Juan Carlos Becerril knocked out Dylan Capetillo at 2:59 of the third round in Las Vegas on Saturday. The unbeaten Tijuana lightweight recovered from a second-round knockdown to halt Golden Boy’s 17-year-old prospect at The Theater at Virgin Hotels.
The scheduled four-round lightweight contest began with Capetillo taking early control of the action at The Theater at Virgin Hotels. Entering the bout at 2-0 with one knockout, the Las Vegas teenager established his rhythm quickly in front of his home crowd. In the second round, Capetillo caught Becerril with a clean left hook, sending the Mexican fighter to the canvas. The knockdown appeared to put the local favorite in firm control as he continued to press forward against his unbeaten opponent.
Becerril stayed calm under pressure. Rather than engaging in a reckless exchange after being dropped, the Tijuana native remained composed and waited for an opening while Capetillo pressed his advantage. That opportunity arrived late in the third round. Becerril landed a crushing left hook flush on Capetillo’s chin, sending the 17-year-old crashing to the canvas.
Capetillo beat the count, but his legs were noticeably unsteady. He struggled to convince referee Thomas Taylor that he was in a fit condition to resume boxing safely. Taylor halted the contest at 2:59 of the third round, awarding Becerril a technical knockout after deciding Capetillo was no longer able to defend himself.
The dramatic outcome silenced the crowd in Las Vegas and instantly altered the direction of the fight.
The defeat served as the first setback of Capetillo’s young professional career, dropping his record to 2-1 with one knockout. After turning professional earlier this year as one of Golden Boy Promotions’ youngest signings, the Las Vegas native was dealt an early lesson regarding the physical dangers posed by confident opponents capable of turning a contest with a single punch.
Becerril leaves Las Vegas with his unbeaten record intact at 3-0 with two knockouts, alongside the biggest victory of his career to date. By overcoming early trouble, recovering from the second-round knockdown, and seizing his moment when it arrived, the Mexican prospect earned a major victory on away soil.
