In a striking display of talent, Yadriel Caban Gerena showcased his boxing prowess in San Juan, Puerto Rico, decisively defeating Jeremis Hernandez-Torres. Caban achieved victory with two powerful knockdowns, concluding the match just 1:46 into the first round. With this win, Caban enhances his professional record to an impressive 3-0, all by knockout, while Hernandez-Torres now stands at 2-3.
Meanwhile, Dominican boxer Euri Cedeño aimed to make a statement in the middleweight division as he faced Etoundi Michel William, a fighter from Brazil who has roots in the Ivory Coast. Cedeño started strong, knocking William down twice during the opening round. However, William proved to be a resilient competitor, battling back as the fight progressed. By the third round, Cedeño’s earlier intensity appeared to wane slightly, especially after a vigorous second round. In a notable turn of events, William landed a couple of impressive right-hand punches that jolted Cedeño's head back in the fourth round.
Just when it seemed Cedeño might take control after rocking William toward the end of the fifth, William retaliated with another lengthy right that sent Cedeño's head snapping backward once more. Opting for strategic boxing rather than relying solely on brute strength, Cedeño adjusted his approach in the latter half of the match. Despite an uphill battle, William did the unexpected by lasting the full ten rounds against Cedeño. The judges scored the bout unanimously in favor of Cedeño, with all three cards reading 100-88, marking his record at 14-0-1, including 12 knockouts. William, tough as nails despite the defeat, now falls to 16-3 with 12 knockouts.
Kicking off the evening's events, former welterweight title contender Giovani Santillan put on a commendable performance against the unorthodox Courtney Pennington in a super welterweight matchup. After ten rounds of action, the judges awarded Santillan the victory with scores of 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94. This win elevates Santillan's record to 34-1 with 18 knockouts, while Pennington now holds a record of 17-11-3, with 10 knockouts.
