Ivan Golub battered Luis Eduardo Florez, dropping him a handful of times before the fight was stopped in round 6 Saturday night at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida. 

Golub, who is originally from the Ukraine and now resides in Brooklyn, New York, improves to 19-1, 15 knockouts. 

The 32-year-old was returning to the ring since November 2019, when he knocked out Janer Gonzalez of Colombia in round 10. Saturday’s victory marked Golub’s third consecutive knockout victory.

From the opening bell, Golub was in control, working behind a steady jab and landing combinations to the head and body of Flores. Golub dropped Florez with a combination to the body. Florez beat the count, but began looking worse for wear the following round, as his right eye began to swell from the amount of punches he was receiving from Golub. 

Golub dropped Florez in round 5 from a right cross to the head. Florez beat the count, but was dropped a second time in the round by a combination that ended with a right cross to the head. 

Florez was able to make it out of the round, but Golub continued battering him the following round. Golub hurt Florez again past the midway point of the round from a combination. Golub followed up, dropping Florez to one knee with a right hand to the head. Referee Massimo Montanini immediately stopped the bout at 1:58. 

Golub, who is managed by David McWater, has now won last six bouts since losing a controversial decision to Jamontay Clark in June 2017. Promoter Lou DiBella told BoxingScene before the fight discussions were in place as to whether Golub will continue fighting as a welterweight or move up to 154 pounds.

Florez, who resides in Puerto Liberator, Colombia, drops to 25-19, 21 KOs. The 33-year-old has lost nine of his last 10 bouts. 

Junior featherweight Melissa Oddessa Parker defeated Argentina’s Maria Cecilia Roman (15-5-1 1 NC) by majority decision. One judge scored the bout 76-76, while the other two judges scored the bout 80-72 and 78-74 for Oddessa Parker, who is originally from Brooklyn, New York and now resides in Spring, Texas.

The 34-year-old improves to 4-0, 2 KOs.

Fringe junior featherweight contender Ramon Cardenas (19-1, 9 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas defeated Angel Contreras by split-decision, winning a regional title in the process. Cardenas has now won his last seven bouts since losing to Danny Flores in April 2017.

Contreras, who resides in Monterrey, Mexico, drops to 10-4-1, 6 KOs.

Junior welterweight Alex Vargas of Bellport, New York improved to 10-0, 4 KOs by knocking out Mexico’s Jorge Alberto Careaga (4-5) at 29 seconds of the opening round. Careaga has now lost his last three bouts by knockout, all within the first minute of the opening round.

Welterweight Cesar Francis knocked out Gonzalo Dellera (7-10, 5 KOs) of Argentina at 42 seconds of the opening round. Francis, who is originally from Panama and now resides in Brooklyn, New York, goes to 8-0, 6 KOs. 

The card was promoted by One For All Promotions and aired on IFL TV. 

Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing.