In his latest quest to rejuvenate his career, Sergio Mora announced he’s inked a deal with manager and adviser Al Haymon.

Mora, a former WBC junior middleweight champion, announced his signing on Twitter Thursday night. Mora (26-3, 9 KOs) is currently promoted by DiBella Entertainment and has been lobbying for big-name fights in the middleweight division.

“I’ve come a long way as a self managed fighter,” Mora said. “I have a loyal team behind me that has never doubted my abilities.”

Mora, 33, has scored three consecutive wins since losing a majority decision to Brian Vera in 2012. Mora is not known for his knockout power, but has consecutive knockout victories over Milton Nunez and most recently, a TKO victory over Samuel Rogers in May.

Mora’s highlight of his career was a majority decision over the late Vernon Forrest in 2008, winning the WBC strap. Forrest avenged the loss in a rematch three months later.

-Jose Quintero/ @JoseSwift8755

US Managing Editor for www.BehindTheGloves.com

Javier Fortuna survives Juan Antonio Rodriguez

Saturday night in Las Vegas, HBO2 concluded a marathon day of professional boxing as Lou DiBella and Sampson Lewkowicz presented a nice card from the Tropicana Hotel & Casino. In the main event, 24-year old featherweight contender Javier Fortuna withstood the late rally of tough Mexican Juan Antonio Rodriguez in order to secure a ten-round unanimous decision.

I considered Fortuna (25-0-1, 18 knockouts) my 2011 Prospect of the Year after he demolished everyone in front of him. He’s since regressed a bit, but Saturday he showed flashes of what made him a highly touted prospect. Fortuna and Rodriguez engaged in a firefight that saw the two involved in furious exchanges for much of the bout. Fortuna’s power tipped most of the exchanges in his favor, but as time wore on, Rodriguez began working himself into the fight.

Rodriguez (26-5, 23 KOs) had previously given former featherweight titlist Billy Dib a tough fight in Australia. In this fight, he tasted the canvas in round three but also put Fortuna down, though it was ruled a slip. Fortuna was cut above the right eye and his face grew grotesquely swollen as the bout continued despite the action favoring him most of the way.

Rodriguez hurt Fortuna with a body shot to close the ninth round and had Fortuna staggered a bit in the tenth as he looked for a dramatic finish. Rodriguez came up just short and Fortuna made it to the final bell, winning by scores of 98-91 on all three cards.

In the co-feature, unbeaten Luis Rosa won a controversial ten-round unanimous decision over Luis Orlando Del Valle in a junior featherweight bout. Rosa (17-0, 7 KOs) was dropped in round five and lost a point in round seven for continued low blows yet prevailed on the scorecards 98-91, 97-92, 97-91, scores that were far wider than the action would otherwise suggest. Many felt Del Valle (18-2, 13 KOs) did enough to get the win.

In the untelevised portion of the card, Sergio Mora scored a fifth round stoppage of Samuel Rogers (14-2, 8 KOs) as he looks to secure a world title shot later this year. Mora (26-3-2, 18 KOs) is targeting a fight with any of the titleholders at 160 pounds.

All photos courtesy of Manny “Mitts” Murillo

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega

-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com