Jhonny Gonzalez's dream to return to world championship standing came to a crashing halt last night at Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico as he was stopped by reigning WBC super bantam kingpin Toshiaki Nishioka in just three rounds.

Gonzalez nearly pulled off an upset in the very first round as the hard-punching Mexico City man announced his arrival by canvassing the champion but Nishioka rose to his feet and made it through the round.

In the second, the champion began to settle in as his compact southpaw style began to reverse the disastrous start but Nishioka was still wary of Gonzalez's power.

In the third, Nishioka rammed home a perfect southpaw left behind a double jab that had Gonzalez on his back and in dire straits. More...

Big bill on tonight at Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico as reigning WBC super bantam champ Toshiaki Nishioka heads into the lion's den to face challenger Jhonny Gonzalez of Mexico City.

Tokyo based southpaw Nishioka, 33-4-3 (20), will be making a rare appearance outside Japan but is coming into this first title defense after having won the belt with a dramatic 12th round stoppage of Mexican veteran Genaro Garcia in January.

32 year old Nishioka has been a pro since 1994 and fought WBC bantam titlist Veeraphol Sahaprom four times between 200-2004, losing the first and fourth while forcing draws in the second and third bouts.

Nishikoa moved up to super bantam after the last Sahaprom contest and has since reeled off 10 straight victories.

In the oppositie corner, 27 year old Gonzalez, 40-6 (34), has been a pro since he was 17 and after losing his first two bouts, won the next 14, capturing the NABF bantam crown along the way. More...

Last night at Club Argentino in Marcos Juarez, Argentina, the vacant WBA Fedebol Cruiserweight crown was contested by undefeated 23 year old Buenos Aires based Colombian slugger Santander Silgado and Rio Segundo veteran Sergio Martin Baez over nine rounds.

A former South American Light Heavyweight Champ, 35 year old Baez ran his career record to 11-1-1 before facing and losing to the likes of Clinton Woods, Jorge Castro and Hugo Hernan Garay, all future of former world champions, at 175 pounds during 2002-3.

The ensuing years were tough for Baez as went up against heavyweights at times, giving up as much as 50 pounds in weight while only being stopped once in the last four years.

Baez, 15-19-2 (5), had to draw heavily on his experience and sheer toughness to survive against the bigger Silgado but it wasn't enough as the veteran was given a standing eight count in the fifth and had to beat the count after getting canvassed in the ninth frame to lose a wide points decision.

Silgado moves to 17-0 (15), adding the WBA Fedebol belt to his WBA Fedecaribe and Colombian titles but will have to defeat South American and WBO Latino Champion Victor Emilio Ramirez of Buenos Aires if he is to claim continental dominance at cruiserweight. More...