LAS VEGAS -- Isaih Quinones found himself in a familiar position in the second round of his middleweight title defense with Branden Bordeaux Frida at PowerSlap 10 at The Fontainebleau: On the ground after absorbing a huge hit.
The difference is he used his experience from past fights to carry him to a second-round KO victory in the co-main event.
Quinones entered the bout as the reigning PowerSlap champion, but brought only a 2-2 record with him. In both of those losses, he got dropped. When he was dropped against Bordeaux Friday, he recalled those previous events. It led to a quick recovery and a KO win in the next round.
"It was my greatest recovery," he said. "In my two losses here in PowerSlap, [they were] similar situations. I got put on my ass and then got right back up. They called it off at those times. But [tonight], I took a knee. I just took my time. I waited for that eight-count, and then as soon as I heard the eight, I got right up and I was good."
He composed himself and then delivered a hellacious smack to Bordeaux. Bordeaux went down, but he made the mistake that Quinones did earlier. He got to his feet quickly and didn't recover in time. Referee Jason Herzog stopped it as Bordeaux seemed to be settling down, but Quinones said it was a good stop.
He said the fight would have continued had Bordeaux as he had.
"It should have been stopped, and the only reason why is he didn't take that knee," Quinones said. "If he would have taken the knee, they no doubt would have allowed him to go again. I think it was [stopped] because e didn't take the knee. He tried to get up so fast. He did get his bearings, but it was a very close call."
It may not be Bordeaux's last shot at the title. Quinones raved about him and said he deserved another shot and said he was willing to fight on Jan. 30 in Saudi Arabia if PowerSlap wanted to put him on that show.
"Branden is definitely probably the top contender right now to go against me again," Quinones said. "That's why I said I'll give him the rematch."
Heavyweight champion Damien Dibbell retained his belt with a decision win over Dorian Perez. Dibbell won 47-46 on all cards. He said Perez hit him harder than he's ever been hit and said Perez deserves another shot at the belt.
But Dibell said he'd love to be a two-division champion and said he'd like to move up from heavyweight, which has a 265-pound limit, to super heavyweight to fight champion Layne "Da Crazy Hawaiian" Viernes. Viernes weighs around 425 pounds.
In the third title fight on the card, Anthony Blackburn retained his welterweight belt in a rematch with Emanuel Muniz, winning by split decision. Scores were 48-46 twice for Blackburn and 48-46 for Muniz.
PowerSlap middleweight champion Isaih Quinones celebrates his KO win Friday over Branden Bordeaux.