Sadam Ali returns with victory topping off-TV Canelo-Smith undercard

By Jeff Zimmerman and Miguel Maravilla at ringside

Welterweight Sadam Ali (23-1, 13KOs) scored a 4th round knockdown in a wild exchange via right hook but could not stop the tough Saul Corral (21-8, 12KOs) as it went the full 10 rounds on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas. Ali came out early and landed his jab consistently, shots to the body and overhand rights. However after Ali dropped Corral, that seemed to energize Corral and he became the aggressor from the 6th round on.

Photo: Tom Hogan -Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

Ali came out with a big unanimous decision 99-91, 99-90 twice, although the fight was a lot closer than the scores indicate. This was a big win for Ali coming off his first loss in a world title fight against Jessie Vargas.

One of Golden Boy’s bright young prospects out of Dallas, super lightweight Vergil Ortiz (2-0, 2KO), showed to President Eric Gomez sitting ringside why he looks to have a bright future. Ortiz came out from the opening bell and threw two quick jabs against Ernesto Hernandez (1-4, 1KO) that missed and then threw a straight right hand that cracked the jaw of Hernandez and put him out without a count. The time of the KO was 40 seconds of the 1st round.

Lightweight Hector Tanajara Jr. (7-0, 4 KOs) of San Antonio won a unanimous decision over Roy Garcia (3-20-1, 2 KOs) in a scheduled four round bout. Tanajara boxed patiently working from a distance as he teed off of Garcia for four rounds in route to a unanimous decision win. All three judges scored the bout 40-36.

San Antonio bantamweight Joshua Franco (7-0, 4 KOs) scored a spectacular third round knockout over Brian Bazan (9-3, 6 KOs) in a scheduled six round bout. Bazan stunned Franco in the opening round however the Texas fighter kept his composure as he landed combinations in return. Fighting at fast pace Franco dropped Bazan with a left uppercut in round three. The Tijuana fighter got up but a left uppercut found its mark again sending Bazan to the canvas for a second time. Franco finished it in round four as he knocked Bazan out cold with the left uppercut.

Golden Boy prospect super lightweight Zachary Ochoa (16-0, 7KOs) won a tough unanimous decision against the gritty Daniel Montoya (11-5, 8KOs). It took a while for Ochoa to get going but by the 5th and 6th rounds he took control of the fight landing hard shots to the head and body of Montoya. Montoya with a cut on the bridge of his nose, kept coming forward and had his moments as well. Ochoa landed the heavier blows throughout and was able to earn the highly competitive decision. The scores read 79-73 twice and 80-72 for Ochoa.

Super welterweight Alexis Salazar (8-3, 3Kos) worked the body and the head against Larry “SloMo” Smith (10-29-1, 6KOs) over the first couple of rounds but was unable to land the big blow to put the savvy veteran from Dallas away. As the fight wore on, Smith stayed in the pocket with Salazar and made it a competitive fight, although he never hurt Salazar. The younger Salazar in the end brought a little too much to the table for Smith and won a unanimous decision. The scores read 60-54 twice and 58-56 for Salazar.

In the opening bout at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, Britain’s Anthony Yarde (8-0, 7KOs) dropped a short left-handed hook on the awkward Rafer Johnson (11-22, 5KOs) as he was against the ropes. The shot clearly hurt him as the ropes were holding him up. After a quick look, the referee waved it off at 2:10 of the 1st round. Yarde remains undefeated with the TKO.