By Jake Donovan

Roberto Ortiz continues to remain in contention for a 140 lb. title shot, looking impressive in scoring a 2nd round knockout of Florencio Castellano in their Fox Deportes-televised main event Saturday evening in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

The opening round saw both fighters have their fair share of moments. Castellano generally comes throwing right out the gate and had Ortiz momentarily pinned along the ropes. Unfortunately for Castellano, his success also seems to only come in moments rather than as a rule. 

Ortiz rode out the early storm and quickly went to work. Once he did, the fight was essentially over. Castellano made it out of the first round, but Ortiz unloaded in the second. A pair of knockdown towards the second half of the round had Castellano in a world of trouble before the fight was waved off. 

Ortiz improves to 26-0-2 (22KO) with the win, his fourth of an active 2012 campaign thus far. His status as a "silver" titlist keeps him towards the top of the queue for an eventual crack at a major belt. 

Whether that payday comes against unified champ Danny Garcia or the winner of the September 8 interim title fight between Lucas Matthysse and Ajose Olusegun is quite frankly anyone's guess.

Castellano falls to 17-6 (13KO). The bout was his first since suffering a first-round knockout loss to a then-returning Joan Guzman last November. Castellano is now 0-3 outside of his native Colombia, with his other road loss a 4th round knockout at the hands of Matthysse nearly four years ago.

UNDERCARD

The televised co-feature saw Raul Martinez return to the ring after an absence of more than 10 months. The super flyweight contender made his mark with an emphatic third round knockout of Juan Jimenez. 

A perfectly timed left hook crashed down on Jimenez' jaw, putting him down and out. The shot ejected his mouthpiece, laying next to him on the canvas and separated by a splattering of his own blood as the referee waved off the bout at 0:37 of round three.

Martinez (29-2, 17KO) scores his first win since Nov. '10, when a unanimous decision over Rodrigo Guerrero put him in line for a super flyweight title fight. 

A rematch 11 months later didn't go quite as smooth, as Guerrero jumped out to an early start in taking a decision in a vacant title bout cut short by a headbutt-inducing cut. His lone other loss came at the hands of Nonito Donaire, suffering a 4th round knockout in April '09.

Jimenez falls to 10-4 (9KO). All four losses have come inside the distance.

With plenty of time to kill, rising middleweight prospect Guillermo Sanchez saw extended TV time. The 21-year old made the most of his opportunity, pitching a 10-round shutout over battered journeyman Richard Gutierrez (26-10-1, 16KO). 

Scores were 100-90 across the board for Sanchez (23-0, 19KO), who appears to be one to watch for the future. Gutierrez has lost six straight.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of krikya360.com. Follow Jake on Twitter: @JakeNDaBox