Mejia Rose from the Canvas
Abel Mejia stopped Aston Palicte at 1:34 of the second round on August 15, 2025, at Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California. The junior lightweight prospect recovered from an opening-round knockdown to secure a dramatic technical knockout victory.
The unbeaten prospect faced an experienced former title challenger
Mejia entered the scheduled six-round contest aged twenty-two with eight wins and no defeats. Palicte brought twenty-eight victories, eight defeats and one draw, including twenty-three knockouts.
The official weigh-in listed Mejia at 131.4 pounds and Palicte at 129.2. Their bout appeared on the Hollywood Fight Nights card promoted by Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions.
Palicte’s right hand immediately threatened the unbeaten record
The Filipino veteran connected with a heavy right and put Mejia down in the first round. The knockdown forced the younger fighter to recover quickly against an opponent with proven punching power.
Mejia regained his composure and reached the second round. Instead of allowing the early setback to define the fight, he began creating his own opening for a heavy right hand.
The second-round reversal brought an immediate finish
Mejia hurt Palicte and drove him backward toward the ropes with further punches. Referee Gerard White intervened when the veteran was no longer responding effectively to the attack.
The result moved Mejia to 9–0, while Palicte fell to 28–9–1. A contest that had initially showcased the veteran’s danger became a test of recovery for Mejia, whose response turned a first-round knockdown into a stoppage victory before the second round ended.
Sources
- 360 Promotions event release: official weights, running order and venue
- 360 Promotions event release: results and official scorecards
- Fightnews: ringside report and finishing details
