In one of the more-dramatic turn of events in a fight, Antonio DeMarco stopped Jorge Linares in the 11th round to win the vacant WBC lightweight title. Linares dominated the first five rounds of the fight, utilizing his speed and accuracy. DeMarco (26-2-1, 19 KO’s) hung in there, rallying in the sixth round to open a cut on the bridge of the nose of Linares. A cut later opened over the right eye of Linares (31-2, 20 KO’s), which began to affect his vision as he stood toe-to-toe with DeMarco. DeMarco rocked Linares in the 11th round, battering him across the ring until referee Raul Caiz, Sr. stepped in and stopped the bout at 2:32. Entering the 11th round, all three judges had Linares winning by scores of 98-92, 98-92, and 99-91. Fightnews.com had the bout scored 97-93 entering the 11th round.

In a bout between youth versus experience, junior welterweight Danny Garcia remained unbeaten with a 12 round split decision over Kendall Holt. The former world title holder Holt (27-5, 15 KO’s) started well early, but was hurt in the third by a right hand by Garcia. He was never the same as Garcia used his speed to beat Holt to the punch. Both had their moments in the second half of the fight, but Garcia landed the more telling blows. One judge inexplicably scored the fight 115-113 in favor of Holt, while the other two judges scored it 117-111 for Garcia. Fightnews.com scored the bout 115-113 in favor of Garcia. With the victory, Garcia earns the number one ranking by the WBC and the number two ranking by the IBF in the loaded 140-pound division.

Opening the “Believe It or Not” pay per view telecast, Paulie Malignaggi won a 10 round unanimous decision over Orlando Lora. Malignaggi was wobbled by a right hand to the head in the first round by Lora, but was mostly able to outbox the Mexican fighter the rest of the fight. Lora would land an occasional right hand as he pressed the action, but Malignaggi would two-three punches for every one that Lora landed. All three judges scored the bout in favor of Malignaggi by scores of 100-90, 99-91, and 98-92. Fightnews.com scored the bout 97-93 in favor of Malignaggi.