Flyweight Juan Carlos Camacho climbed off the canvas twice to earn a split decision victory over Jayson Mama on Wednesday at Coliseo Alcalde Marcelo Trujillo Panisse in Humacao, Puerto Rico.
The scores were 96-92 for Mama and 96-92 and 95-93 for Camacho.
Camacho, of Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, improved to 18-1 (8 KOs) in the lead-in bout to Wednesday’s main event matching Rene Santiago and Ricardo Astuvilca in a junior flyweight title fight.
Mama, of the Philippines, dropped to 20-2 (10 KOs).
In the third round, Mama landed a right hand that sent Camacho back to the ropes, and a knockdown was ruled when Camacho’s gloves touched the canvas.
Camacho came back with effective left hooks to the body in the sixth, visibly impacting Mama’s demeanor. Near the end of the round, Camacho connected with a lead left hook that hurt Mama, who was held up by the ropes with just 10 seconds left. In the ninth, Mama floored Camacho again with a right during an exchange.
The telecast hinted that the winner might face freshly minted WBO flyweight titleholder Anthony Olascuaga, who joined the broadcast crew for the bout.
Undefeated lightweight Christian Barreto, of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, improved to 12-0 (9 KOs) with a fifth-round TKO over Miguel Angel Marrero, 10-2-2 (4 KOs), of Morovis, Puerto Rico.
In the second round, Barreto applied forward pressure, landing a lead left hook that set up an overhand right through Marrero’s guard. The punch forced a delayed reaction, leaving Marrero unsteady before he went down. In the fifth, a flurry from Barreto sent Marrero to the canvas again, and moments later Barreto’s signature right hand put him down for the final time. The fight ended at 59 seconds of the round.
In the opening bout, Venezuelan junior lightweight Leonardo Padilla, 24-6-1 (17 KOs), scored an unusual second-round knockout against Nicholas Polanco, 22-8-1 (13 KOs), of the Dominican Republic.
The controversy arose when Padilla’s punch appeared to land low, prompting Polanco to grab his groin, only to be counted out by the referee. Replay confirmed the shot was clearly low and in full view of the referee.
Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.