McEwan, Huerta notch victories on Solo Boxeo

Middleweight fringe contender Craig McEwan won a hard-fought 10-round majority decision over Danny Perez in the main event of a Telefutura-televised card in Temecula, Calif., on Friday.

McEwan (19-0, 10 knockouts), of Hollywood, Calif., by way of Scotland, outworked and outmaneuvered Perez (34-8, 17 KOs), of San Diego, in enough spots to win by scores of 97-93 (twice) and 95-95. The decision was unpopular with much of the crowd at the Pechanga Resort & Casino, which is not far from the San Diego area.

Perez, a 33-year-old veteran who once challenged Antonio Margarito for a welterweight title, landed the harder, more effective punches throughout the brisk 10-round bout. However, Perez only landed his heavy punches when McEwan stood in front of him and the southpaw Scotsman was on his toes and moving about the ring for most of the fight.

McEwan settled down to land his and shoe-shine combinations to Perez's midsection, which likely enabled him to steal close rounds. Both middleweights were tired by the end of 10th round and had no choice but to go toe to toe for the final minute.

In the co-featured bout of the Solo Boxeo broadcast, featherweight prospect Charles Huerta (14-0, 8 KOs), of Paramount, Calif., stopped Johnathan Arias (10-7, 8 KOs) in the sixth round of a scheduled six-round bout.

Huerta, who broke his right hand in his last fight, a decision win over Lupe DeLeon in February, showed no ill effects from the injury as he dropped Arias in the first round with a series of lead rights.

Huerta continued to punch with conviction throughout the bout until a body shot put Aria down in the sixth. Arias beat the count but Huerta quickly dropped him again with a double hook to the body and head. Referee Tony Crebs waved the bout off at the 1:40 mark.