StubHub Center, Carson, California - In the opening bout of the SHOWTIME telecast, undefeated Omar "Panterita" Figueroa Jr. (23-0-1, 18 KOs), of Weslaco, Texas, successfully retained his WBC Lightweight World Championship with an exciting ninth-round knockout over determined mandatory challenger Daniel "Tremendo" Estrada (32-3-1, 24 KOs), of Mexico City.

Early in the 10th, Figueroa landed a hard right hand that dropped Estrada. The challenger made it to his feet, but was defenseless as Figueroa continued to flail away with both hands. The referee rescued Estrada at the one-minute mark of the round.

"I don't think I did that great and obviously felt I could be more explosive and maybe get him out of there earlier,'' said Figueroa, who suffered a bad cut above his left eye from an unintentional headbutt in the ninth. "I was a little concerned that the referee or doctor would stop the fight because of the cut. I knew Estrada would be open for the right hand. I was playing a little possum when I caught him.''