A High-Action Battle Ends in Dramatic Fashion
San Antonio, Texas- Isaac “La Bastia” Lucero delivered another statement performance on Saturday night, stopping Roberto “Tito Junior” Valenzuela in a back-and-forth firefight that electrified the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. The Mexican junior middleweight showcased power, pressure, and poise as he closed the show with just one second remaining in the eighth round. His late surge forced referee Mark Nelson to step in, ending a thrilling slugfest on the Isaac Cruz vs. Lamont Roach undercard.
Lucero’s Power Surge Shifts the Momentum
Lucero (18-0, 14 KOs) entered the fight riding a knockout streak, and he extended it to seven straight with this emphatic finish. Toward the end of Round 8, he unloaded multiple flush punches as Valenzuela began to fade. Although Valenzuela (31-6, 29 KOs) protested the stoppage, the accumulation of punishment made the referee’s decision unavoidable.
In Round 7, Lucero hammered Valenzuela with clean right hands, softening him up for the decisive attack. Earlier in the fight, he also switched to a southpaw stance in Round 3, firing straight lefts that helped him regain control during momentum swings.
Valenzuela Shows Grit in a Fan-Friendly Fight
Despite the loss, Valenzuela proved durable and dangerous. He caught Lucero repeatedly, especially in Rounds 2 and 6, where uppercuts and hooks exposed gaps in Lucero’s defense. However, the first-round knockdown—caused by a right hand that sent Valenzuela to a knee—set the tone. Though he complained it landed behind the head, the referee counted it.
Luis Nunez Remains Unbeaten on the Undercard
Before Lucero’s victory, Dominican featherweight contender Luis Nunez improved to 22-0 with a unanimous decision win over Hector Sosa. Using a stiff jab and sharp left hooks, Nunez controlled the pace and limited Sosa’s offense. Judges scored the bout 98-92, 96-94, and 97-93.
Sosa (18-4, 9 KOs) stayed aggressive and landed occasional right hands, but he couldn’t hurt Nunez or shift the momentum.
With Lucero’s knockout streak alive and Nunez still undefeated, both fighters delivered performances that will boost their momentum heading into 2025.
