By Jake Donovan

A sequel to one of the year’s biggest upsets will headline Friday’s DAZN livestream at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, Calif.

Andrew Cancio (20-4-2, 15KOs) looks for lightning to strike twice, as the working class Californian defends his 130-pound title for the first time versus Puerto Rico’s Alberto Machado. Their first fight took place in this venue, with Cancio recovering from a 1st round knockdown to drop Machado (21-1, 17KOs) three times en route to a 4th round stoppage.

The shocking result ended Machado’s super featherweight title reign after just 16 months, attributing his first career loss to his struggles to make weight. There weren’t any issues at the scales this time around, although the proof remains in the ring against Cancio who has won three straight including his career-best victory less than five months ago.

In the evening’s co-feature, Angel Acosta—Machado’s longtime stablemate—attempts the fourth defense of his junior flyweight title as he faces Mexico’s Elwin Soto.

Acosta (20-1, 20KOs) was last seen in this very venue less than three months ago, scoring an 8th round knockout of former titlist Ganigan Lopez on March 31.

Mexico’s Soto (14-1, 10KOs) enters his first title fight and just his second overall bout in the United States. His previous trip across the board resulted in his lone career loss back in his third pro fight, but has since won 12 straight.

UNDERCARD

Luis Feliciano threatened to enter uncharted water, but closed the show shortly before his battle with Mexico's Fernando Carcamo ended late in round seven.

The unbeaten welterweight from Milwaukee—who now resides in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., roughly 90 minutes from the fight venue—patiently picked apart Carcamo (23-10, 18KOs), already shopworn at just 28 years of age but who offered a brave stand for as long as he could absorb the incoming.  Feliciano continued to work the body, which set up his dominant right hand which landed with alarming regularity with each passing round.

Feliciano nearly closed the show in round four, snapping back Carcamo's head but backing off in choosing to box in the middle rounds. Having preserved his energy, Feliciano stepped up the attack in round seven. A barrage of power punches was punctuated by a right hand upstairs which forced Carcamo to a knee. Referee Ray Corona began his mandatory eight count, but observed that the fallen Mexican boxer was done for the night, waving off the contest towards the end of round seven, the third time the 26-year old Feliciano (12-0, 8KOs) has been extended that far in his young career.

Blair 'The Flair' Cobbs proved to be as entertaining from bell to bell as he is outside the ring.

The charismatic welterweight prospect from Las Vegas by way of Philadelphia, Penn. remained unbeaten following a 6th round stoppage of Robert Redmond Jr. The bout ended with Redmond Jr's right eye swollen shut and not fighting back, prompting his corner to order a stoppage at 1:52 of round six.

Cobbs scored the bout's lone knockdown, coming midway through round two during a fiery exchange. The 29-year old southpaw stood bravely in the trenches, trading with Redmond Jr. (7-2-2) in landing a right hook to send the Houston (Tex.) native crashing to the canvas. Redmond Jr. beat the count and fearlessly punched his way back into the fight, even seizing the initiative in a spirited round four that featured non-stop exchanges.

It was a race against the clock, however, as Redmond Jr. was forced to contend with a rapidly swelling right eye. The ringside physician warned him at the end of the 5th round that he was on the verge of stopping the fight. As Cobbs (11-0-1, 7KOs) took control, Redmond Jr's corner rescued their charge from additional punishment.

Time will tell if Aaron McKenna can remain as tall an order for incoming welterweight as his 6'1" frame suggests. For now, the 19-year old from Los Angeles by way of Smithborough, Ireland continues his climb as a rising prospect following a 2nd round stoppage of Daniel Perales.

McKenna (8-0, 5KOs) struck early, rocking Perales (10-18-2) in the opening round with a left hook upstairs. An ensuing flurry forced the 27-year old Mexican to lean along the ropes before falling to the canvas, complaining that he was struck behind the head. Referee Ray Corona wasn't having any of it, ruling the sequence an official knockdown. It became a moot point one round later, as McKenna went on the attack, working the body and forcing Perales to cover up without throwing anything in return, prompting a stoppage at 0:42 of round two.

Through three pro bouts, Anthony Garnica's toughest challenge thus far remains convincing official record keepers that he is still in fact unbeaten.

The 19-year old super bantamweight prospect was extended beyond the first round for the first time in his young career but still managed to cruise to a four-round shutout of Gilberto Duran (3-3). Scores were 40-35 across the board for Garnica (3-0, 2KOs), a disciple of head trainer Manny Robles who trains alongside and remains close friends with recently crowned unified heavyweight titlist Andy Ruiz Jr.

Garnica seemed on his way to a third consecutive 1st round knockout, flooring Duran in the opening round but unable to close the show. He instead put in rounds, winning virtually every second of their preliminary contest. The bout comes one month after Garnica traveled to Tijuana, Mex. in May, scoring a 1st round knockout only for the local commission to transpose the official result. Garnica's manager, Roger Ruiz continues to work with boxing database BoxRec.com to have the error corrected.

Opening the telecast, Van Nuys (Calif.) middleweight Emilio Carlos Rodriguez was forced to settle for a four-round draw with boxing convert Clay Collard. One judge ruled in favor of Rodriguez by score of 40-36, not at all telling the story as was the case in matching tallies of 38-38 in the appropriately scored even affair.

Rodriguez (3-1-1, 2KOs) struggled with the aggression of Utah’s Collard (1-1-2, 0KOs), a former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter who converted to boxing, making up for lost time as Friday’s bout was his third in just five weeks. His come-forward style and borderline questionable tactics frustrated Rodriguez but not to the point of pulling off the upset.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for krikya360.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox