TACOMA, Wash. – Super middleweight Dashon Johnson defeated Izaak Cardona by split decision in the main event of Battle at the Boat 104 Friday at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma.
Johnson, who captured the WBA-NABA United States super middleweight championship during his last appearance at the Emerald Queen, won his fourth consecutive bout and improved to 19-18-3 with the victory.
Cardona dropped to 14-4. The scorecards were 98-92, 92-98, 98-92.
After a slow start, Johnson became the aggressor in the third round.
Cardona, who had registered all his 14 victories by KO, had his best round in the sixth, connecting on a series of exchanges, which appeared to briefly daze Johnson.
Cardona’s best punch came late in the ninth, but the heavy hitter was never able to fully catch up to the lightning quick Johnson.
Marco Cardenas (5-5-0, 2 KO) pulled off an upset in the semi-main event, defeating fellow super featherweight Jeremy McCleary (8-2-0) by third-round TKO (1:34).
After an even opening two rounds, Cardenas sent McCleary to the canvas with a solid right. McCleary, who had blood coming from his nose and mouth following the punch, was able to get to his feet and beat the count.
However, Cardenas sent him to the floor for a second time with a left, resulting in the bout being waved off.
Marcelo Gallardo (6-3-2, 3 KO) highlighted the undercard by scoring a technical knockout win over Rob Diezel (9-7-0, 3 KO) in a battle of 126 pounders. Gallardo registered the TKO 1:21 into the second round.
Also on the undercard, Yakima 115-pounder Isaiah Najera (3-1-0, KO) posted his third consecutive victory by knocking out Nestor Hernandez, who was making his professional debut, in the fourth round (1:48).
Tacoma’s Andre Keys, 160 pounds, won his pro debut with a third-round TKO of Lexus Pagampao, while Zach Cooper (3-1-2, 2 KO) won by majority decision over William Fernandez, 39-37, 39-37, 38-38, in a 148-pound matchup.
Battle at the Boat 104 results
Main event – 168 pounds – Dashon Johnson (19-18-3, 6 KO) split decision Izaak Cardona (14-4, 14 KO), 98-92, 92-98, 98-92
131 – Marco Cardenas (5-5-0, 2 KO) TKO Jeremy McCleary (8-2-0), 3rd round, 1:34
126 – Marcelo Gallardo (6-3-2, 3 KO) TKO Rob Diezel (9-7-0, 3 KO), 2nd round, 1:21
115 – Isaiah Najera (3-1-0) TKO Nestor Hernandez (0-1), 4th round, 1:48
148 – Zach Cooper (3-1-2, 2 KO) majority decision William Fernandez (0-4-0), 39-37, 39-37, 38-38.
160 – Andre Keys (1-0-0, KO) TKO Lexus Pagampao (0-1-0), 3rd Round (2:29)
