On Showtime Friday night, undefeated lightweight Michael Dutchover was upset in a good battle by Thomas Mattice in Midland, Texas.
I had Dutchover ahead by one point entering the eighth round of his first ten rounder and against his first true test, but Mattice landed a right hand that severely cut Dutchover and forced the fight to be stopped.
Mattice looked as good as I had ever seen him in previous bouts, but Dutchover had won the last three rounds on my card to take the slim lead and appeared that he was taking the fight over.
Hopefully, the arrangements can be made to put these two together for a rematch.
PBC's card from Bakersfield, California looked pretty weak on paper but was a pleasant surprise with highlight-reel level KO's from prospects Jesus Ramos and Chris Colbert and a mild upset with veteran Thomas Dulorme winning a unanimous decision over previously undefeated Terrel Williams in a fight that should have been in the challenge, but I missed it.
The main event was expected to be former WBO middleweight champion Peter Quillin's chance to earn a shot at either of PBC's champions in the super middleweight division (WBC champion Anthony Dirrell or David Benavidez as they fight next Saturday and IBF titleholder Caleb Plant) with a win over late replacement Alfredo Angulo, who has seen his best days long ago and at the junior middleweight class as well.
Quillin drove to the early lead and seemed to be on his way to either stopping the ponderous Angulo or clearly dominating him to an easy decision.
Then after the third round, Quillin seemed to be crumbling before my eyes as Angulo's punches that you would think almost anyone could avoid began to land and Quillin wasn't taking them very well.
The fight had several exchanges that saw both men land and the Angulo charge severely battered Quillin in each of the final three rounds (all won by Angulo on my card) to make the fight very close.
Quillin landed far more punches, but most lacked steam while Angulo's punches were the harder punches with many fewer finding their target.
I scored it 95-95, but it had the "feel" of an Angulo win as I've written about draws in the past.
In the end, Angulo won the surprising upset split decision and the fight was very entertaining.
Still, I'd hate to see either of these two in a title fight because both are so shopworn that against world class fighters there is a good chance that they could be injured.
Quillin can't avoid Angulo, who's one of the slower punchers in the game, how would he fare against a faster fighter and Angulo's just going to be beaten up as he trudges forward into sharper punches.
I would hope both would consider retirement, but it's doubtful either will take my advice.
Still, if they have to continue their career, they need to be managed carefully and stay against fighters of their level, which is why I wouldn't have an issue with a rematch that would likely be entertaining and not see either fighter severely damaged.
Joseph Diaz won a majority decision on Facebook Live over Jesus Cuadro that I have not watched yet.
Perhaps Diaz will now receive his title challenge to IBF junior lightweight champion Tevin Farmer that could prove to be more entertaining in the media conferences and weigh-in than in the actual fight.
In the boxing challenge, Ramon Malpica outscored me two to one with the difference being the Thomas Mattice win over Michael Dutchover.
The Challenge now stands at 225-195
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