At the Downtown Las Vegas Center, Bantamweight Tony Lopez, Jr. (11-2, 4KO’s) from Fort Worth, Texas put on a great performance against the undefeated Stephon Young (15-0-3, 6 KO’s) from St. Louis Missouri but it just wasn’t enough. Lopez clearly was ahead on the cards in the early goings, but Young countered his way back into the fight by connecting with some solid punches and landing several clean right hands.
It was a battle of southpaws, something rare to see, and both had tremendous speed in both hands. Young started his comeback in the fourth round and began to gain the momentum but Lopez forced the action in the fifth round, but Young landed a sharp left hand at the sound of the bell.
In the seventh, Lopez appeared to change tactics and it looked like he was trying to lure his opponent in as he moved around the ring with his hands at his side. Young did not have any of it, and stayed his distance, worked his jab and landed a hard straight left hand at the end of the round.
In the eighth, Young had the momentum and landed a good combination and connected first with other punches. Although the last two rounds were close, Lopez was not able to convince the judges in his favor. Young went on to win and the scorecards read 97-93, 96-94, and 95-95.
Lopez, the former WBC Youth bantamweight champion is one who takes on the best, and this was his third fight against an undefeated opponent since he captured that belt. He is expected to return to the ring and has been quoted on social media that he “will be back.”