There are two good bills tonight south of the border with shows taking place in Veracruz and Tijuana.

At the Arena in Tijuana, IBF featherweight kingpin Cristobal Cruz, 39-11-1 (23), puts his title at risk against veteran Ricardo Castillo, 38-7 (25).

After an up and down career, Cruz has hit his stride over the past 18 months, winning the IBF and IBO crowns during a five bout win streak.

The 32 year old local man won the IBF trophy with a split decision against the very tough Orlando Salido a year ago and has since defended it in difficult defenses against Cyril Thomas and Jorge Solis.

Cruz's opponent tonight, Mexicali based Castillo, currently holds the NABF and Mexican titles on the strength of three victories this year and has two failed world title bids at super bantam under his belt. More...

There were a few good cards this weekend and we kick this report off at the Auditorio Telmex de UG in Zapopan, Mexico where a few big names were in action.

One of the world's top featherweights, Jorge Solis, won a IBF title eliminator by stopping America's Monty Meza-Clay in the fifth round.

Meza-Clay came into the bout sporting a eight bout win streak, including a stoppage over former IBF Feather Champion Erik Aiken a year ago, but had spent most of his career at lightweight or super feather and had never fought at 126 pounds as a professional.

But the skills of seasoned operator Solis, a former Mexican Champ at super bantam and feather, proved to be too high a hurdle as the 29 year old Guadalajara man won the IBF title eliminator handily.

Solis moves up to 37-1-2 (27) and has now won four bouts in a row since suffering his only career loss at the hands of Manny Pacquiao at super feather in 2007. More...

The 2009 season of "Next Boxing Generation" will get off to an explosive start on Saturday, January 31, when HBO Plus's hit boxing series returns with a hard-hitting card that will take place at Palenque del Fex de Mexicali in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.

In the 12 round main event, Mexicali's own Ricardo Castillo and Mexico City's Abraham Rodriguez will challenge for the vacant NABF featherweight championship. The co-feature will see junior lightweight prospect David Rodela in a ten rounder against Mexicali's Antonio Meza. More...

Ulises Solis, 27-1-2 (20), led the way on a big card south of the border at Palenque De La Expo in Hermosillo, Mexico as the longtime IBF Light Flyweight Champion outpointed Filipino veteran Glenn Donaire, 17-4-1 (9), by wide margins to retain his crown for the seventh time.

Rising light middleweight star Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 37-0-1 (29), was given all he could handle by American campaigner Matt Vanda, 38-7 (21), but managed to pull out a split decision verdict via wildly disparate scorecards.

Undefeated former WBA Light Flyweight kingpin Koki Kameda, 18-0 (12), of Japan stopped Marino Montiel, 30-13-1 (16), in two frames of a ten rounder at super flyweight and flyweight hot prospect Hernan "Tyson" Marquez, 19-0 (14), decisioned German Meraz, 17-10-1 (5), over eight rounds in a rematch.

Over his last 11 bouts, Marquez has only failed to win two of them early, both times facing Meraz.

Former two-time world title challenger at super bantam, Ricardo Castillo, 34-6 (23), returned from a failed bid at the Mexican title in May by stopping Guadalupe Arce, 2-36 (0), in the second.