Sulem Urbina defeated Jhosep Vizcaino by split-decision Saturday night at the Commerce Casino in Commerce, California. 

One judge scored the bout 58-56 for Vizcaino, while the other two judges scored the bout 60-54 and 59-55 for Urbina, who improves to 13-2-1, 2 knockouts. 

Urbina, who is originally from Hermosillo, Mexico and now resides in Phoenix, Arizona, snapped a three-fight winless streak.

From the opening bell, Urbina and Vizcaino fought in the pocket, producing solid exchanges between the two. Urbina found success throwing and landing two left hooks, or a left hook followed by a left uppercut, to the head. Vizcaino was able to vary her offense well, connecting with lead or counter right hands to the head of Urbina.

As the fight entered the middle rounds, Urbina began asserting herself more. Despite fighting in spurts, Urbina landed the more-effective punches to Vizcaino’s head and body.

The pace of the fight slowed during the final two rounds. Urbina created distance between the two and was content to outbox Vizcaino, who attempted to get on inside of Urbina’s guard to connect punches. 

The 32-year-old challenged then-WBA Female world flyweight titleholder Naoko Fujioka on July 9, losing by majority decision. Urbina suffered her first loss as a pro at the hands of Marlen Esparza in October 2020. 

Urbina was beginning to doubt her ability during her winless streak. She was able to put that behind her and hopes to return to the ring as soon as possible to carry the momentum from Saturday’s win. 

“When I heard the scores, I was disappointed and worried it was going to be another nightmare,” Urbina told Boxingscene Thursday night. “I knew it was a competitive fight, but I know I won.”

“It took a lot for me to get back into the ring mentally. After not having won a fight since 2020, I went in there full of doubt. The truth is, in the ring, I knew I couldn’t lose and (I) stepped up.”

Vizcaino, who resides in Quito, Ecuador, drops to 10-10, 3 KOs. The 25-year-old had lost her previous three bouts to Seniesa Estrada, Adelaida Ruiz, and, most recently, Marlen Esparza. 

In the co-feature, lightweight Eric Mondragon knocked out journeyman Mario Aguirre in the fourth round. 

Mondragon, who resides in nearby Maywood, improves to 7-0-1, 4 KOs.

The 23-year-old dominated the fight behind a consistent jab. During the fourth round, a left hook to the chin of Aguirre dropped him to the canvas. Referee Sharon Sands immediately stopped the fight at 1:21.

Aguirre, who is originally from Chula Vista, California and now resides across the border in Tijuana, Mexico, drops to 3-18-1, 2 KOs.

Junior middleweight Leonardo de Stefano Ruiz dropped Jose Leon (7-6-1, 6 KOs) of Visalia, California twice en route to a first round knockout win at 1:49. Ruiz was making his U.S. debut after fighting in Germany, where he is originally from, and Mexico. 

Super middleweight Kenneth Lopez of Ceres, California improved to 6-0, 3 KOs by defeating Saint Louis’ Daniel Jefferson (1-3) by unanimous decision. Scores were 40-36, 40-36, and 39-37 for Lopez. 

Bantamweight Hector Lopez of nearby Compton was successful in his pro debut, dropping Mexico’s Jonathan Tejeda (0-3) once in the second round en route to a decision victory. All three judges scored the bout 40-35 in favor of Lopez.  

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