Alberto Machado improved his record to 19-0 with 16 knockouts as he climbed off the canvas to score an eighth round TKO victory over former WBA super champion Jezreel Corrales.

The bout was broadcast live on HBO Boxing After Dark from Verona, New York, in an exciting triple header card where the WBA super world super featherweight title was defended by the champion Jezreel Corrales in the main event.

The rumors were really swirling entering the fight – centralized around Corrales losing his title on the scales as he weighed in well above the super featherweight limit at 133.25lbs and was stripped of the title.

The fight itself was a good back and forth affair.  Machado came forward looking to land his powerful right hook and left cross while Corrales was using his movement to get off his shots quickly while moving in and out. 

Machado went down in the fifth round from an overhand left/hook hybrid and although he rose to make it through the round he had a worrisome look of defeat on his face.

Machado would continue coming forward in the coming rounds despite the setback and would eventually land the big punch he was looking for when he traded lefts with Corrales, scoring the TKO victory.

The WBA has a new Champion at Super Featherweight and it will be interesting to see where Corrales goes from here.  Perhaps a move to lightweight is in order.