Ayala Lardizabal stops Mama as IBA PRO 18 delivers dramatic night in Mexico City
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 23 May 2026
Lausanne, Switzerland — IBA PRO 18 delivered a dramatic night of professional boxing at Arena CDMX, with a series of stoppages, strong performances from Mexican fighters and a decisive finish in the main event. The stacked fight card brings together boxers from Mexico, the Philippines, Colombia, Argentina and Nigeria, with prospects, established contenders and international match-ups across several weight divisions.
Chris Roberts OBE, CEO of the International Boxing Association, said:
“Mexico City has always been a place where boxing culture thrives, and bringing IBA PRO 18 to the iconic Arena CDMX reflects our continued commitment to professional boxing on the global stage. Tonight, we showcased not only elite athletes, but also the strength, passion and unity of our sport. The supporters and fans witnessed a truly spectacular night of boxing.”
Ayala Lardizabal finishes Mama with body shot
Mexico’s Angel Ayala Lardizabal delivered an impressive performance in the bantamweight main event, stopping the Philippines’ Jayson Mama with a fifth-round body-shot knockout.
The contest was fought at a fast pace from the opening bell, with Ayala Lardizabal using his reach advantage effectively while Mama responded with sharp counterattacks. As the bout progressed, the Mexican increased the pressure with powerful combinations and sustained body work before ending the fight in dramatic fashion with a crushing liver shot that left Mama unable to beat the count.
Fierro overwhelms Sanchez in co-main event
In the co-main event, Jonathan Fierro delivered a dominant performance against Sergio Chirino Sanchez, controlling the action from the opening round with aggressive pressure and powerful combinations.
Fierro consistently broke through Sanchez’s guard with sharp left hands and heavy two-punch attacks, while Sanchez showed toughness but struggled to match the pace and power. After absorbing sustained punishment through five rounds, Sanchez’s corner stopped the fight before the sixth round, handing Fierro an emphatic victory.
Mercado makes statement in Mexico City
Mexico’s Yamileth Mercado, one of the most accomplished fighters on the card, also delivered a statement performance against Colombia’s Flor Valentina Rodriguez. Mercado, a WBC champion with multiple title defences and a résumé that includes a bout with Amanda Serrano, used her size, experience and pressure from the opening bell.
Rodriguez defended well in the first round but could not match Mercado’s output. In the second, Mercado increased the tempo and overwhelmed her opponent with a wave of attacks, forcing the referee to step in and stop the bout.
IBA Pro 18 Official Results:
Main event: Angel Ayala Lardizabal (Mexico) vs Jayson Mama (Philippines) — Lardizabal wins by knockout.
Co-main event: Jonathan Javier Fierro (Mexico) vs Sergio Chirino Sanchez (Mexico) — Fierro wins by technical knockout.
Yamileth Mercado (Mexico) vs Flor Valentina Rodriguez (Colombia) — Mercado wins by technical knockout.
Miguel Angel Martinez (Mexico) vs Nicolas Blanco (Argentina) — Martinez wins by technical knockout.
Manuel Alex Romero (Mexico) vs Ridwan Oyekola (Nigeria) — Oyekola wins by technical knockout.
Cristian Alberto Eusse (Colombia) vs Tomas Mendoza (Mexico) — Mendoza wins by technical knockout.
Francisco Cantabrana (Mexico) vs Jordi Omar Villa Soto (Mexico) — Cantabrana wins by technical knockout.
Julian Mendez Aguilar (Mexico) vs Joseph Martinez (Mexico) — Mendez wins by technical knockout.
The night also featured the appearance of legendary ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr., adding another major boxing touch to IBA PRO’s first major showcase in Mexico City.
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