Errol Spence Jr., Isaac Cruz score TKO victories in flawless performances

ARLINGTON, Texas — Errol Spence Jr. was dazed as he peered his eyes around the ring looking for his mouthpiece.

Yordenis Ugas sent it flying on Saturday after he connected with a brutal right hand in Round 6 before referee Laurence Cole slowly walked over to halt the action to allow Spence to retrieve the mouthpiece. That's when Ugas connected with a left hand followed by a right that sent the distracted Spence careening into the ropes for what could have been called a knockdown.

The series of events seemed only to reinvigorate Spence, who was fighting in front of his hometown fans at AT&T Stadium for the third time. He began to attack far more aggressively the following round and took control of the bout. The systematic beating he dispensed on Ugas slowly but surely completely closed the Cuban's right eye before the ringside doctor advised Cole to stop the fight at 1:44 of Round 10.

Read the full fight recap from Mike Coppinger ...

Round 9: Spence in total control now as he pushes forward and tries to grind Ugas out of there. Ugas will answer here and there but he can't see well from the right eye and it's clearly affecting him. 10-9, Spence. 87-84, Spence.

Round 8: Another huge round for Spence, who had Ugas in trouble again. This time, Cole gives the reprieve to Ugas; the ref stopped the action to allow the ringside doctor to examine Ugas' right eye, which is swollen shut. After nearly a minute, the doctor allowed the bout to continue. 10-9, Spence. 77-75, Spence.

Round 7: What a fight! Spence with a huge bounce-back round. He hurt Ugas with a left uppercut and poured punishment on. Ugas rallied late in the round with consecutive left hooks that met their mark. Ugas' right eye badly swollen shut. 10-9, Spence. 67-66,