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In a WBC super bantamweight world bout in Arizona, Britain's Ramla Ali lost by unanimous decision to Yamirez Mercado, with the Mexican fighter retaining his WBC super bantamweight world title.
The 34-year-old Ali was seeking his first world title in Phoenix, but Mercado scored a 98-92, 98-93, 97-93 unanimous decision in favor of the 26-year-old Ali to defend his title for the seventh time.
Mercado, who has held the belt since 2019, started well and stifled Ali's counterpunching in the later rounds to secure the win.
“I didn't get a result tonight but I did get some love,” Ali wrote on Instagram.
“I wish Yamiles and the judges the best of luck.”
Meanwhile, Britain's Sonny Edwards is back on winning track with a unanimous points victory over Mexican flyweight Adrian Curiel.
Edwards, who lost his first career fight to Jesse Rodriguez in December, had the fight scored 90-82, 88-84 and 87-85 by the judges.
However, the ringside doctor ordered the referee to stop the bout due to Edwards' cut over his right eye, and the bout was ended early before the ninth round.
The fighters' heads collided in the sixth round, leading to a cut, a decision that left fans booing and Edwards perplexed.
“I don't know if the crowd understands what happened, but I have nothing to do with this,” he said.
“The ref stopped the game. I'm more upset than any of the 10,000 fans there. I thought I could get him out of here.”
Rodriguez followed up his win over Edwards in December with a knockout victory over Juan Estrada to continue his unbeaten streak.
The 24-year-old landed a devastating body punch in the seventh round to become the new super-flyweight world champion as recognised by the WBC and Ring Magazine.
“I saw him rolling on the floor,” Rodriguez said, “and I knew that was the end.”
The American had to survive his own knockdown in the fifth round, dropping to the canvas for the first time in his professional career.
“The first time I got dropped, it was crazy,” Rodriguez said.
“I got punched and the next thing I knew I was on the floor. But that's the kind of experience I'd always wanted.”
