On Saturday night at Mexico City’s iconic Big Bola Casino, and broadcasted on DAZN PPV, promoters Fernando Beltran (Promociones Zanfer), Floyd Mayweather (Mayweather Promotions), and Richard Schaefer (Mayweather Promotions) presented an 8×2 round rematch exhibition between former multi-division world champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and John Gotti III. The match offered little for fans to cheer about and dealt another black eye to boxing.
In the first round,after mostly going through the motions, the bell sounded, and Gotti had to inform Referee Hector Afu that the round had ended. At the second round’s end, the “circus continued” with Mayweather waving the referee out of the ring to be replaced. Gotti hardly threw a punch, and Mayweather landed some jabs. In the third round, the farce continued with Gotti up against the ropes, not doing anything but complaining. Mayweather landed what little there was. In the fourth round, it was all Mayweather for what was landed. In the fifth round, Mayweather landed what little was landed, with Gotti landing one left hook. In the sixth round, the new referee had little control over what was happening, with Mayweather landing what was landed. In the seventh round, more of the same occurred, with Mayweather landing what little was landed. In the eighth and final round, the fans started booing for a good reason. Mayweather, who ended his career at 50-0, and Gotti 2-0? The fans booed when ring announcer Jimmy Lennon asked for a round of applause for both.
In an exhibition, Super Welter southpaw ‘Vicious’ Victor Ortiz, 33-7-3 (25), of Garden City, KS, with no decision due to it being an exhibition, faced southpaw Rodrigo ‘Tanko’ Cordia, 21-8-1 (11), of MEX, Houston, TX, over 8×2 rounds. In the first four rounds, both southpaws gave the fans something to cheer about. In the last four rounds, it slowed down.
In the co-feature, WBC Silver Super Bantam champ and No. 1 ranked Alan Picasso, 29-0-1 (16), #121.5, of Mexico City, MEX, defeated ‘Crazy A’ Azat Hovhannisyan, 21-5 (17), #121.7, of Armenia and L.A., CA, over 12 solid rounds. For some reason, they allowed part of the Picasso entourage, after doing the ring walk, to come into the ring and still sing, holding things up. In the first two rounds, Picasso out-landed Hovhannisyan.
In the third round, Picasso went to the body, with Hovhannisyan countering. In the fourth round, Hovhannisyan was deducted a point for a low blow that had Picasso on the canvas by Referee Hector Afu. From the fifth through the seventh round, it went back and forth with Picasso having an edge.
In the eighth round, it was all action, though several clinches occurred in between. In the ninth round, Picasso did well until the final seconds when Hovhannisyan landed a flurry of punches. In the tenth round, though with much swelling under both eyes, Hovhannisyan had a good round.
In the eleventh round, the action continued by both in another close round. In the twelfth and final round, it was full of action for the most part, with Hovhannisyan having a slight edge. Scores of 118-110 twice and especially 120-108 seemed way out of line.
Super Middle southpaw Louis ‘Zurdo’ Rodriguez, 15-1 (14), #122, of Mexico City, MEX, lost by majority decision to Cesar Vaca, 17-1-1 (11), #124, of Guadalajara, MEX, over 10 rounds.
In the first two rounds, Rodriguez followed Vaca around the ring with little action. In the third round, both mixed it up well in the final minute. In the next three rounds, Rodriguez tried getting Vaca to engage and when he did, he landed an occasional right to the chin. In the seventh round, Rodriguez decided to do what Vaca had done for the last three rounds, nothing.
In the ninth, there was little action. In the tenth and final round, Vaca picked Rodriguez apart, having his best round. Referee Alfredo Uruzquieta. Scores: 95-95, 97-94, and 98-92.
Lightweight 18-year-old prospect Curmel Melton, 5-0 (4), #134 ½, of Las Vegas, NV, stopped Victor Vazquez, 5-3-1 (0), #137, of Tapachula, MEX, at 0:55 of the first round of a scheduled 6 rounds. In the first round, a left hook from Melton was followed by three punches to the chin, dropping Vazquez. He tried beating the count as referee Laurentino Ramirez Oropeza waved it off.
Silver Middle Aaron Silva, 16-1 (12), of Monterrey, MEX, stopped late sub Alberto ‘Pollo’ Artiga, 6-14 (2), of MEX, in 3 rounds of a scheduled 8 rounds. In the first round, Artiga suffered a small cut on the bridge of his nose. In the third round, Silva landed three unanswered punches, forcing the referee to call a halt.
Light Fly late sub Arlen Sanchez, 5-7-4 (1), of Tlalnepantla, MEX, lost to Cecilia Rodriguez, 14-1-1 (6), of Monterrey, MEX, over 8×2 competitive rounds. In the first two rounds, Sanchez made a fight of it, though losing both rounds. In the third round, Sanchez started to slow down, with Rodriguez taking the round. In the fourth and fifth rounds, Sanchez got her second wind, outworking Rodriguez. In the sixth round, Rodriguez came back well, going to the body with uppercuts. In the seventh and eighth and final rounds, it was Sanchez out-landing Rodriguez. Referee Alfredo Uruzquieta.
Ring Announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr.
