Zachary Spiller was forced to go to the scorecards for the first time in his young career.
The Houston-based heavyweight rookie preserved his unbeaten record as he outpointed Kaleel Carter over four rounds. All three judges scored the contest 39-37 in favor of Spiller in their DAZN opener Thursday evening at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.
Spiller (3-0, 2KOs) fought largely behind his right jab for much of the contest. Carter (3-4, 3KOs)—who hails from Bellflower, California— was urged by his corner to pick up the pace as he gave away too much ground in just a four-round fight. Spiller took advantage of his opponent’s inactivity, save for a brief scare when his head was snapped back by a stiff left hand from Carter in the fourth round.
Headlining the show, unbeaten junior bantamweight contender John ‘Scrappy’ Ramirez and Guadalajara’s Padilla (15-3-2, 2KOs) meet in a scheduled ten-round regional title fight.
UNDERCARD BOUTS STILL TO COME
Manuel ‘Gucci’ Flores (14-0, 11KOs), Coachella, California, 119.6 pounds vs. Franklin Gonzalez (25-1, 25KOs) Los Teques, Venezuela, 120 pounds—8 rounds, junior featherweight
Lorraine Villalobos (5-4, 2KOs), Los Angeles, 103 pounds vs. Katherine Renee Lindenmuth (2-1, 0KOs), Albuquerque, New Mexico, 102.2 pounds—6 rounds, strawweight
Grant Flores (pro debut), Coachella, California, 149.8 pounds vs. Jorge Ayala Lopez (0-1, 0KOs), Queretaro, Mexico, 151 pounds—4 rounds, junior middleweight
Stefanie Cohen (2-1-1, 1KOs), Miami via Venezuela, 116.6 pounds vs. Leanne Calderon (1-2-1, 0KOs), Austin, Texas, 117.2 pounds—4 rounds, bantamweight
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox