Montes Awarded Third-Round Knockout of Campas in Main Event

John Montes took two laps around the ring, his arm held high, celebrating his victory before many in the crowd had any idea the main event was over Thursday at the Irvine Marriott.

Montes was credited with a third-round knockout of Armando Campas of Mexico in the junior middleweight bout.

Campos (13-9-2) couldn’t answer the bell for the third round because of a deep cut on his lip.

Montes (36-5) was up waiting to start the round when the bout was stopped on the advice of the ring-side doctor.

Neither fighter was very aggressive in the first round but Montes threw more punches to take the round.

Campos had a brief moment of glory in the second, when he landed a left to Montes’ face. But that was all the incentive Montes needed.

He then landed several punches over the final two minutes of the round. His best was a sharp left that snapped back Campas’ head and bloodied his mouth.

Montes then moved about, landing punches as Campas tried, mostly in vain, to cover.

On the undercard:

Earl Butler, a light heavyweight, won a six-round split decision over Jeff Medley in the best bout of the night. Medley (4-5) knocked Butler down with a crushing right 45 seconds into the first round. But Butler rallied back to win a split decision, 57-56, 57-56, 56-57, that was widely booed.

It was the final card of the year at the Marriott. The next card will be on Jan. 20.