Highlights: Gabriela Fundora stops Badillo to stay undisputed, Conwell loses split decision upset

Gabriela Fundora is still undisputed after winning the main event, and Charles Conwell suffers a big setback in the chief support

Gabriela Fundora gave a complete performance with a punishing finish in her first main event tonight on DAZN from Oceanside, California, finishing off Marilyn Badillo midway through the 7th round to remain the undisputed flyweight champion.

Fundora (16-0, 8 KO) used her natural size advantages brilliantly, exploiting her absurd reach and denying her opponent opportunities to generate much offense. Badillo (19-1-1, 3 KO) wasn’t inept, and showed a lot of tools, but couldn’t get them in sync or fully work her arsenal against someone with the size, power, and savvy of Fundora. When she tied Fundora up, Fundora would pound on her midsection. When she tried to dart in from outside Fundora’s reach, Fundora consistently intercepted her before Badillo could make that strategy work. Badillo was almost jumping into her punches to try and hit Fundora high, and eating enough jabs to cause an early hematoma when she focused on Fundora’s body instead.

Fundora was just dominant from open to close, shaking Badillo up in the 2nd, really connecting with power combos in the 6th, then finally forcing Badillo to take a knee midway through the 7th. Badillo did get up, but was shaking her head and the fight was waved off, giving Fundora yet another stoppage finish.

No telling what’s next for Fundora, who retains all the major belts at flyweight. Yokasta Valle was interviewed midway through the card, and she weighed in for her last fight half a pound smaller than Fundora did for tonight. It’s one thing to do that for late career Marlen Esparza, another to do it for Fundora, an undisputed champion southpaw with a 6” height advantage and clear finishing power. But, Valle did describe a strategy for beating Fundora that came through with the hilarious translation: “Punish her in the bottom.”

Jorge Perez SD-12 Charles Conwell

Solid fight, quality work both ways, but Jorge Perez (33-4, 26 KO) just had a better game plan and a more consistent effort that carried him to a well deserved split decision victory.

I had this one even through the 6th, with both men making an argument in very tight rounds. But Conwell (21-1-1, 16 KO) started favoring cuts, and Perez picked up a few in a row that eventually swung the fight his way. Conwell’s corner looked increasingly discouraged across the latter half, even when he rallied to edge a few late rounds on my unofficial card. They were right to worry, as official scores came in 115-113 Perez, 115-113 Conwell, and 115-113 Perez, giving Conwell his first pro defeat and Perez a well deserved upset.

No highlights available, which is a shame since there were plenty to choose from in almost every round. Very fun fight, very fair scores, and a rematch would be welcome if they choose to run it back again.

Tristan Kalkreuth UD-10 Felix Valera

Officially a wide decision victory for Kalkreuth (15-1, 10 KO), but not an inspiring one. This one went off at heavyweight instead of cruiser because Kalkreuth didn’t want to cut weight for a last minute opponent booking, and he fought like a guy that hadn’t taken it very seriously. Kalkreuth looked flat and listless, and got his head snapped back way too much for someone that’s still being pushed as a prospect. The crowd really started booing in the 6th, and Kalkreuth’s corner started pleading with him to let his hands go before the start of the 7th.

The live discussion focused on whether Kalkreuth was giving away the decision, but official scores came in for him at 99-91, 99-91, and 97-93. The 7-3 was arguably a round wide for Kalkreuth, and the 9-1 scores were just silly. Whatever the margin on the cards, Valera (23-8, 20 KO) made Kalkreuth fail the eye test. The 37 year old Valera has a full career proving he’s a tough, capable fighter, but not on the level of world champions, or title contenders, or even quite Top 10 challengers. Still, he made Kalkreuth look ineffectual, and less than basic.

Ruslan Abdullaev UD-8 Jino Rodrigo

Solid showing from Abdullaev (2-0, 1 KO), in a much sterner test than the typical 2nd pro fight for a 22 year old. Rodrigo (13-5-2, 11 KO) wasn’t there to make a prospect look good, fighting aggressively and throwing hard until accumulated damage really killed his output in the last two rounds.

Rodrigo had moments, nailing a big right hook in the 3rd and landing another sweet hook while getting knocked down in the 4th. But, Abdullaev was just too sharp and disciplined, and the wildness of Rodrigo was punished at every opportunity.

Entertaining fight overall, with some wrestling nonsense in the 7th that saw referee Tom Taylor do some opportunistic comedy, then give a very stern warning to Abdullaev. If Abdullaev’s feelings were hurt, unanimous 80-71 scorecards probably boosted his spirits.

Joel Iriarte TKO-1 Marcos Jimenez

Not much to analyze in a one-sided 104 second fight. Iriarte (7-0, 7 KO) put Jimenez (25-12, 17 KO) on the ropes and dropped him with a hook to the temple, and Jimenez’s corner decided to stop things right there. Seven wins with seven knockouts, and we’ll see how quickly Golden Boy moves the 21 year old prospect along by the end of the year.