By Ryan Burton

Tonight's edition of Boxeo Telemundo takes place at the Osceola Heritage Center in Kissimmee, Florida.  Sammy Valentin (13-1), of Puerto Rican descent, bounced back from his July stoppage loss to Giovanni Santillan in a big way by stopping Alejandro Barboza (11-1) in 5 rounds. 

Valentin controlled the bout from the opening bell, landing several power shots.  Barboza landed some of his own big shots but they didn't have much effect on the stronger Valentin.  Barboza would hit the canvas twice in a big fourth round for Valentin. 

Barboza had a better fourth round but the recovery was short lived as the Mexican hit the canvas two more times in the fifth. The referee had seen enough and stopped the fight at the 1:14 mark.

2016 US Olympian Antonio Vargas (5-0) routed Jonathan Garza (6-1) in their super bantamweight battle of prospects. Garza hit the deck in the first round and really never got going. Vargas, who is promoted by Top Rank, dominated the entire fight and won 60-53 on all three cards.

Hairon Socarras (16-0-3) took a step back when he battled Gabino Cota (19-8-1) to a majority draw. Socarras’ advantage in speed was evident from the opening bell as he beat Cota to the punch early on. Cota was the more physical fighter and began to push Socarras into the ropes in the second half of the fight and landed some of his own power shots. Socarras, from Cuba, was a big favorite heading into the fight against the Mexican journeyman. The final scores were 57-57, 57-57 and 59-55 for Socarras. 

IN OTHER NEWS: Last Tuesday, Adrián "Magico" Briones knocked out Rodolfo "Increíble" Macias in the first round, but when he handed over his bandages to the Monterrey Box Commission, it was discovered that they were altered, so he was disqualified.

The welterweight fight was expected to be competitive and explosive, as both fighters have power in their fists. Ten seconds into the first round, Briones hurt his rival, sending him to the canvas.

Rodolfo Ramírez, head of the COMBOX in Monterrey, asked for the bandages of the winner and it was discovered that they had been altered, so he was disqualified and his salary was also withheld, as this action had put his opponent at serious risk.

Briones was suspended by the World Boxing Council and FECOMBOX indefinitely. He and his team will be summoned to a meeting to explain what happened.

The WBC and the Mexican commission will look to minimize the acts that in one way or another give advantages to one opponent over the other. In a joint statement, the two organizations said that they plan to continue working hard to make boxing a cleaner and safer sport for all fighters.

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