Mexican Middleweight Juanito Montiel Knocks Out James Kirkland and Ends His Career
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Los Angeles, CA (December 27th, 2020)– Mexican middleweight Juan Macias ‘Juanito’ Montiel scored three knockdowns of James Kirkland in the first round and ended the career of Kirkland, the onetime junior middleweight contender, on Saturday, December 26, 2020, in the main event on Fox at shrine Exhibition Center, Los Angeles, California.
Montiel, 22-4-1, Los Moches, Sinaloa, Mexico, enjoyed height and reach advantage, measured Kirkland immediately, and on landing power shots to the head, discovered the aging Kirkland, 36, was unable neurologically to respond, and was unable to hold. Trapping Kirkland along the ropes, Montiel found Kirkland to be an easy target. Kirkland, 34-3 with 30 knockouts, San Antonio, Texas, was returning to the ring for the third time since August 2020. He had been inactive for four years following a loss to Saul Canelo Alvarez. Montiel has been in with Alejandro Barrera, Jaime Muiguia, and had a draw with Hugo Centeno Jr. in December of 2019.
Result: Juan Macias Montiel KO 1 James Kirkland, Middleweights (1:56)
Montiel knocked down Kirkland three times in the first round. Referee: Jerry Cantu.
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