Golden Boy promotions produced the first major card of 2024 with Ortiz vs Lawson as the headliner. Vergil Ortiz Jr was making his return from inactivity, having pulled out of three separate bouts in 2023.
Alongside Ortiz vs Lawson, Ohara Davies vs Ishmael Barroso as a WBA Eliminator for the Super Lightweight title was an attractive chief support. Arnold Barboza Jr also made an appearance on the undercard.
Here are the results from the show. We’ll also provide a star rating for the overall show based on entertainment.
Vergil Ortiz vs Fredrick Lawson
This proved to be a farce. Ortiz Jr ended the contest in the first round with the referee Tony Weeks waving the action off at the first sign of trouble. Lawson was being tagging in the first round but was never put under sustained pressure.
Winner by TKO round 1 Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Ohara Davies vs Ismael Barroso
This was massively disappointing. Ohara Davies lasted just two minutes against Ishmael Barroso as he was caught in the first minute and never recovered. Davies entered as a massive favourite and Barroso picked up a shock win that entitles him to his deserved rematch with Rolly Romero.
Winner by TKO round 1 Ismael Barroso
Raul Curiel vs Elias Diaz
Curiel managed to stop Diaz in the eighth round via TKO. Decent action throughout but Curiel wasn’t under significant threat, and the stoppage was just waiting to occur.
Winner by TKO in round 8 Raul Curiel
Arnold Barboza Jr vs Xolisani Ndongeni
Barboza Jr picked up victory with TKO in the eighth round. Barboza controlled the contest and was never particularly troubled.
Winner by TKO in round 8 Arnold Barboza Jr
Ortiz vs Lawson Show Rating
A disappointing start to 2024 as neither the main event or chief support delivered. Ortiz Jr vs Lawson was ruined by the early stoppage, although a now deleted social media post from Tony Weeks suggested Lawson was never fit to fight.
Ohara Davies vs Barroso was extremely disappointing from a British perspective. Losing isn’t the problem, but he didn’t land a punch and it wasn’t a contest. Barroso caught him cold, and at least he is in line for a rematch with Rolly Romero. In theory at least.
The two earlier undercard bouts were decent enough, solid rather than spectacular.
⭐️⭐️ 2 stars out of 5