In a bout that had ‘classic’ written all over it from the day it was signed, WBA lightweight champion Brandon Rios (28-0-1, 20 KOs) scored an explosive third round TKO over challenger Urbano Antillon (28-3, 20 KOs) on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Both fighters met in the center of the ring and traded shots in every round as long as it lasted. Antillon was dropped early in round three and fought back valiantly until he was floored again and referee David Mendoza waved it off when Antillon staggered into the ropes on his own moments later. Time was 2:49.

Upset artist Carlos Molina (19-4-2, 6 KOs) has done it again. Molina took the fight to former IBF welterweight champion Kermit Cintron (32-4-1, 28 KOs) and came away with a ten round unanimous decision in a junior middleweight scrap. Molina landed most the clean shots in a breakout performance, while Cintron never got untracked. Scores were 98-92 on all cards.

Fighting for the first time under the Top Rank banner, unbeaten lightweight Mercito Gesta overwhelmed Jorge Pimentel, dropping him three times in less than three rounds before the fight was stopped. The southpaw Gesta (22-0-1, 11 KO’s) dropped Pimentel once in each round. After a devastating right uppercut dropped Pimentel (22-12 1NC, 15 KO’s) in the third round, referee Raul Caiz, Jr. stepped in and stopped the bout at 2:23.

Light heavyweight Mike Lee, a recent graduate of Notre Dame, remained unbeaten with a third round stoppage victory over Michael Birthmark in a scheduled four round bout. Lee (6-0, 4 KO’s) dropped Birthmark with a right hand to the head in the first round. Birthmark (2-6, 1 KO) hung in there, but was dropped twice more in the third round by body shots. Referee Jerry Cantu stepped in and stopped the bout at 2:54 after the second knockdown in the round. Lee is trained by Ronnie Shields.

Middleweight Matt Korobov won a workmanlike eight round unanimous decision over Lester Gonzalez. Korobov (16-0, 9 KO’s) started strong, counting Gonzalez’s offense. However, he started to tire in the last two rounds, allowing Gonzalez (12-4-2, 6 KO’s) to land to the head. However, Korobov did enough, winning 78-74 on all three judges’ scorecards.

Lightweight Jose Roman (11-0, 9 KO’s) stopped Randy Arrellin in the first round of a scheduled six round bout. Roman dropped Arrellin (8-6, 4 KO’s) with a left hook to the head and dropped him again with a counter right hand to the head. After Arrellin got up, Roman went right after him, prompting referee Raul Caiz, Jr. to step in at 2:07.

Featherweight Gabino Saenz overwhelmed Quinice Wesby, stopping him in the third round of a scheduled four round bout. Saenz (4-0, 4 KO’s) dropped Wesby once in the second and twice in the third. After the second knockdown in the third, Saenz went right after Wesby (1-2), battering him against the ropes, prompting referee Tony Crebs to stop the bout at 1:41.

In an crowd-pleasing war, Ricardo Malfavon (1-5-1, 1 KO) and Alonzo Loeza fought to a four round majority draw. Loeza, who was making his professional debut, was covered in blood for most of the fight, as he was cut in the mouth in the first round. Both landed punches, although it looked as though Malfavon’s were the most effective. One judge scored the bout 39-37 in favor of Malfavon, while the other two judges scored the bout 38-38.

2008 Olympian Paul Fleming of Australia scored a first round knockout over Juan Jose Beltran. Fleming (10-0, 7 KO’s) dropped Beltran (24-23-2, 15 KO’s) with a left hand to the head. Referee Raul Caiz, Jr. stopped the bout at 52 seconds.