Marlen Esparza, fighting 3-minute rounds, wins decision vs Samantha Salazar

LAS VEGAS — Former U.S. Olympic bronze medalist Marlen Esparza opted for three-minute rounds Saturday instead of the standard two for professional women boxers, and it paid off as she defeated Samantha Salazar by unanimous decision in a four-round flyweight bout at the T-Mobile Arena here.

The fight was part of the preliminary undercard of the Canelo Alvarez-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. super middleweight all-Mexico showdown.

Esparza, who won bronze in London in 2012, won on all three judges scorecards by 40-36 scores.

“It’s great to make history being the first woman in Nevada to do three-minute rounds,” said Esparza. "I know it’s been done elsewhere, but tonight it feels really special doing it in this fight. I plan on staying at three minutes and not going back to two minutes, so I know we will need to be strategic about how I train and fight."

Esparza (2-0), had a decided edge in quickness and threw combinations at will that connected against Salazar in this all-Texas scuffle. Esparza hails from Houston and Salazar from Dallas.

Esparza used both hands and superior footwork to pick apart Salazar, who fell to 2-4-1. Her main weapon was an overhand right that she employed early and often, and as the fight wore on, she began to go to the body. Salazar had all she could do to defend herself but stayed on her feet throughout.

“I loved having the extra minute. When I only had two minutes, I felt like my punches were reactive than being proactive," Esparza said. "The extra minute gave me time to think, and be more thoughtful and strategic in my punches. It felt like a board game, where I could be able to plan and be able to go four steps ahead.”

Now that Esparza has established a comfort zone and a plan, she will try to move up the ladder as quickly as possible.

“Once I have another fight that I am happy with, I want to start calling out other fighters so I can start to make it in the rankings," she said. "I want to stay at three-minute rounds, and increase my next fight to six rounds and stay there for a bit.”