Boxing has returned to the Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo with M & R Boxing Promotions hosting a thrilling promotional debut at the new venue. With a stacked card of competitive fights boxing in Miami has returned. The main event had plenty of drama with Jose Velasquez, 27-6, 19 KO’s, upsetting W.B.A. #5 ranked bantamweight contender Melvin Lopez, 21-1, 12 KO’s.

The 5’2″ Chilean tough guy Velasquez, 30, has never been stopped and pressured the 21-year old 5’7″ southpaw from the opening bell. The Miami fighter Lopez was the sharper boxer but Velasquez’s relentlessness vanquished boxing acumen. Lopez landed everything but the kitchen sink on Velasquez’s over sized melon but the punches never seemed to have any affect on the stocky underdog.

Lopez’s best moments in the fight came via left uppercuts dug into Velasquez’s solar plexus which caused the iron chinned warrior to wince in pain. The moments of success to the body were few and far between for Lopez and eventually Velasquez’s man strength, determination and bruising bodyshots flattened the young kid’s tires.

The end came 9th with Velasquez landing a thudding head shot that floored the grizzled down Lopez. Lopez beat the count after the first assault but was overwhelmed seconds later by a beautiful short left hook to the button that collapsed Lopez on his back. The referee immediately waved off the fight at 1:58 as he stood over a motionless Lopez.

Velasquez did a couple of impressive back flips before shedding tears of joy in a ring corner. Velasquez got off to rough start early in his career being used as an opponent but has an impressive 19-0 mark with 16 KO’s after his rocky introduction to the manly art of self defense. ESPN2 News expects the rugged Velasquez to fight for a major belt in the near future.

A prospect to keep an eye that shined on the undercard is 22-year old lightweight Antonio Williams, 12-0-1, 6 KO’s. The Texas native is a fast-twitch athlete with lightning quick hands that could make some noise.

• Special thanks to M & R Boxing promotor Laura Ching who dedicated this boxing event to cancer awareness.

NOTABLE UNDERCARD RESULTS

Antonio Williams KO1 Daulis Prescott

Alexei Collado KO3 Matias Arriagada

Ulysses Diaz KO1 Israel Echevarria

Josec Ruiz UD8 Ramon Sena