Photo by David Algranati/TheFightPhotos

Paul Kroll ended a 15-month layoff on Saturday, knocking out Antoni Armas in two rounds at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Kroll, 12-0-2 (8 KOs), of Philadelphia, dropped Armas, 13-10 (8 KOs), of Maracay, Venezuela, twice in the second round – both on body punches – before the 10-count was reached at the 2:30 mark.

The 29-year-old Kroll, a former U.S. national amateur team member, was fighting for the first time since December 2023, when he stopped Weah Archiebald in four rounds.

"I did what I was expected to do but I'm just waiting on my opportunity to showcase my talents with top guys at 154 or 160," said Kroll. "I just need my shot so I can show the world I’m one of best fighters in the world."

Armas, 28, lost for the fifth straight time, all by knockout.

Kroll-Armas headlined a nine-fight card presented by R&B Promotions.

The co-main event produced the upset of the night, as Daniel Gonzalez suffered the first defeat of his pro career, losing by fourth-round stoppage to spoiler Sydney Maccow. 

Maccow, 10-8 (4 KOs), of Bayonne, New Jersey, made effective use of his significant size advantage, which was enhanced by his coming in 3.9lbs above the 138lbs contract weight a day in advance of the fight. Gonzalez, 5-1 (5 KOs), of Iselin, New Jersey, was hurt early on by Maccow, nearly touching the canvas after a series of straight punches that sent him into the ropes. Gonzalez was undone by his lack of head movement, as Maccow couldn’t miss with his hooks and right hands.

Gonzalez, 29, showed heart amid adversity, rocking Maccow in the second round with a left hook that made Maccow’s knee buckle. Gonzalez continued to pour on the punches but was still unable to stay away from the counterpunches coming back at him. Maccow recovered and was able to weather Gonzalez’s early assault in the third round, rocking Gonzalez back to the ropes with a left hook. Maccow continued to walk Gonzalez down with straight punches and was able to take the big punches from Gonzalez better than he had before.

In the fourth round, a right hand followed by a hook rocked Gonzalez, which led to a four-punch combination along the ropes that brought the fight to an end at the 1:32 mark.

Maccow, 32, stretched his unbeaten streak to seven fights following a five-fight losing streak.

Earlier in the night, Gabriel Gerena, 7-1 (5 KOs), of Piscataway, New Jersey, rebounded from his first career defeat, stopping Danny Murray, 7-9, of Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey, at 31 seconds of Round 4. Gerena dropped Murray three times, including on a right hand in the third that brought a stop to the fight.

Gerena last fought in October, when he was stopped in one round by the aforementioned Gonzalez.

In the night’s opening fight, Michael Ruiz of Tom’s River, New Jersey, found himself in an unusual position: as the A-side.

Ruiz, 2-6-1, outfought Daniel Van Fossen, 0-4, of West Deptford, New Jersey, to win a unanimous decision in their four-round lightweight bout. Ruiz won the fight on all three judges’ scorecards by the tallies of 40-36.

Ruiz is a popular choice for a pro debut opponent in the area, having been the first opponent for national amateur champion Zaquin Moses.

Additionally, Tunde Fatiregun, 3-2, shut out Avonte Barr, 0-2, in their four-round cruiserweight bout. The scores were 40-36 on all three cards.

Mike Boyle, 1-0 (1 KO), stopped Marcus Williamson, 0-2, at 1:42 of Round 1 in their four-round cruiserweight fight.

Richard Johnson, 5-0 (2 KOs), defeated DePriest Johnson, 2-6, by unanimous decision in their four-round junior middleweight fight. All three judges scored the fight 40-36.

Justin Penaranda, 2-0 (2 KOs), finished off Benji Gomez, 0-5, at 2:48 of the third round in a four-round lightweight bout. Penaranda, 25, of Bayonne, New Jersey, scored three knockdowns, finishing Gomez off with a right uppercut.

Jose Soto, 1-0 (1 KO), stopped Khristopher Hernandez, 0-1-1, at 2:43 of the first round in a four-round heavyweight fight.

Ryan Songalia is a reporter and editor for BoxingScene.com and has written for ESPN, the New York Daily News, Rappler, The Guardian, Vice and The Ring magazine. He holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at ryansongalia@gmail.com or on Twitter at @ryansongalia.