CHESTER, PA–Erron Peterson stopped Pachino Hill in 2 rounds in a scheduled six-round middleweight bout that headlined a nine-bout card at Harrahs Philadelphia in Chester, Pa.

Peterson dropped Hill once in round one with a body shot and sent Hill to the deck three more times in round two before the bout was halted.

Peterson of Philadelphia is now 10-0-1 with nine knockouts. Hill of Davenport, IA is 8-10-2.

Johnny Rivera remained undefeated with a second round stoppage over Marcello Williams in a six-round super lightweight bout.

Rivera beat down the durable Williams until the bout was stopped at 1:05 round two.

Rivera pf Philadelphia is 5-0 with three knockouts. Williams of Orlando is 4-28-1.

Kadeem Hunter stopped james Patrick Holcombe in the opening round of their four round super lightweight bout.

Th 18-year-old Hunter showed blistering speed that translated to power as he landed a big combination to the body that sent Holcombe down and out at 2:35.

Hunter of Philadelphia is the son of former world title challenger Eric Hunter, is now 3-0 with three knockouts. Holdcombe of the United Kingdom is 0-3.

Jason Moreno stopped William Parra Smith in round two of their four-round super welterweight bout.

In round two, Moreno dropped Smith with an overhand right. Moreno was all over Smith and dropped him with a perfect left to the body. Moreno ended things with the same punch as he planted a left to the body that put Smith and the fight was stopped at 2:12.

Moreno of iselin, NJ is 4-0 with four knockouts. Smith of Anchorage, AK is 4-16-1.

Rashan Adams won a four-round majority decision over Harold McQueen in a super featherweight bout.

Adams of Philadelphia won on two cards by a 39-37 card and the third card was 38-38. Adams is now 9-1. McQueen of Lake Worth, FL is 1-1.

Michael Harris Jr. stopped Jeremiah Potts in round two of their super lightweight bout.

Harris was all over Potts from the opening bell and in round two, Harris landed a left hook that put Potts on his back and the 10-count was reached at 40 seconds.

Harris of Trenton, NJ is 2-0 with one knockout. Potts of Fort Myers, FL is 2-3.

Ghandi Romain beat down Nelson Morales forcing a stoppage after round four of their six-round welterweight bout.

Romain of Irvington, NJ is 8-1-1 with six knockouts, Morales of Scranton, PA is 6-22.

Marquis Williams took a four-round split decision from Brendan O’Callaghan in a middleweight bout.

Williams of Houston won by scores of 40-36 twice and O’Callaghan won a card by a 39-37 score. Williams is 3-2. O’Callaghan of Philadelphi is 6-4-1.

Muhammad Noori remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over debuting Christian Coakley in a super featherweight bout.

Noori of Woodbridge Township, NJ won by scores of 40-36 o n all cards and is now 3-0. Coakley of Mimeola, NY is 0-1.

PHILADELPHIA–It was a little tougher this time, but Jaron Ennis defended his IBF Welterweight title with his second 12-round unanimous decision over Karen Chukhadzhian in almost two years. This time it took place at Wells Fargo Center in Ennis’ hometown of Philadelphia.

The first bout, which took place in January of 2023 saw Ennis cruise to a 12-round shutout in a bout that saw Chukhadzhian bascally run around the ring and not engage. This time Chukhadzhian tried his best and at times have success landing on Ennis. Ennis landed more often and harder and used a two-fisted attack from bot the orthodox and southpaw stances.

In round five, Ennis landed a solid upper cut that put the challenger on the canvas. There were several times that Ennis had Chukhadzhian on the brink of trouble, but the Ukranian was able to fend off just enough to keep further damage from incurring.

In round 10, Chukhadzhian was deducted a point for holding. Chukhadzhian was gritty, but was out gunned by the much more dynamic Ennis.

Ennis landed 224 of 730 punches. Chukhadzhian was 173 of 622.

Ennis, 146 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 118-109, 117-110 and 116-111 to push his record to 33-0. Chukhadzhian, 146 1/2 lbs from Kiev, UKR is 24-3.

After the match, Ennis offered an honest review: “My performance was okay. I don’t know, it might be time to go to 154. I felt good, but I feel at 154 I’m going to be way better…I was prepared for anything he had coming; it didn’t really matter to me.”

“After I dropped [Chukhadzhian] I felt like he was holding ever since then. That’s on me though, I needed to take half a step back, rip those shots, use my angles, and just listen more. My dad was saying everything right and I just wasn’t listening.” 

“It means everything, I appreciate everybody that came out and showed their support, even though it wasn’t a top guy. Every time I fight here it’s going to get bigger and better,” said Ennis on fighting in front of his home crowd for the second straight bout.

Bam Rodriguez Stops Guevara in 2

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez defended the WBC Super Flyweight title with a second round stoppage of Pedro Guevara

In round two, Rodriguez landed a hard left that put Guevara on the canvas. Seconds later, Rodriguez landed a perfect right uppercut on the chin that put Guevara down and the fight was stopped at 2:47.

Rodriguez, 114.8 lbs of San Antonio is 21-0 with 14 knockouts. Guevara, 114.4 lbs of Sinalba, MEX is 42-5-1.

Speaking after the fight, Rodriguez commented, “I’m pretty happy, but I kind of already knew it was going to happen that way. It is what it is. On to the next. I really didn’t expect that [his movement]. I really thought he was going to stand there and fight a little bit more.”

When asked what’s next for him, Rodriguez added, “I feel good, this is my weight class right now. Got a few more fights here and then we’ll see where we go from there…Any unification fight, I’m ready right now.”

Ray Ford Drops Orlando Gonzalez Twice; Cruises to Unanimous Decision

Former Featherweight World Champion Raymond Ford scored two knockdowns en route to a 10-round unanimous decision over Orlando Gonzalez in a junior lightweight bout.

In round two, Ford landed a perfect right hook to the jaw that deposited Gonzalez under the bottom rope.

In round eight, Ford dropped a now bloodied (from the nose Gonzalez with another perfect right hook to the jaw.

Ford landed 171 of 481 punches. Gonzalez was 35 of 297.

Ford, 130 lbs of Canden, NJ won by scores of 100-88 twice and 99-89 and is now 16-1-1. Gonzalez, 130 lbs of Aguildila, PR is 23-3.

“I feel like the fight tonight went really well,” said Ford. “I just wanted to close the show and get him out of there. This win means a lot to me. It gets me higher in the 130-pound rankings so I can eventually get a shot at a world title.”

Gallegos Scores Four Knockdowns; Stops Coe in 9

Manuel Gallegos scored the biggest win of his career as he stopped Khalil Coe in round nine of their 10-round light heavyweight bout.

In round five, Gallegos dropped Coe with a left to the body. Coe furiously came back and hurt Gallegos with several hard right hands. In round seven, Gallegos hurt Coe with an uppercut and floored him with a right hand to the head. In round eight, Gallegos sent Coe down again with a left hook to the body along the ropes. As soon as the ninth bell rang, Gallegos went directly at Coe and dropped him with a combination and referee Eric Dali stopped the bout at seven seconds.

Gallegos, 174 lbs of Los Mochis, MEX is 21-2-1 with 18 knockouts. Coe, 175 lbs of Jersey City, NJ is 9-1-1.

Reflecting on his preparation coming into the fight, Gallegos said, “This is a very good division, so I had to train hard. I had a long training camp up in Monterrey with my friends there. I have to thank my trainers that put me through my paces, and I think you saw the fruits of that labor of my long preparation in the ring tonight.”

He added, “I don’t know what’s next but I’m open to all options. I’ll let my promoter, and my team decide, but I’ll face whoever they put in front of me. I’m ready. I’ll stay at this weight. I like the 175-pound division – a lot of opportunities at this weight.”

Ammo Williams Takes out Garrido in 5

Austin Williams stopped Gian Garrido iin round five of their eight-round middleweight bout.

The right eye of Garrido began to swell in round two.

In round five, Williams battered Garrido all over the ring and then landed a booming left that forced referee Harvey Dock to stop the bout at 1:04.

When asked how Williams felt to have a win back under his belt he responded, “Man I feel amazing. I’m a champion. I’m a true champion in every sense of the word…I just came to make a statement and let y’all know I’m back, I’m a champion, and I’m coming for that world championship. Anybody at my weight can get it.

Ismail Muhammad remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Nelson Morales in a welterweight contest.

Muhammad, 145.8 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 6-0. Morales, 145.8 lbs of Scranton, PA is 5-19.

Morales was cut around the left eye in the fourth round.

PHILADELPHIA--Zaquin Moses made a successful debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Michael Ruiz in a super featherweight bout.

Moses, 129.6 lbs of Newark, New Jersey is the cousin of Shakur Stevenson, won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 1-0. Ruiz, 129.6 lbs of Lacey Township, NJ is 1-5.

When asked about entering the ring for the first time as a professional, the three-time national amateur champion replied, “It was a learning experience. This was my first fight, so it was all new to me, the eight ounce [gloves] was new to me, fighting with no headgear was new to me. I never fought without headgear before. I like it better than the amateurs.”

Dennis Thompson opened the night with a second round stoppage over Edgar Ortiz Jr, in a scheduled four-round super bantamweight bout.

Thompson battered Ortiz all over the ring until Eric Dali stopped the bout at 2:59.

Thompson, 121.8 lbs of Philadelphia is a stablemate of Jaron Ennis is now 3-0 with two knockouts. Ortiz, 121.2 lbs of Phoenix is 8-6-2.

“I feel like I was calm in this fight, I was able to put my shots together and I worked on my speed and combinations in this fight,” said Thompson. 

Former world title challenger Bryant Jennings shook off five years of rust as he battered Joel Caudle over eight-rounds and scored a unanimous decision.

In round five, Caudle started to bleed from his mouth.

Jennings of Philadelphia won by scores of 80-72 on all cards and is now 25-4. Caudle of North Carolina is 9-9-2.

Avious Griffin remained undefeated with a second round stoppage over William Jackson in a scheduled right-round welterweight bout.

Just as the first bell sounded, Griffin cracked Jackson with a right to the side of the head that put Jackson on the canvas. Jackson wobbled to his feet and then the corner. Early in round two, Griffin landed a booming uppercut that put Jackson down for the count at 45 seconds.

Griffin, 146.7 lbs of Chattanooga, TN is trained by reigning trainer of the year Brian McIntyre and is now 15-0 with 14 knockouts. Jackson of Cincinnati is 13-5-2.

Rashan Adams scored a split-decision over Jose Rodriguez in a four-round junior lightweight bout.

Adams won two cards 39-37 and Rodriguez took a card 39-37.

Adams, 131.4 lbs of Philadelphia is 9-1. Rodriguez, 132.3 lbs of Crespo, PR is 6-5.

Juan Rivera remained undefeated as he pounded out a six-round unanimous decision over Marik Black in a junior welterweight bout.

Rivera, 142 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 60-54 on all cards is now 4-0. Black, 139.9 lbs of Versailles. KY is 2-3-1.

16-year old Daniel Grandy stopped Jak Johnson in the opening round of their four-round super featherweight bout.

Grandy landed a left hook that put Johnson on the canvas and the fight was stopped at 1:24

Jibril Noble stopped Nasir Mickens in round three of their four-round super featherweight bout.

Noble of Philadelphia is now 6-0 with five knockouts. Mickens of Philadelphia is 2-5.

Nimal Farmer won a four-round unanimous decision over Maurice Clemons in a welterweight bout.

Farmer, 147.1 lbs of Lindenwold, NJ won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 6-0. Clemons, 145.9 lbs of Riverdale, GA is 3-7.

Lemar Smith won a four-round majority decision over Nelson Morales in a welterweight contest.

Smith, 146 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 40-36 on two cards and 38-38 and is now 2-0. Morales, 148.5 lbs of Scranton, PA is 5-16.

Quincey Williams stopped Muzamir Semuddu in round one of their four-round junior middleweight fight.

After a furious exchange, Williams dropped Semuddu with a perfect left hook to the body and he did not beat the 10-count at 2:41.

Williams, 151.4 lbs of Washington, DC is 3-0 with three knockouts. Semuddu, 152.3 lbs of Uganda is 1-1.

Erron Peterson remained undefeated with a second round stoppage of Ashton Sykes in a scheduled six-round middleweight bout.

In round two, Peterson dropped Sykes with a right to the head. Sykes tried to get to his feet but never made it and the fight was over at 2:17.

Peterson, 160.6 lbs of Philadelphia is 7-0-1 with six knockouts. Sykes, 159.6 lbs of Columbia, MD is 6-8.

Tyreem Haywood stopped Deo Kizito in the opening round of their four-round junior welterweight bout.

Haywood was too much for Kizito and the fight was stopped after the third knockdown just 96 seconds into the contest.

Haywood, 144.3 lbs of Philadelphia is 2-0 with two knockouts. Kizito, 141.5 lbs of Baltimore is 307.

Semaj Justice made a successful pro debut with a first round stoppage of Heli Huynh in a scheduled four round bantamweight bout.

In round one, Justice landed blistering combinations and put Huynh down with a right to the head. Moments later, Justice landed a another big flurry that forced a stoppage at 2:44.

Justice, 119.6 lbs of Philadelphia is 1-0 with one knockout. Huynh, 118.9 lbs of St. Louis is 1-4,

ATLANTIC CITY–Shinard Bunch took out Abraham Afful in round two of their scheduled eight-round junior welterweight fight.

In round two, Bunch dropped Afful with a hard left hook. Affull rolled on his side and did not beat the 10-count at 13:25.

Bunch of Trenton, NJ is now 21-2-1 with 17 knockout. Afful of Accra, GHA is 12-6-1.

Devin Gantt remained undefeated with a fourth round stoppage over Kevin Traynor in a six-round super bantamweight bout.

In round one, Gantt dropped Traynor with a hard flurry of punches. Gantt seemed one punch away from stopping Traynor on several occasions in the opening round.

In round four, Gantt started unloading hard shots to the body and head that forced Traynor to take a knee and the corner stopped the bout 1:18.

Gantt of Sicklerville, NJ is 5-0 with five knockouts. Traynor of Scotland is 1-5.

Nimal Farmer remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over durable Nelson Morales in a welterweight fight.

Farmer was dominant as he landed flurries for the better part of the fight and keeping Morales on the ropes. Morales did well to stay on his feet and he started to spit out blood towards the end of round five.

Farmer of Lindenwold, NJ won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 5-0. Morales of Scranton, PA is 4-9

Khalid Billings remained undefeated by stopping Aaron Newmones in the opening round of their four-round welterweight bout.

Billings dropped Newmones with a perfect left to the head. Newmones was badly hurt and Billings sensed it as he went right after Newmones and dropped him again, and the fight was stopped at 1:34.

Billings of Queens, NY is 3-0 with two knockouts. Newmones of Atlantic City is 1-4.

Thompson boxing ended it’s 23-year round with an entertaining five bout card that was headlined by Louie Lopez stopping Benjamin Lamptey in round three of their eight-round junior middleweight bout at the Doubletree in Ontario, California.

In round three, Lopez dropped Lamptey with a series of body shots. Seconds later, it was more body work that put Lamptey down for the 10-count at 1:22.

Lopez, 149.2 lbs of Corona, CA is 14-2-1 with five knockouts. Lamptey, 152.7 lbs of Accra, GHA falls to 13-12-2.

George Acosta stopped Edy Valencia Mercado after round five of their six-round junior lightweight bout.

At the end of round four, Acosta dropped Mercado with a right. Mercado quit on his stool after round five.

Acosta, 130.5 lbs of Whittier, CA is 16-1 with three knockouts. Mercado, 130.8 lbs of Culican, MEX is 20-12-2.

Nelson Oliva stopped Jeremaine Chico Whittington in round two of their four-round super middleweight fight.

In round two, Oliva landed a right hook that made Whittington take a knee. Seconds later, it was another right hook that put Whittington down again. Finally it was a left to body that put Whittington down for a third time and the fight was stopped at 1:57.

Oliva, 166.2 lbs of Los Angeles is 8-0 with seven knockouts. Whittington, 165.3 lbs of San Antonio, TX is 2-2.

Kevin Salgado stopped Iziah Vargas in the opening round of their four-round welterweight fight.

Salgado dropped Vargas with a body shot in the opening frame. Salgado scored another knockdown and the fight was stopped at 2:08.

Salgado, 144 lbs of Murrieta, CA is 3-1 with one knockout. Vargas is 1-7.

Esteban Munoz won a six-round unanimous decision over Nelson Morales in a welterweight bout.

Munoz, 142.4 lbs of San Bernadino, CA won by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55 and is now 7-3. Morales, 144.4 lbs of Scranton, PA is 4-8.

This was Thompson Boxing Promotions final show. The company, who generally was regarded as the best and most consistent boxing series in the country, produced five world champions and countless contenders. The company was headed by Ken Thompson, who passed away in February. Alex Caamponovo did a masterful job building those fighters as well as putting many fan-friendly and completive fights.

Pierre Dibombe stopped Derrick Findley in round four.

Joe Dawejko dropped Dennis Vance Jr. four-times in the opening round en-route to a first round stoppage in a six-round heavyweight bout.

Dawejko sent Vance down each time with wicked lefts to the body and the fight was stopped upon the fourth knockdown at 2:01.

Daeejko of Philadelphia is 25-10-4 with 14 knockouts. Vance is 4-10.

Leandro da Silva and Victor Darocha fought to a six-round majority draw in an entertaining light heavyweight bout.

In round seven, da Silva began to bleed from his nose.

da Silva took a card 59-55, while two others were even at 57-57. da Silva is now 3-7-1. Darocha is 11-6-2.

Edward Donovan remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Nelson Morales in a welterweight bout.

Donovan of Limerick, Ireland won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 7-0. Morales of Scranton, PA is 3-7.

Heather Hardy kept hopes alive for another big opportunity by winning an eight-round majority decision over Taynna Cardoso at a packed Sony Theater in New York City.

Hardy, 134 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores of 78-74, 77-75 and 76-76 and is now 24-2. Cardoso, 133.4 lbs of Miami via Brazil is 5-2.

Terrell Bostic won a six-round unanimous decision over Clay Burns in a lightweight bout.

In round three, Bostic dropped Burns with a right uppercut to the chin.

Bostic, 137.6 lbs won by scores of 60-53, 58-55 and 57-56 and is now 8-1. Burns, 135.2 lbs of Fort Worth, TX is 10-17-2.

Michael Hughes won a four-round unanimous decision over Nelson Morales in a junior welterweight bout.

Hughes, 140.2 lbs of New York won by scores of 39-37 on all cards and is now 4-1. Morales, 141.8 lbs of Scranton, PA is 3-4.

Tsendbaatar Erdenebat stopped Giovanni Gutierrez in round three of their six-round lightweight bout.

Erdenebat beat up Gutierrez and the bout was stopped after he landed a big flurry on the ropes at 1:46.

Erdenebat, 134.4 lbs of Los Angeles via Mongolia is now 5-0 with three knockouts. Gutierrez, 134.8 lbs of Managua, NIC is 11-4-1.

Frederick Julan won an eight-round unanimous decision over DeCarlo Perez in a light heavyweight bout.

Julan, 174.6 lbs of Brooklyn via France won by scores of 78-74 twice and 79-73 and is now 13-2. Perez, 174 lbs of Egg Harbor, NJ is 19-8-1.

BENSALEM, PA–Popular heavyweight Joey Dawejko stopped Mike Marshall in round four of their scheduled six-round bout at The Xcite Center inside Parx Casino.

In round two, Dawejko uncorked a wicked left hook that hit Marshall square in the right side of his head, and he fell on his back. Dawejko landed hard body shots with both hands.

Just after the 10-second clap in round four, Dawejko landed another quick and powerful left hook that sent Marshall down for a second time. Marshall struggled to his feet and the referee Eric Dali waved the fight off at the 3:00 mark.

Dawejko, 261.7 lbs of Philadelphia is now 22-10-4 with 13 knockouts. Marshall, 251.7 lbs of Danbury, CT is 6-4-1.

Daiyaan Butt won a six-round unanimous decision over Tyrone Luckey in a super lightweight bout.

In round five, Luckey began to bleed from his nose.

Butt, 141.5 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 60-54 twice and 58-56 and is now 11-2. Luckey, 140.2 lbs of Galloway, NJ is 15-18-4

Nelson Morales won a five-round technical split decision over Christopher Burgos in a super lightweight.

The bout was stopped at 2:45 of round five as Burgos was unable to continue to due to an accidental headbutt.

Morales, 140.9 lbs of Scranton, PA is 3-1. Burgos, 142 lbs of Philadelphia is 3-6-2.

Soslan Alborov and Brendan O’Callaghan battled to a spirited four-round majority draw in a middleweight fight.

Scores were 40-36 for O’Callaghan and 38-38 twice.

O’Callaghan, 155.4 lbs of Philadelphia is 3-1-1. Alborov, 154.5 lbs of Philadelphia is 0-1-1,

Bryce Mills won a four-round unanimous decision over Carlos Marrero in a super lightweight bout.

Mills, 142 lbs of Syracuse, NY won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 9-1. Marrero, 142 lbs of Bridgeport, PA is 3-8.

Tyler Zwicharowski made a successful pro debut by stopping Andre Hinmon in round three of their four-round middleweight contest.

In round three, Zwicharowski battered Hinmon all over the ring until he put him down with a right hand. Zwicharowski was all over Hinmon that forced referee Shawn Clark to stop the bout at 1:18.

Zwicharowski, 162.5 lbs of Philadelphia is 1-0 with one knockout. Hinmon, 166 lbs of Philadelphia is 0-2.

In a battle of pro debuting super featherweights, Devin Gantt stopped Tajiro Arakawa in round three of their four-round bout.

In round three, Gantt hurt Arakawa with a combination and he dropped him face-first with a hard left hand. Referee Eric Dali waved it off at 44 seconds.

Gantt, 126.3 lbs of Sicklerville, NJ is 1-0 with one knockout. Arakawa, 128.7 lbs of New York, NY is 0-1.

Everlon Still won a four round unanimous decision over Derrick Vann in a super middleweight bout.

Still, 169.5 lbs of Voorhees, NJ won by scores of 40-36 and 39-37 twice and is now 2-2. Vann, 166.5 lbs of Philadelphia, PA is 2-5.

Ardreal Holmes Jr. won a 10-round unanimous decision over Vernon Brown in a junior middleweight fight at the Deadwood Grand in Deadwood, South Dakota.

Holmes, 156 lbs of Flint, MI won by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-95 and is now 12-0. Brown, 157 1/4 of Chicago, IL is 13-2-1.

“I was reborn tonight,” Holmes said. “This performance showed that I still have it in me. I hurt my left hand in the second round. I couldn’t punch how I wanted to. I was in a bunch of pain but I pulled through. Thinking about my family pushed me through the pain.”

“He was the better man tonight,” Brown said. “I give it up to him. He studied me. He knew the punches I was going to throw. His corner kept yelling, ‘Watch the right hook.’ He did knock the wind out of me a couple times with body shots. I had to take a second to recover. In the last round, he was catching me with head shots.

“I need to work on my left hand. I need to be like Manny Pacquiao and work on my left hand because guys know I have power in my right hook. But I’m going down to 147. That’s my true weight.”

De Los Santos Stops Acosta in 2

Edwin De Los Santos scored an explosive 2nd round stoppage over Luis Acosta in the 2nd round of their eight-round lightweight fight,

In round one, De Los Santos landed a right hook that made Acosta’s glove touch the canvas for a knockdown. In round two, De Los Santos landed a huge left that sent Acosta flat on his back, and the fight was stopped immediately at 48 seconds.

De Los Santos, 133 3/4 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is 14-1 with 13 knockouts. Acosta, 133 1/2 lbs of Houston, TX is 12-1.

“I’m back,” said De Los Santos, who suffered a loss in his first SHOBOX appearance in January to William Foster III. “Everyone was counting me out after the last fight. They thought I was done after the loss to Foster. But I’m back. This is the kind of statement that I should have made last time. This is a new beginning for me. I thought I was going to catch him later in the fight but the opening came early with the straight left. My preparation was just better this time, I was just more focused and better prepared and this was the result. I’m ready for anyone.”

Marquez Decisions Morales to win Pro debut

Giovanni Marquez made a successful pro debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Nelson Morales in a welterweight bout.

Marquez landed 85 of 280 punches; Morales was 42 of 201.

Marquez, 143 lbs of Houston, TX won by scores of 40-36 and 39-37 twice and is 1-0. Morales, 144 1/4 lbs of Scranton, PA is 2-1.

“I felt great,” said Marquez. “I hurt my left hand in the second round on a jab. I think I would have been able to stop him if I hadn’t hurt my hand.”

Added Giovanni: “It was a great experience. He was a tough, durable guy, but I feel like I handled everything, the cameras, all the attention pretty well. I started a little slow but after the first round I settled down and fought my fight. I felt fine without the headgear. We kept bumping heads, but he never hurt me. There was a lot of pressure on me, and I was a little nervous in the leadup to the fight, but once I got into the fight I relaxed and I felt comfortable. Overall, it was a great experience.”

“I think I did OK,” said the 30-year-old Dominican Republic-born Morales (2-1) now living in Scranton, Pa. “My strategy was to go in and box. He cut the ring off and applied good pressure. I can’t say too much because it wasn’t the best of me. He was OK. I’ll be back.”