By Ryan Burton

Last night at the Hotel Jaragua in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, light heavyweight contender Felix Valera (16-2) and featherweight prospect Luis "Popyeye" Lebron (10-0-1) picked up knockout victories.

Valera stopped Beibi Berrocal of Colombia in 8 rounds. The Dominican had been out of the ring since losing a ten round unanimous decision to Sullivan Barrera in an HBO televised fight last November.

The 24-year-old Lebron had been out of the ring since June when he captured the WBA Fedelatin featherweight title with a dominant unanimous decision over the then undefeated Manuel Botti (23-2-1) in Atlantic City. He demolished Alan Guzman (19-4) in two rounds.  A combination by Lebron caused a huge bump on Guzman's head and he continued to apply pressure until the referee had no choice but to stop the fight.  He is expected to return to the ring in April.

IN OTHER NEWS:  In what was her American debut, “The Princess”, undefeated 19-year-old World Boxing Federation (WBF) Womens World Middleweight Champion Ema Kozin from Slovenia, made a successful first defense of her crown on Friday night, March 16.

At Remington Park in Oklahoma City, USA, Kozin fended off the gutsy challenge of former IBF world titlist Eva Bajic in impressive fashion, stopping the experienced Serbian in five one-sided rounds in front of a loud crowd.

Kozin made a clear statement that she is one of the best female Middleweights on the planet, and should now be in the mix for super fights against the likes of former WBF World Champion Christina Hammer and American Olympic hero Claressa Shields who is rumoured to be moving down in weight.

Kozin, having won the WBF World title last October in Ljubljana against Kenyan Florence Muthoni, improved her unblemished record to 13-0 (8). Bajic (33), who previously fought under her birth-name Eva Halasi, falls to 13-11 (9).

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