By Francisco Salazar

Prior to Friday night's clash with Sergio Perez, Artemio Reyes had scored three consecutive knockout victories.

Although no one could argue with results like that, one could wonder if Perez would give him more of a challenge.

He did. Only this time, the bout ended in the third round.

Reyes knocked out Perez in the third round of a scheduled eight round bout before a partisan crowd at the Doubletree Hotel in Colton, CA.

The bout headlined a five-bout "Locked and Loaded" card, presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions.

Reyes had won his previous four bouts in a row since a first round technical knockout at the hands of Alan Sanchez last April.

Perez had won four our of his last five bouts in a row, but not against the more ideal competition.

Reyes was on the attack from the opening bell, stalking Perez and looking for any openings. He was able to land hooks to the body and head, while Perez was able to land uppercuts to Reyes' head or an occasional punch to the body.

As the bout progressed, Perez worked off the ropes, while Reyes threw an landed more punches.

In the third round, Reyes dropped Perez with a left hook to the body. Perez was able to get up at the count of nine, but the end of the bout looked inevitable.

Another left hook dropped Perez to one knee. Perez stood up, but dropped to a knee again while referee Raul Caiz, Jr. counted him out at 1:39.

Reyes, from nearby Colton, goes to 20-2, 16 KOs. Perez, from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, falls to 28-15, 19 KOs.

Notes:

- Welterweight contender Josesito Lopez, unbeaten super bantamweight Jonathan Romero, junior welterweight Mauricio Herrera, super bantamweight Christopher Martin, welterweight Aron Martinez, lightweight Danny Hernandez, and former world champions Israel Vazquez and Bobby Chacon took in the action from ringside.

- Next Thompson Boxing Promotions show will take place at the Omega Products International in Corona on August 23rd. Call (714) 935-0900.

- Ring announcer was Sonny Franco.

In an all-out war, junior flyweight Jolene Blackshear won an eight round split decision over Sindy Amador.

Amador was busier from outset, landing to the head and body. However, Blackshear (8-3, 3 KOs) found a home for counter right hands to the head, especially since Amador pressed the action by coming forward.

When Amador was able to get on the inside, she was able land consistently with left hooks to the head. The lack of lateral movement would work against her as the 43 year old Blackshear was able to counter well.

Amador (10-1, 1 KO) controlled the fifth and sixth rounds, beating Blackshear to the punch during a number of exchanges.

Blackshear swung momentum in her favor on the seventh round, dropping Amador with a right hand to the head. Blackshear solidified her win in the eighth round, dropping Amador with a left hook to the head.

One judge score the bout 76-74 for Amador, while the other two judges, including

Boxingscene.com, scored the bout 76-74 for Blackshear.

With the win, Blackshear wins the vacant WIBA interim junior flyweight title.

Super middleweight Alex Theran won a one sided and sloppy six round unanimous decision over Juan Carlos Rojas. The stockier Rojas (5-6, 4 KOs) spent most of the fight pursuing Theran around the ring. However, Theran beat Rojas to the punch often, whether it was a uppercut or counter left hook to the head. The action got sloppy in the fourth as both grappled, with Rojas hitting Theran (14-0, 8 KOs) in the back of the head, for which he was warned by referee Raul Caiz, Jr. Rojas was able to connect at times, but Theran was able to land to the body when both were in the pocket. All three judges scored the bout 60-54 in favor of Theran. Boxingscene.com scored the bout 59-55 for Theran.

Super bantamweight Jorge Ruiz won an four round majority decision over Alex Reyes. The shorter Reyes was able to outbox Ruiz in the first round, consistently landing right hands to the head. Ruiz (3-0, 1 KO) controlled the action in the second round by beating Reyes to the punch. Reyes (0-3) was more active in the second half of the fight, but Ruiz landed the more telling blows during that period, especially with left hooks to the head. One judge scored the bout 38-38, while the other two judges scored the bout in favor of Ruiz, 40-36 and 39-37. Boxingscene.com scored the bout 39-37 in favor of Ruiz.

Middleweight Ralph Lopez stopped German Valdez in the second round of a scheduled four round bout. Lopez, who is the younger brother of welterweight contender Josesito Lopez, landed repeated straight right hands to the head, while the southpaw Valdez (2-2, 1 KO) connected with left uppercuts. With the less than a minute in the first round, Lopez (7-1, 6 KOs) dropped Valdez with a counter right hand to the head. Valdez got up and to his credit, fought back as best he could. Lopez pressed the attack from the opening bell in the second round, going right at Valdez. A left-right combination stunned Valdez to the head. Referee Raul Caiz, Jr. immediately stepped in and stopped the bout at 29 seconds, despite the protest of Valdez, who thought he was able to continue.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. He also covers boxing for the Ventura County (CA) newspaper. He could be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on twitter at FSalazarBoxing