Video: Alberto Machado upsets Jezreel Corrales with dramatic comeback KO
Puerto Rico’s Alberto Machado is the new WBA 130-pound champion after knocking out Jezreel Corrales in the HBO Boxing main event.
Jezreel Corrales (22-2-1 NC, 8 KOs) was supposed to defend his WBA junior lightweight (130 lbs) belt against Alberto Machado (19-0, 16 KOs) in an HBO Boxing main event, but Corrales missed weight by three pounds and was stripped of his title on the scales. This meant that the title was only on the line for Machado, who came into this contest as the underdog.
It looked as if Corrales was on his way to a decision win, having hurt Machado multiple times, as well as knocking him down (rather dubiously) in round 5, but Machado stayed in the fight, and in round 8, the Puerto Rican fighter knocked the Panamanian down with a left hook. Corrales got up just about at the count of 10, but the referee waived it off, as he was in no condition to continue. Our colleagues at Bad Left Hook had Corrales up 69-63 at the time of the stoppage.
Watch the highlights at the bottom of the page:
Corrales sends Machado to the canvas in the 5th. #CorralesMachado pic.twitter.com/KvayoI2GoO
— HBOboxing (@HBOboxing) October 22, 2017
In the 8th, @xplosivomachado sends @corralesjezreel home early with an explosive KO. #CorralesMachado pic.twitter.com/jasEJX4XVJ
— HBOboxing (@HBOboxing) October 22, 2017
A closer look at the straight left hand from @xplosivomachado that ended the fight. #CorralesMachado pic.twitter.com/snee2Wrx9D
— HBOboxing (@HBOboxing) October 22, 2017
With this win, Machado is the new WBA champion, and someone to pay attention to more closely moving forward. The other champs at 130 pounds are WBC titleholder Miguel Berchelt and WBO champ Vasyl Lomachenko. Gervonta Davis previously held the IBF title until he missed weight for the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor undercard, so that belt is vacant.