By Jake Donovan
Befitting of his nickname, lightning didn't strike twice this time around. Salka scored a major upset less than an hour from home with a 10-round decision win over previously unbeaten Alexei Collado in their ShoBox main event Friday evening at the Convention Center in Monroeville, PA.
Scores were 96-93 (twice) and 96-94. Salka scored a knockdown in round three and fended off a late rally from Collado to preserve the biggest victory of his career.
UNDERCARD
Felix Diaz ran the tables in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, capturing a Gold medal for the Dominican Republic. Despite a perfect record in the pro ranks, the southpaw is not enjoying anywhere near the same level of success. The latest piece of evidence came in a struggling eight-round split decision over Emmanuel Lartey in their televised co-feature.
The bout was the first of 2014 for Diaz and also his first since working with red-hot trainer Robert Garcia. The experience of training with some of the best in the sport around his weight - including welterweight Marcos Maidana, who faces Floyd Mayweather next month - has proven valuable, but the results didn't translate in Friday's fight.
Lartey (15-2-1, 7KO) is best known for taking another Olympic boxer the full eight rounds in his last ring appearance, disrupting Errol Spence's knockout streak although dropping a wide decision last October. Whle Spence was a 1st round knockout winner in another show on Friday evening, Lartey was once again standing tall against a former decorated amateur boxer.
Diaz eventually took the lead, but never seemed in full control of the fight. The unbeaten welterweight was the superior boxer of the two, but at 5'5" - very short for the super lightweight and welterweight divisions where he spends his time - found himself in an inside fight more often than should have been the case.
Scores were 77-75 across the board - one card in favor of Lartey, though overruled by matching cards in favor of Diaz, who improves to 15-0 (8KO). The welterweight looks to be a work in progess, but at 30 years old will have to step up the pace on that front.
The feature attraction of the evening saw local welterweight Sammy Vasquez bring the crowd and a lot of pain. The unbeaten knockout artist scored three knockdowns en route to a 1st round stoppage of unbeaten but overmatched Juan Rodriguez Jr.
Vasquez - a decorated military veteran who served two tours of duty overseas in Iraq - didn't waste any time gunning for the knockout. A huge admirer of Tyson the fighter, Vasquez impressed his promoter and former baddest man on the planet, dropping Rodriguez seconds into the fight.
The evening jumped off from there, as fans were on the edge of their seats in anticipation of a spectacular finish. Vasquez didn't disappoint. A vicious body attack paved the way for the second knockdown midway through the fight. The Monessen (PA) native was persistent in his attack, with a volley of power punches sending Rodriguez Jr. to the canvas for a third and final time, bringing an end to the fight.
The official time was 2:49 of round one.
Vasquez improves to 14-0 (10KO) with the win, his second since signing with Iron Mike Productions earlier this year. Rodriguez Jr. suffers his firsr pro loss, falling to 11-1 (5KO).
Vasquez' involvement on the show prompting the Armed Forces Network to pick up the live feed, allowing over 1 million military members to tune in around the world.
Off-TV, teenage sensation Erickson Lubin remains perfect as a pro after scoring a 2nd round knockout of Jovan Ramirez (3-2, 0KO). Lubin needed just three minutes and 18 seconds to get his work done, giving him barely 15 minutes worth of ring action through five fights as a pro.
Lubin (5-0, 5KO) has struggled to find opposition willing to face him, but the 18-year old - who made his pro debut just five months ago - remains active. The Florida native left a lasting impression on ringside observers, including Showtime commentator Steve Farhood, whose reaction was simply, "Wow!"
Yudel Jhonson picked up his third straight win with an eight-round shutout of Lenwood Dozier. The Cuban southpaw - now fighting out of Miami - scored an opening round knockdown but was forced to settle for a clean sweep on all three scorecards, winning 80-71 across the board to advance to 15-1 (9KO).
Albert Bell has gone four rounds in each of his first four bouts to date. The 21-year old Miami-based prospect scored a 4th round knockout in his first pro fight, but has been extended the four-round distance in each fight since.
The latest resulted in a four-round sweep of overmatched Micah Branch (now 2-10-1, 0KO). Scores were 40-36 across the board in their curtain raiser.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com, as well as the Records Keeper for the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and a member of Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
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