Although for most fans watching Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury, their night ended with the two heavyweights fighting to a draw, but there was plenty of action afterwards.
In a fight that took place right after Wilder vs. Fury ended at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Carlos Licona and Mark Anthony Barriga competed for the vacant IBF minimumweight world title. It was Licona who came out on top, winning the fight by split decision (115-113, 113-115, 115-113).
The title was previously held by Hiroto Kyoguchi, but he vacated the title in order to move up in weight and challenge for a world title at light flyweight. The IBF then ordered Barriga and Licona, the two highest-ranked available contenders in the IBF minimumweight rankings. The loss was Barriga's first as a pro with his record dropping to 9-1 while Licona improves to 14-0, getting his fourth victory in 2018 alone.
In other undercard news for the event, top junior middleweight contender Julian Williams scored a second-round TKO win over Francisco Javier Castro. Williams knocked Castro down in the second before ultimately stopping him with about 20 seconds remaining in the round.
Also scoring a quick victory is former world champion Robert Guerrero, who fought for the first time since ending his retirement earlier this year. Guerrero defeated Adam Mate by second-round TKO. Guerrero knocked Mate down late in the first round with a left hand to the body and would go on to knock down Mate twice in the second round.
