BOXING : Replacement Fuentes Is the Winner

Sammy Fuentes, replacement boxer, didn’t have to cross a picket line to win the World Boxing Organization’s junior-welterweight title Monday night.

All he had to do was answer the phone.

A late replacement for the injured Hector Lopez, the 31-year-old Fuentes, given up for done in most quarters, stopped favored Fidel Avendano at 41 seconds of the second round before 4,092 at the Forum.

Referee Lou Filipo stopped the bout after Fuentes rocked Avendano (42-5, 25 knockouts) with a left and followed with six unanswered punches as Avendano leaned helplessly against the ropes.

It was the 30th victory for Fuentes against 13 losses and his first championship of note. Fuentes claims the title vacated by Zach Padilla, on medical suspension after being diagnosed with a small blood clot in his brain.

“It feels great,” Fuentes said. “So many people thought I was finished. I knew my conditioning was good. It’s been a long time, but all my hard work paid off.”

Fuentes, from Hermosa Beach, took Avendano out after dominating the first round.

As a pre-fight condition, Fuentes must now defend his title against Lopez within 60 to 90 days.

Most experts don’t give Fuentes a chance in that one, either.

In the semi-main event, Mark Johnson (22-1, 15 KOs) of Washington defended his Penta Continental flyweight title with a third-round TKO over Panama City’s Leon Salazar (20-5-1, 15 KOs).

It was Johnson’s 21st consecutive victory.

The action-packed fight ended in Salazar’s corner between the third and fourth rounds when it was revealed the fighter had broken a bone in his right hand.