IBA PRO 18 delivered a dramatic night of professional boxing at Arena CDMX, with a series of stoppages, strong performances from Mexican fighters and a decisive finish in the main event.

The stacked  fight card brings together boxers from Mexico, the Philippines, Colombia, Argentina and Nigeria, with prospects, established contenders and international match-ups across several weight divisions. 

Chris Roberts OBE, CEO of the International Boxing Association, said:

“Mexico City has always been a place where boxing culture thrives, and bringing IBA PRO 18 to the iconic Arena CDMX reflects our continued commitment to professional boxing on the global stage. Tonight, we showcased not only elite athletes, but also the strength, passion and unity of our sport. The supporters and fans witnessed a truly spectacular night of boxing.”

Ayala Lardizabal finishes Mama with body shot

The evening was headlined by Mexico’s Angel Ayala Lardizabal, known as “Cameleon”, who stopped the Philippines’ Jayson Mama with a body shot in the fifth round of their bantamweight contest.

From the opening round, the two fighters produced a fast-paced battle, with both men trying to win the contest of speed. Ayala Lardizabal made good use of his longer reach, while Mama boxed intelligently on the counter and remained dangerous in the exchanges.

In the second round, Ayala Lardizabal began to put his punches together in combinations and increased the power in his attacks. Mama stayed competitive, but the Mexican took more of the key moments and worked effectively to the body.

Mama slowed his opponent slightly in the third round, forcing Ayala Lardizabal to work harder for his openings. The Mexican briefly changed his approach, switching to southpaw and trying to draw Mama on to him, before returning to front-foot pressure.

The decisive moment came in the fifth round, when Ayala Lardizabal landed a devastating shot to the liver. Mama went down and was unable to recover, giving the Mexican a knockout victory in the main event.

Fierro overwhelms Sanchez in co-main event

In the co-main event, Jonathan Fierro produced a dominant performance against Sergio Chirino Sanchez. Fierro started aggressively, pushing Sanchez towards the ropes and landing short, powerful combinations, with his left hand doing serious damage to both head and body.

Sanchez showed toughness and tried to fire back, but Fierro was faster, sharper and heavier-handed. By the fourth round, Fierro was still in full control, repeatedly breaking through Sanchez’s guard.

The fifth round opened with another heavy left hand from Fierro, who continued to land strong single shots and powerful two-punch combinations. Sanchez absorbed plenty of punishment, but the pressure was one-sided, and his corner decided not to send him out for the sixth round.

Mercado makes statement in Mexico City

Mexico’s Yamileth Mercado, one of the most accomplished fighters on the card, also delivered a statement performance against Colombia’s Flor Valentina Rodriguez. Mercado, a WBC champion with multiple title defences and a résumé that includes a bout with Amanda Serrano, used her size, experience and pressure from the opening bell.

Rodriguez defended well in the first round but could not match Mercado’s output. In the second, Mercado increased the tempo and overwhelmed her opponent with a wave of attacks, forcing the referee to step in and stop the bout.

Martinez shows speed and precision

Another standout Mexican performance came from Miguel Angel Martinez, who stopped Argentina’s Nicolas Blanco in the third round. Martinez, still early in his professional career but with a strong amateur background, immediately took control as a southpaw, pushing Blanco towards the ropes and beating him with speed, volume and accuracy.

Two knockdowns in the second round showed the growing gap between the fighters. In the third, Martinez continued to attack the body with force, and after another heavy sequence, Blanco dropped to his knees and could not continue.

Oyekola strikes early against Romero

Nigeria’s Ridwan Oyekola, known as “The Scorpion”, made a strong impression against Mexico’s Manuel Alex Romero. Romero took the centre of the ring early, but Oyekola repeatedly punished him with sharp jabs before suddenly increasing the tempo late in the opening round. With Romero under heavy pressure, the referee intervened to stop the contest.

Mendoza forces stoppage after Eusse cut

In the lightweight division, Tomas Mendoza defeated Cristian Alberto Eusse after a strong start. Mendoza, boxing from the southpaw stance, quickly found his distance and landed clean straight shots. Eusse responded and the bout became an open exchange, but Mendoza’s left hand caused serious problems in the second round.

By the end of the round, Eusse had suffered a cut near his right eye. After the interval, the doctor examined the Spaniard and the contest was stopped.

Cantabrana uses size and pressure

Earlier in the evening, Francisco Cantabrana stopped Jordi Omar Villa Soto in their light heavyweight bout. Cantabrana used his height and physical advantages from the start, landing heavy shots to the body and head while Soto spent long spells behind a high guard.

Soto tried to make the contest more uncomfortable in the third round, but Cantabrana continued to attack in combinations until the referee stepped in.

Mendez opens the night with stoppage win

The opening bout saw Julian Mendez stop experienced Joseph Martinez in the third round of their super welterweight contest, setting the tone for a night defined by pressure, pace and decisive finishes.The night also featured the appearance of legendary ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr., adding another major boxing touch to IBA PRO’s first major showcase in Mexico City.