CARSON, Calif. — Jessie Vargas sprinted around the squared circle, hands raised high in disbelief.
Referee Pat Russell had just waved his hands to signal the end of the bout after Vargas, down on the scorecards with around seven seconds left in the final round, had socked Bradley with a huge overhand right.
Bradley (32-1-1, 12 KOs) stumbled after absorbing the massive punch and was clearly hurt. He reeled around the ring as Vargas went in to finish him, but then, suddenly, the fight abruptly ended. Only Vargas (26-1, 9 KOs) didn’t win at all. Russell didn’t wave his hands to represent that he was stopping the fight due to Bradley being hurt.