Albert Bell is solidifying his place amongst the best fighters at 130 pounds.
Bell dropped Jayson Velez twice en route to a second round knockout win Saturday night at the Glass City Center in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio. Bell improved to 25-0, 8 knockouts.
Utilizing a four-inch height advantage, including a longer reach, the 30-year-old Bell was the aggressor from the opening bell. Midway through the round, Bell dropped Velez to the canvas. Velez was not visibly hurt from the knockdown and engaged in exchanges after the action resumed.
Bell continued to rain down punches and combinations in the second round. During an exchange, Bell hurt and dropped Velez to the canvas. Velez did manage to get up, but the fight was stopped to prevent Velez from receiving more punishment.
The win over Velez took place three months after Bell stopped Presco Carcosia after the fifth round. On May 13, Bell defeated William Encarnacion by decision over 10 one-sided rounds.
Bell is the mandatory challenger to face WBO world junior lightweight titleholder Emanuel Navarrete, who will defend the world title against Robson Conceicao Thursday night in Las Vegas on a Top Rank on ESPN telecast.
Vick Green, who promotes Bell, believes Bell will fight for the WBO world title. Whether that will be against Navarrete or now remains to be seen.
“Albert continues to prove he’s the best junior lightweight in the world,” Green told Boxingscene Sunday afternoon. “Navarrete could be moving up to lightweight. We’ll continue to patiently wait for that phone call.”
Velez, who resides in Juncos, Puerto Rico, falls to 30-12-1, 21 KOs. The 35-year-old has now lost seven of his last eight bouts, with defeats coming at the hands of Oscar Valdez, Gabriel Flores, Jr. and Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado.
In the co-feature, fringe junior lightweight contender Thomas Mattice stopped Cesar Juarez in the eighth and final round. Thomas, who resides in Cleveland, Ohio, improved to 22-3-1, 17 KOs.
Juarez was game, but Mattice, the bigger and stronger fighter, outboxed and landed the more-telling punches throughout much of the fight.
Mattice hurt Juarez during an exchange in the eighth round. Mattice instinctively followed up, battering Juarez against the ropes, prompting a stoppage from the referee.
The 33-year-old was coming off a come-from-behind knockout win over Ramiro Cesena on April 8. Entering the 10th and final round, Mattice was down 86-84, 86-84, and 89-81 on the judges’ scorecards.
Mattice, who is also promoted by Green, has won his last five bouts since a questionable decision loss to once-beaten Luis Melendez, a fight many at ringside thought Mattice did enough to win.
Juarez, who resides in Mexico City, falls to 28-15-1, 14 KOs. The 32-year-old has now lost five of his last six bouts. He is best known for losing to Nonito Donaire in December 2015 with the vacant WBO world junior featherweight title at stake.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing