s card. He is trained by Jay Najar, who also trains lightweight contender William Zepeda.
Garcia drops to 17-9-3, 5 KOs. On July 27, he scored a knockout victory over the fight Jesus Garcia Frutos, which also took place in Guadalajara.
The 24-year-old has now lost four of his last six fights.
Edge junior welterweight contender Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela of Guadalajara defeated Jesus Lopez by unanimous decision. Scores were 79-72, 79-72 and 78-73 for Gollaz, who improved to 30-3-1, 17 KOs.
Gollaz dominated most of the fight, dropping the aggressive Lopez midway through the eighth round. Despite being dropped, Lopez was unhurt and continued to stay in the pocket, trading combinations until the final bell.
The 29-year-old has now won his last five bouts since a decision loss to Montana Love in May 2022.
Lopez, who lives in Costa Rica, Mexico, falls to 16-15-3, 4 KOs. He was undefeated in his previous 11 fights before the fight against Gollaz.
In a clash of Tijuana-based flyweights, Jose Russell improved to 16-0, 10 KOs and defeated Arnulfo Salvador (16-7-1, 9 KOs) by unanimous decision. The scores were 78-73, 78-73 and 79-75 for Russell.
Salvador was deducted a point in round eight for bumping his head, for which he had been warned in previous rounds.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at (email protected)
