Tyson-Paul overshadowed, Taylor, Barrios win

     Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson may have attracted the media and fan attention but while that sideshow may have been the main event, the real fights directly under it on the card were the saving grace in salvaging the evening.

While the main event lacked any excitement after round one as I gave Tyson the first round and then Paul won the next seven rounds backing away from a rapidly tiring former champion (I scored Paul the winner 79-73), the semi-main gave the fans more than their money's worth as Katie Taylor notched her second close decision win over Amanda Serrano in a terrific battle.

Serrano threw and landed more than Taylor, who was more efficient and landed harder punches.

Taylor headbutted Serrano several times, opening an ugly cut over Serrano's right eye via a fourth-round headbutt, Taylor would lose a point on the scorecards for a headbutt in round eight but the headbutt wouldn't figure in the decision with the three judges agreeing for Taylor by a score of 95-94.

I thought Serrano won at 95-94 but the result wasn't a robbery at all.

I would have no problems seeing these two hook it up one more time in the future.

Mario Barrios retained his WBC welterweight title when he drew with veteran Abel Ramos..

Barrios was dominating the fight when Ramos knocked Barrios down in round six with the champion fortunate to survive the round.

Ramos was knocked down in the second and Barrios was robbed of a knockdown in the first round when Ramos's glove touched the canvas and should have ruled a knockdown.

Had Barrios received credit for the knockdown, he would have won by split decision.

The official scores were 116-110 for Barrios, 114-112 for Ramos, and even 113-113.

I scored for Barrios 114-112 and even though Barrios-Ramos was an excellent action fight, Barrios is one of the most vulnerable champions in the sport after being pushed to the limit by the aging Ramos.

Boxing Challenge

Ramon Malpica: 163 Pts (0)

TRS: 161 Pts (1)
Vince Samano: 105 Pts (2)