In the WBA welterweight eliminator, the rising star is an American Virgil Ortiz Jr. (19-0, 19 KOs) put on a show for his hometown fans by stopping the Brit Michael Mackinson (22-1, 2 KOs) in the ninth round in the main event of the evening at the Dickey Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. McKinson was also knocked down in the eighth round. The time of stopping the battle is 0:27.
Saturday duel between Virgil Ortiz Jr. (18-0, 18 KOs) and Michael Mackinson (22-0, 2 KOs) will become the final eliminator for the WBA welterweight world title. Boxers will cross their gloves at a Golden Boy Promotions boxing event in Fort Worth, Texas.
Welterweight Alexis "Lex" Rocha (19-1, 13 KOs) broke and stopped a previously undefeated Blair "Fleur" Cobbs (15-1-1, 10 KOs) in the ninth round in the main event of the evening at the USA Gelen Center in Los Angeles. Rocha was able to send Cobbs to the floor of the ring in the eighth round and achieved a referee stoppage in the ninth round.
Promotional organization Golden Boy Promotions confirmed that despite health problems Virgil Ortiz, Saturday night of boxing in Los Angeles will take place. Its main event will now be a welterweight bout between Alexis Rocha (18-1, 12 KOs) and Blair Cobbs (15-0-1, 10 KOs).
Former two-time Mexican super featherweight world title holder Juan Carlos Salgado is a prime candidate to replace his last opponent almost four years ago to face the Englishman Michael Mackinson. The need for such a replacement arose after Virgil Ortiz Jr. (18-0, 18 KOs) was forced to pull out of the DAZN fight on March 19 after being hospitalized on Monday due to rhabdomyolysis.