Antonio Moran capture the (WBO) lightweight Latin title

Lightweight Antonio Moran is attempting to generate buzz in the lightweight division. His performance Friday night may have helped. The fringe contender stopped gatekeeper Guadalupe Rosales in the sixth round at the Auditorio Blackberry in Mexico City. With the victory, Moran improves to 22-2, with 15 knockouts. Rosales drops to 34-13, with 18 KOs.

From the opening bell, Rosales attempted to get on the inside, throwing an abundant amount of punches. Most of those punches were blocked or landed on the arms of the taller Moran, who landed the more-telling blows. Moran dropped Rosales near the end of the second round with a counter right cross to the head. Rosales stood up and was able to make it out of the round.

Midway through the fourth round, Moran stunned Rosales with another right hand to the head. Rosales backed up against the ropes, but was able to weather the barrage of punches Moran threw at him.

Rosales did keep Moran honest at times in the fight with his aggression. A counter right to the head momentarily stunned Moran, but Rosales was not able to follow up. Later in the round, Moran landed a lead right cross that staggered Rosales. Moran followed with a barrage of punches, dropping Rosales against the ropes, prompting referee Guadalupe Garcia to stop the bout at 2:16.

"This is just another step towards a world title that I'm desiring," said Moran after the fight. "Our plan for this fight was to keep the distance between him and myself."

Rosales entered the fight having won three of his previous four bouts.

In a battle of lightweights who reside in the Mexico City area, Luis Daniel Flores won a six round unanimous decision over Omar Solano (7-3, with 1 KO). All three judges scored the bout 58-56 in favor of Flores, who improves to 4-0, with 3 KOs.

Bantamweight Victor Dominguez (1-1) was able to grind out a four round unanimous decision over Carlos Garcia (0-2). Scores were 39-37, 39-37, and 38-37 for Dominguez.

Lightweight Omar Solano (8-1, with 2 KOs) won a six round split decision over Jose Sebastian Lopez (2-5-2, with 2 KOs). One judge scored the bout 58-55 for Lopez, while the other two judges scored the bout 57-56 for Solano.

Francisco A. Salazar has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper, RingTV, Boxingscene.com, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing