New UBO Champions: Herndon Topples Cortez, Escalera Blasts Out Molina

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FEBRUARY 25, 2023 / BY BY UBO PRESS OFFICER

In the main event, Tyrrell Anthony Herndon rallied after some difficult moments to beat local man John Cortez in a war of attrition for the vacant UBO World Heavyweight title.

It was a back-and-forth affair with both boxers landing heavy blows the entire fight, making every round very exciting.

Cortez gave Herndon plenty of trouble, but by round seven the American had more energy and power and floored Cortez with a big left hook.

Photo: New UBO World Heavyweight Champion Tyrell Anthony Herndon.

Cortez was clearly hurt but got up on wobbly legs, and the referee decided it was not safe to let him continue.

From San Antonio, Texas, 35-year-old “Too Real” Herndon won his ninth straight and took his professional record to 21-4 (14).

Cortez (31), coming off three victories to resurrect his career after a rough spell, drops to 15-12-1 (12) but proved that when he has had fair time to prepare he is much better than his mediocre statistics suggest.

In the second UBO Heavyweight championship fight, Puerto Rico-born Floridian Jesus “Tito” Escalera captured the vacant Inter-Continental and Latino titles with a convincing stoppage of Venezuelan Yonny Molina.

It was a battle of southpaws, but Escalera was the sharper and harder hitting man, taking control from the first bell and piling on the pressure until forcing the stoppage with solid body-shots in round two.

Escalera also won the vacant WBC Fecarbox title, and improved his pro ledger to 8-0 (8), just over four months after making his debut in October of last year.

“El Gocho” Molina falls to 10-5-1 (6), but had won five of his last six before coming out second best against Escalera.