Rivera Stops Valdez in Three

By Mario Ortega Jr. (ringside)

Former world title challenger Cosme Rivera scored a third-round knockout of Bobby Joe Valdez Friday night at Raley Field in West Sacramento, California to headline an entertaining six-bout card.

Rivera (31-11-2, 23 KOs) of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico took the advantage early in the bout and proved to be strong for the outmatched Valdez (9-5-2, 4 KOs) of El Paso, Texas. Both fighters were a bit tentative in the opening round, but things heated up early in the second. Rivera, 147, landed a short right hand to drop Valdez, 148, late in the round. Valdez got up and immediately attempted to get back in the fight. While Rivera continued to land the harder shots, Valdez did draw first blood after an accidental head butt opened a cut under his opponent’s right eye.

Rivera came out quick in the third, stunning Valdez with a left hook. Rivera gamely fought back, but was unsteady on his feet. Rivera followed up with Valdez on the ropes before referee Dan Stell stepped in to call an end to the fight at 2:50 of the third. The win should be Rivera’s 32nd, but his last bout was changed to a no-decision by the Miccosukee Athletic Commission in Florida, after a failed post-fight drug test for marijuana.

Former amateur star Michael Ortega (1-0) of Sacramento looked impressive in scoring a unanimous decision over Vazgen Simikyan (0-1) of Glendale, California in a four-round welterweight bout. Simikyan, 147 ½, employed an ill-fated shell defense from the early stages of the bout. Ortega, 150, remained busy while placing his shots in between and around Simikyan’s tight guard. Simikyan woke up late in the bout, but Ortega quickly regained the momentum. All three judges scored the bout 40-36 in favor of the Sacramento native. Ortega, a four-time California Golden Gloves Champion, plans to return to the ring in September at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento.

Other local fighters did not fare as well as did Ortega. Lester Gonzalez (8-0, 5 KOs) of San Diego, California outscored Jorge Barajas (5-1, 2 KOs) of Modesto, California in a six-round battle of light middleweights. Gonzalez, 154, built up an early lead in the bout with cleaner, harder punches. Barajas, 152 ½, fought his way back into the fight after concentrating his efforts on Gonzalez’ body. They stood toe-to-toe to close out the fight, both winging shots until the final bell. Judges Steve English and Marshall Walker scored the fight 58-56, and Marty Sammon scored the bout 60-54, all for Gonzalez. 15rounds.com scored the fight 58-56 for Gonzalez as well.

Light welterweight Efrain Rivera (1-0) of San Jose, California spoiled the pro debut of Sacramento’s Ryan Chaney (0-1), scoring a four-round unanimous decision. Rivera, 142, rocked Chaney, 143 ½, in the first and fourth rounds and appeared to be a bit more technically sound. Steve English and Marshall Walker scored the bout 39-37, while Marty Sammon scored the bout 40-36, all for Rivera. 15rounds.com scored the bout 40-36 for Rivera, who was taken to the hospital after complaining of headaches and suffering from exhaustion.

In a four-round middleweight fight, Francisco Mora (2-0, 1 KO) of La Puente, California knocked out Ignacio Solorio (2-3) of Sacramento at 2:57 of the fourth. Mora, 160, took complete control of the fight in round two and never let up. Solorio, 160, was cut during the second stanza and rocked early in the fourth. Mora had Solorio in trouble along the ropes before the referee stepped end to call the fight.

In a highly competitive pairing of featherweights, Efrain Esquivias (3-0, 1 KO) of Carson, California scored a four-round majority decision over decorated former international amateur standout Gabriel Tolmajyan (2-1) of Glendale, California by way of Armenia. Esquivias, 125, found a home for his straight right hand all night. Tolmajyan, 125, had his best round in the fourth, which offered plenty of two-way action. In the end two judges, Marshall Walker and Marty Sammon, scored the bout 39-37 for Esquivias. Steve English scored the fight even, 38-38.

Several amateur bouts opened up the card. William Walters, 154, of the Mateen Boxing Club in Sacramento won a four-round decision over Juan Perez, 154 ½, of Lords Gym. Torrey Jones, 69 ½, of the Shotgun Boxing Crew in Sacramento won a three-round decision over Jose Vasquez, 74, of the Caballero Boxing Club. Marcos Escobado, 143 ½, of the Caballero Boxing Club won via referee stoppage over Mike Estine, 145, of the Shotgun Boxing Crew. Caballero Boxing Club’s Cris Kins, 138, won a three-round decision over Sergio Fonseca, 141, of the Shotgun Boxing Crew. Payton Boyea, 176, of the Shotgun Boxing Crew won a three-round decision over Lavelle Simmons of the Multi-Choices Gym in Alameda, California.

Many boxing luminaries were on hand, including Michael Carbajal, Bobby Chacon, Loretto Garza, Danny “Little Red” Lopez, Sal Lopez, Armando Muniz, Mario Savala, Richard Savala, Pete Ranzany, Leon Spinks, Juan Lazcano and Tony Lopez, the promoter of the event.

Tony The Tiger Promotions returns to Raley Field on September 15th.