The Main Event of the Arena Wars show on November 14th featured Mike McMillian and Destin Ronald in a five round bout. McMillian entered the bout with only one loss while Ronald was making his debut as a professional after a successful run as an amateur.

The two men exchanged punches in he opening round. Ronald threw more and as a result he landed more, but it was McMillian that landed the heavier punches, most to Ronald’s body. Ronald’s long reach kept McMillian moving through the round to avoid getting hit. The second round was close as both men were able to land body shots. McMillian landed a few more and proved adept at sneaking punches through in tight quarters when Roanld had him backed on the ropes. As the round ended, Ronald was throwing his long left to set up his right to McMillian’s body.

Ronald fought a solid third round as he began to land and score with body shots. McMillian showed that he could move to slip away from the long, and often wild, right that Ronald threw. There was a bit of everything in the fourth round. Some of it involved holding, some of it involved throwing wild and wide punches and missing, but there was also some damage inflicted as each fighter continued to land body shots. Mid round McMillian landed a hard left – right combination that momentarily stunned Ronald, though he recovered fairly quickly.

The fifth round saw a lot of leaning and holding, causing the referee to step in a number of times. Ronald may have thrown more punches, but again it was McMillian’s ability to slip out of reach and counter with body punches that gave him an edge.

After five rounds one judge scored the fight 48-47; the other two scored it 50-45 in favor of Mike McMillian who would claim the unanimous decision.

Ronald uses his reach to keep McMillian at a distance

McMillian's left catches Ronald stepping in

Hernandez catches Cardenas with his right

Cardenas loads up his right to attack Hernandez' body

The Co-Main event featured a rematch pitting Marco Cardenas against Margarito Hernandez. These two fought in September of 2022; a fight that saw Cardenas walk out with a win. It should be noted that unlike some rematches, there is no animosity between these two men, who just might be the nicest guys in the sport.

The opening round was good for both men as they threw effective punches, most often targeting the other’s body. Cardenas gained an edge in landing the more solid shots while moving out of the hard punches Hernandez threw. In the second round Hernandez scored when he backed Cardenas on to the ropes. That moved altered the momentum Cardenas gained early when he was able to land body punches in the opening moments of the round. As the round closed Hernandez landed some hard shots to Cardenas’ body.

The third round was close. Cardenas was able to score when he created some distance and then quickly stepped in to fire body shots. Hernandez, much like he did in the previous round was effective when he backed Cardenas on to the ropes. Cardenas made the necessary adjustments to keep from backing in to the ropes in the fourth round and as such he fought more from the center and the edges of the ring, from there he was able to step to Hernandez and shoot punches to Hernandez’ body.

Early in the fifth round Cardenas continued what he had done in the fourth, keeping some distance until he had an opening to step in close. At the two minute mark Cardenas landed a hard right that caught Hernandez’ head and stunned him, Cardenas then jumped to Hernandez, keeping him on the ropes and landing to his body and head. While the two men exchanged a lot of punches in the final round, it was Cardenas that landed the heavier shots while staying just out of reach of what Hernandez was throwing.

After six rounds one judge scored the fight 59-56; the other two scored it 60-54 all in favor of the unanimous decision winner, Marco Cardenas

Pedro Torres brought an unblemished record into his five round bout against Brandon Watley. Watley entered the fight looking for his first win since October of 2024. It should be noted however, that Watley has been on the losing end of a number of bouts in which the decision was determined by the outcome of one round.

The pace of the opening round was slow as each man spent time taking the measure of the other. Watley did throw more punches in the round, targeting Torres’ body. Torres was able to counterpunch and score, but that too often meant he was getting hit first. The second round was better for Torres as he began to throw more punches and many of them landed to Watley’s body. Torres fought much of the round from the center of the ring, but that allowed Watley to move to create angles that gave him openings to throw scoring punches.

The third round saw Watley out punch Torres early, but the shots that Torres landed were harder than those Watley threw. As the round drew to an end, Torres body shots slowed Watley’s assault. Torres controlled much of the action of the fourth round as he kept Watley moving. Watley was able to step in close and land combinations as the round closed.

Watley opened the final round pressuring Torres, keeping him moving backwards and limiting the number of punches he threw. At the midpoint of the round Watley landed a hard right had to Torres’ head that momentarily staggered Torres. Watley kept Torres on the ropes to end the round.

After five rounds one judge scored the fight 48-47 for Torres; the other two scored it 48-47 for Watley who would score a win with the split decision.

Watley (Left) and Torres exchange punches

Gomez (left) slips Tapia's right

Ricardo Garcia Gomez and David Cruz Tapia each won when they made their debut as professional fighters. Gomez came out of his fight as the winner of all four rounds of the debut; Tapia won three of the four rounds in his debut to set up a fight that would showcase their skill as boxers.

There were a lot of punches thrown in the opening round, many of them were wide and wild, but some of them did land. Gomez pressured Tapia through the round and that gave him a slight edge. Tapia had a good second round as he began to land scoring shots to Gomez’ body. Gomez continued to pressure Tapia, allowing him little space to move. Unlike the opening round, both men began to throw more controlled punches.

There were a few momentum shifts in the third round. Tapia controlled the opening minute of the round throwing combinations to Gomez’ body. Then Gomez returned to pressuring Tapia, keeping him close and landing body shots. Tapia closed the round walking Gomez down and landing body shots. A lot of punches were thrown in the fourth round. Tapia was more accurate with the shots he threw to Gomez’ body while Gomez spent much of the round targeting Tapia’s head.

After four rounds one judge scored the fight even at 38, the other two scored it 39-37 for Gomez who would claim the majority decision win.

Micah Mitchell and Alexander Munoz came in to their four round fight each looking for their first win.

Mitchell was the more aggressive fighter in the first round as he continued to move towards Munoz while throwing his right. Munoz answered by shooting his jab, though he did not throw as many punches as did Mitchell. The second round saw a lot more action as Munoz scored a knockdown in the opening moments. He then stayed close to Mitchell, throwing punches to move Mitchell across the ring. After Munoz again caught Mitchell with a hard right that left Mitchell on wobbly legs, Munoz jumped to him and scored another knockdown. The referee began his count as Mitchell stood and said he could not continue.

Munoz would score the TKO win at 1:20 of the second round.

Munoz' left catches Mitchell and effectively ends the fight

Soto's right connects to Pulido's chin

Jaydeen Pulido would make his professional debut in facing Gilberto Tapia Soto who was coming off a unanimous decision win in his last fight.

The first round was close as both fighters were able to land scoring punches. Pulido used his reach advantage to catch Soto coming in, but it was Soto’s pressure and combinations that gave him and edge. Pulido spent much of the second round with his back on the ropes due to Soto’s pressure. Soto continued to land left – right combinations to Pulido’s body, and as Pulido covered up, he was unable to answer.

The story of the third round was again the pressure Soto applied. He kept Pulido moving away from the power punches and that limited the number of punches that Pulido threw in return. Soto’s combinations were the main feature of the closing round, and he landed many of them. Pulido tried to move to avoid getting caught, but Soto was able to keep him within range.

After four rounds one judge scored the fight 39-37 while the other two scored it 40-36 in favor of Gilberto Tapia Soto who would claim the unanimous decision win.

Emmanuel Ojeda stepped in to face Benjamin Amezquita on three days’ notice after an injury to Tony Hernandez forced him to drop out. Ojeda got back on the winning track in his last fight after dropping two before that. Amezquita was looking for a win after dropping his first three fights.

The pace of the opening round was rather slow. Amezquita worked to use his reach advantage to keep Ojeda on the outside, but Ojeda was able to duck under those punches while landing his right to Amezquita’s body. The pace quickened in the second round as Ojeda began to step towards Amezquita, forcing him to move away from the body shots. Amezquita did throw some counter punches, but Ojeda was often able to slip out of reach.

Ojeda was the busier fighter in the third round as he continued to target Amezquita’s lanky body. Amezquita was able to throw and land some left – right combinations, but he did not throw enough of them to slow Ojeda. Amezquita was much more aggressive in the final round though that did little to keep Ojeda from stepping to him and shooting his right to Amezquita’s body.

After four rounds all three judges scored the fight 40-36 for Emmanuel Ojeda who could take the unanimous decision win.

Ojeda's right would catch Amezquita coming in

Sierra lands body punches with Alverez on the ropes

Anthony Sierra and Isreal Alvarez opened the show in a four round bout that saw each of them making their debut as professional boxers.

The first round started slow until Alverez landed a hard body shot that quickened the pace. Sierra found the range with his jab and threw that to set up body shots. Alverez kept his focus in the round on Sierra’s body. Sierra stepped to Alvarez in the second round and moved to keep Alverez backing up limiting his punch output. At the 2:40 point of the round Sierra scored a knockdown behind a hard right hand.

The pace of the third round was faster than the previous two as Alverez took some of the momentum by landing a few heavy punches. Alverez scored a knockdown at the midpoint of the round. Sierra stood and jumped toward Alverz throwing a number of heavy punches with both hands. Alverez was being punched in to the ropes when his corner threw in a towel to bring the fight to an end.

Sierra would claim the win in his pro debut.

The Ring Card Girl worked every round of the night

Ranked Number 1 in the world by the WBA, bantamweight Brittnay Sims was in the crowd