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Middleweight contender Esquiva Falcao battered and dropped overmatched Morrama de Aruajo Santos four times en route to a knockout win in the opening round Saturday night at the Arena de Lutas in Sao Paolo, Brazil.
Falcao improves to 27-0, 19 knockouts.
The southpaw Falcao, who resides in Vitoria, last fought on February 29, stopping Argentina’s Jorge Daniel Miranda at the start of the fifth round. The fight also took place in Sao Paolo.
Falcao, who won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games, displayed his superior pedigree over Santos from the opening bell, dropping him to the canvas in a corner with a barrage of punches about 30 seconds into the round. Santos beat the count, but was on the defensive as Falcao went on the attack, punishing Santos with a series of combinations.
Over a minute later, Falcao landed a right-left combination that dropped Santos to the canvas. Santos again beat the count, but was dropped again seconds later, courtesy of a left hand to the head. Santos again immediately beat the count, but was dropped a fourth time as Falcao landed another vicious left hand to the head.
Santos did beat the count, but the fight was stopped at the end of the round, saving him from taking further punishment from Falcao.
The 30-year-old Falcao is ranked number 7 by the WBC and by the WBO at 160 pounds. He is the younger brother of Yamaguchi Falcao, who fights under the Golden Boy Promotions banner.
Santos, who resides in Manaus, Brazil, drops to 5-5, 1 KO and has now dropped three of his last four bouts.
Unbeaten junior lightweight prospect Robson Conceicao battered Eduardo Pereira Dos Reis, stopping him in round 2.
Conceicao, who resides in Salvador, Brazil and won a gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, was the aggressor from the opening bell, putting Pereira on the defensive.
The 31-year-old Conceicao dropped Pereira midway through round 2, landing a sweeping right cross to the head. Pereira beat the count, but Conceicao landed several combinations, finally pinning him against the ropes, forcing the referee to step in and stop the bout.
Pereira, who resides in Ocasco, Brazil, drops to 24-8, 19 KOs. He has now lost five of his last seven bouts.
Both Falcao and Conceicao are promoted by Top Rank.
Junior featherweight Lila Dos Santos Furtado (2-0, 1 KO) dropped Eduarda Vasconcelos Gomes twice, finally ending matters at 1:08 of round 3. Gomes was making her professional debut.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing