Roland LaStarza vs. Julio Mederos

Roland LaStarza 189 lbs lost to Julio Mederos 196 lbs by KO at 1:37 in round 5 of 10

• Date: 1955-03-02
• Location: Miami Stadium, Miami, Florida, USA
• Referee: Mike Kaplan

LaStarza was down in the 1st, 3rd, and the 5th rounds.

"Underdog Julio Mederos, 189, of Havana knocked out Roland LaStarza, 195 1/2, of N.Y., tonight in the 5th round of their scheduled 10-rounder at Miami Stadium. Mederos scored his first knockdown at the end of the 1st round. The two fighters battled on even terms through the entire stanza, but an instant before the bell rang Mederos sent LaStarza to his knees with a sledgehammer right. In the 3rd round Mederos uncorked his right again, this time dropping LaStarza for a compulsory eight-count. Mederos handed LaStarza a terrific beating for the remainder of the round, stunning him time and again with rights and lefts. LaStarza opened the 5th by hitting Mederos with a sharp right. The Cuban countered with a sizzling left that staggered LaStarza before putting the Bronx boxer out for the count with a terrific roundhouse right at 1:37 of the 5th. LaStarza was still unconscious when the referee announced the time of the knockout." -United Press

• Attendance - 1,500 (est.)
• Gate - $5,500