LAS VEGAS–In the last appetizer before the main card headlined by the super featherweight unification bout between Oscar Valdez and Shakur Stevenson at the MGM Grand Garden Arena inside the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Raymond Muratalla (14-0, 12 KOs) of Fontana, California scored an impressive third-round stoppage of Jeremy Hill (16-3, 11 KOs) of New Orleans, Louisiana to claim the minor WBC USNBC silver lightweight title.

After controlling the first minute of the bout, Muratalla, 134.8, landed a clean right that appeared to drop Hill, 134, two-thirds of the way through round one. Despite motioning as such, referee Tony Weeks apparently informed the official scorers that Hill was not knocked down, as he somehow managed to keep his gloves just off the canvas. Muratalla continued his relentless onslaught throughout the second round, punishing Hill along the ropes and landing clean with his right hand.

In the third, lefts to the body softened Hill up for more punishment upstairs as Muratalla forced him to drop his hands to protect against the attack. Muratalla would land another left to the body that opened Hill up for a two-punch combination that dropped his game, but overmatched adversary hard to the mat. Weeks only got his count up to about five before deciding to call for the stoppage at 2:27 of the third round.

Rising super featherweight prospect Andres Cortes (17-0, 10 KOs) of Las Vegas scored an exciting and impressive sixth-round stoppage of a game Alexis del Bosque (18-6-1, 9 KOs) of Dallas, Texas.

After a feeling-out first round between Cortes, 131.8, and del Bosque, 131.6, the action heated up in the second round and did not let up through the rest of the bout. Cortes opened up over the left eye of del Bosque in the fourth and had the Dallas resident in some serious trouble soon thereafter. Cortes would land a well placed body shot that dropped del Bosque midway through the fourth. Del Bosque continued to fight back off the ropes and weathered the storm for the rest of the round.

In the fifth, del Bosque sprang back to some life and found spots when Cortes would let off the gas pedal. Still, the overall momentum of the bout was Cortes’ as eventually del Bosque could not keep up with the pressure. In the sixth, Cortes landed a beautiful straight right, left, right combination directly down the middle on a weary del Bosque. Somehow, del Bosque managed to get back up on his shaky legs, but referee Celestino Ruiz mercifully called a halt to the bout 43 seconds of round six.

Cortes, who signed a promotional pact with Top Rank earlier this year, appears primed for a bout with a world ranked contender in the near future.

Former national amateur champion Troy Isley (5-0, 3 KOs) of Alexandria, Virginia dominated Anthony Hannah (3-3, 2 KOs) of Augusta, Georgia with speed and aggression en route to a second-round stoppage.

Hannah, 156.8, was in constant retreat as the classy Isley, 157.4, forced him to the edges of the ring throughout.

Isley landed a hard jab to the body to down Hannah midway through the second. Another jab to the body, followed by a glancing right, scored a second knockdown, prompting the corner to throw in the towel as referee Robert Hoyle began counting to ten. Time of the stoppage was 2:33 of the second.

18-year-old former youth national amateur champion Abdullah Mason (2-0, 2 KO) of Cleveland, Ohio punished normally tough Luciano Ramos (1-3) of Stockton, California by way of Buenos Aires, Argentina en route to a first-round stoppage victory.

Mason, 136.4, was simply too fast and too strong for Ramos, 137.8, to weather. Mason quickly forced Ramos to the ropes, landing in combination. A stiff body shot that left Ramos reeling, led to a Mason flurry along the ropes that prompted referee Tony Weeks to call a halt to the bout at 2:32 of round two.

Antoine Cobb (1-0-1, 1 KO) of Chicago, Illinois was lucky to leave Las Vegas with his “O” in tact as Jaylan Phillips (1-2-1, 1 KO) of Ebro, Florida clearly won three of the four rounds in the opening bout of the evening, but failed to convince two of the official scorers. 

Phillips, 142.4, troubled Cobb, 143.6, fighting out of the southpaw stance and applying constant pressure. Cobb woke up the sparse opening doors crowd with two solid rights to close the second round, but it would be his lone shinning moment. Phillips was again the aggressor in the third, forcing Cobb to the corners and landing clean. Phillips dominated the action in the fourth, landing flurries on a retreating Cobb for much of the round. In the end, Phillips took the dissenting card 39-37 in the majority draw. The other two judges scored the bout even, 38-38. 

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 26, 2022) – Rising star and undefeated super featherweight, Andres “Savage” Cortes (16-0, 9 KOs), returns to action this Saturday, April 30, 2022, against Alexis del Bosque (18-5-1, 9 KOs) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cortes vs. Bosque will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+.

Cortes is coming off two explosive knockouts against Genesis Servania (34-3, 16 KOs) and Mark Bernaldez (23-5, 17 KOs) of which both were seen nationally on ESPN. Here is what Cortes had to say about his recent training camp, his matchup with Bosque, and more.

On his recent training camp in Las Vegas:

“Things have been great. I am training at top speed, I’m focused, and working hard towards my goals. I have been around world-class fighters this whole camp, getting great sparring with all the top guys in Vegas. My brother Luis is my coach and he’s been working on all aspects of my game. We work great together, and I’ll be in great shape going into this fight.”

On his matchup with Alexis del Bosque:

“I know he is tough, and durable. He hasn’t lost in six fights, and his last two losses were by split decision and majority decision. I know he isn’t coming to lay down and will be fighting with winning on his mind. He seems tricky and awkward, but nothing that I haven’t seen before. It’s going to be a great fight for the fans.”

On what a win will do for his career:

“A win is a massive statement and a huge achievement at this point in my career. This is a card that a lot of people are not just watching but attending as well. The fact that so many people are looking at this card motivates me to put forth a world-class performance, as I know the arena will fill up early. A victory will put me in a great position to fight a big name, which is exactly what I’m looking for. I’m ready to take on all the top guys in the division.”

On officially fighting under the Top Rank banner:

“This is massive for me to be with Top Rank! To me, Top Rank is the industry leader in terms of boxing promotions, and to be with them says I am one of the best fighters in the world. I know I am capable of being a world champion and that is my goal, and that has been the mission with this camp. Knowing I am making my Top Rank debut has motivated.”

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 14, 2022) – Undefeated super featherweight,
Andres Cortes (16-0, 9 KOs), who recently signed a multiyear promotional with Top Rank Inc., will return to action on April 30th, against Alexis del Bosque (18-5-1, 9 KOs), at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cortes vs. Bosque will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+.

“I am fired up to be on such a massive card and my goal will be to continue this knockout streak I have going, “stated the 24-year-old Cortes. “I have made big statements in my last few fights, and I want to keep that momentum going. I’m grateful that I’m starting to get noticed and now I am all-in on performing to the highest level of my abilities. I am chasing greatness and I am looking to get into the world title picture by the end of the year.”

In August of last year, Cortes scored a devastating first-round knockout against former world title challenger Genesis Servania (34-3, 16 KOs). A crushing right hand-left hook combo sent Servania to the canvass. Cortes followed up that great performance by stopping durable Mark Bernaldez (23-5, 17 KOs), by way of a third round KO. Both fights were seen nationally on ESPN. The boxing world is excited about the potential emergence of a breakout superstar in Cortes.

“I feel as good as ever and I am approaching my prime,” continued Cortes, who will be fighting for the first time as an officially signed Top Rank fighter. “I can’t wait to mix it up with the best fighters in the world. I look at all the great fighters Top Rank has promoted and it’s an honor to be on their roster. I’m ready to fight on these great cards, now it is my time to shine. I’m always going to entertain the fans and show them just how hard I have been working.”

“This is a great chance to continue on the momentum created with the last two fights we had with Top Rank,” said Luis Cortes, brother, and trainer of Andres. “Little bro has worked so hard for his first fight since signing with Top Rank. Andres takes great pride being promoted with Top Rank and wants to let everyone know he is very close to fighting for a world title.”