Just before the start, the fight changed its status from the defense of the world title to a 10-round non title fight in 170 pounds.
Also on the card middleweight Juan Macias "Juanito" Montiel (22-4-2, 22 KOs) stopped crowd favorite James "Mandingo Warrior" Kirkland (34-3, 30 KOs) in the first round. Kirkland started the fight aggressively, but ran into a counter blow and ended up on the floor. Montiel then knocked down the 36-year-old Kirkland two more times, who was no longer holding a punch, before the fight was stopped at 1:56.
A good win for Montiel's record, who was considered a minor favorite before the meeting. Juanito is the nephew of former world champion Fernando Montiel.