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NEW YORK CITY — On the eve of the Puerto Rican Day parade in New York City, “Team Puerto Rico” took the stage on the second night of a two night all Latino extravaganza titled “Boricua Invasion.” Tonight’s fights featured some of Puerto Rico’s youngest and best talent. The co-feature and main event of the evening were televised live on Showtime.

Luis Del Valle vs. Dat Nguyen — 10 Rounds, Featherweight

In the main event of the evening Luis Del Valle squared off against the very tough Dat Nguyen. Del Valle has become a highly touted prospect, and Nguyen was once a nationally ranked amateur and hot prospect himself, before personal concerns kept him out of the ring for extended periods of his career.

The bout began as a barnburner, as each fighter threw powerful punches, hoping to make an early impact. Del Valle landed a powerful hook early, which backed Nguyen off. Each fighter landed hard blows, but Del Valle seemed more in control of the action. The second round saw similar action, and a hook briefly buckled Nguyen’s knees. By the third, both fighters seemed to settle into a rhythm and the pace slowed briefly. That was until Del Valle began utilizing a lead left hook counter that shook up Nguyen and seemed to have him rattled. Despite taking hard shots, Nguyen continued moving forward behind a strong lead right hand.

As the fight progressed, both fighters seemed to lose a little bit of the pop in their punches. Both fighters fell into an inside fighting strategy that could have been fought in a phone booth. In the sixth round, Del Valle was able to position his opponent into a corner and threw a quick barrage of punches that had Nguyen buckled over, but not down. Nguyen Raised his hands as if to say, “I’m not hurt,” but his lack of aggression throughout the rest of the round said otherwise.

By the eighth round, Del Valle was in complete control. A sharp left hook sent Nguyen back into the ropes, and Del Valle followed up with another flush left hook. All Nguyen could do in response was cover up. The bout continued all the way to the tenth round with Del Valle pressuring Nguyen into the ropes time and time again. The last round saw a more aggressive Nguyen, but it was too little too late.

When the final bell sounded, all three judges were in agreement that Del Valle had won the bout 99 to 91.

Del Valle improves his record to 13-0 with 10 knockouts, and Nguyen’s record drops to 17-2 with 6 knockouts.

“[Nguyen] is very strong and determined,” said Del Valle after the fight. “He has a good chin and more power than his record shows.”

“For my money, Del Valle stole the show,” said SHOWTIME analyst Steve Farhood. “Just an outstanding performance.”

As for what’s next for the 126-pound Del Valle: “He’s going to go down to 122, whether he wants to or not,” said co-promoter Lou DiBella. “He’s already got power now. At 122, forget it.”

– Arben Paloka

Jonathan Gonzalez vs. Richard Gutierrez — 10 Rounds, Welterweight

Co-Main Event

In the night’s co-feature, undefeated Puerto Rican prospect, Jonathan Gonzalez scored a unanimous decision victory over the iron-chinned Richard Gutierrez.

The opening round belonged to Gonzalez, who was able to press the action and score the better punches.

The second round saw the crowd at the Roseland Ballroom rise to it’s feet multiple times as it played host to vicious exchanges between the two prizefighters. Only seconds after the fighter’s got off their stools, Gonzalez had backed Gutierrez to the ropes, and proceeded to tee off his counterpart. Gonzalez, to the crowds delight, landed a huge head-twisting left hook, quickly followed up by a purposeful right hand.

Gonzalez stalked Gutierrez around the ring, firing off meaningful power punches throughout the second stanza. The crowd rose to it’s feet once again towards the end of the second round after Gonzalez scored a perfectly placed right hook right on the button. To his credit, Gutierrez took his foe’s punches well and was able to score with slick uppercuts and well-timed counterpunches.

In the middle rounds, Gutierrez seemed to do a bit better, in the sense that his head didn’t imitate that of a bobble-head doll. It was Gonzalez, no question, who continued to score the more significant punches.

Midway through the sixth round Gonzalez landed his second low blow of the bout, which immediately send Gutierrez down to a knee wincing in pain. Gonzalez was warned about punching below the belt, but not penalized.

The final three rounds played out similar to the mid-rounds in that Gonzalez scored the better punches, but Gutierrez, to his credit, continued to fire back, eating Gonzalez’s punches in order to fire off a few of his own.

In the end, Gutierrez was game, but heart wasn’t enough. Gonzalez cruised to a victory, although this bout marked the first one in Gonzalez’s career to reach the scorecards.

The final scores read 99-91, 98-92, and 98-92 for Jonathan Gonzalez, giving him a unanimous decision victory. His record improves to 14-0, 13 KOs, while Gutierrez’s drops to 26-7-1, 16 KOs.

– Kyle Kinder

Gabriel Bracero vs. Guillermo Valdes — 6 rounds, Welterweight

Gabriel Bracero entered the ring against Guillermo Valdes. In fifteen undefeated fights only sports one stoppage. Valdes came into the fight coming off of three stoppage losses in his last four outings. Bracero, whose popularity is rising rapidly, was keen to score a stoppage over his inferior foe. It didn’t take long for that to happen, as a jab followed by a right hand dropped Valdes flat on his back. Valdes had difficulty rising, and the referee waved the fight off at the :40 point in the opening round.

Bracer’s record improves to 16-0 with 2 knockouts while Valdes’ record drops to 12-4 with 3 knockouts. All four of Valdes’ losses came by way of knockout.

– Arben Paloka

Amanda Serrano vs. Jennifer Scott — 6 Rounds, Super Featherweights

The talented Amanda Serrano squared off against the less talented Jennifer Scott in a short bout. Scott began the fight aggressively, but that fell right into Serrano’s strengths. Serrano was able to counter Scott’s wild punches. A left hook rocked Scott back into the ropes, and Serrano went in for the kill. Another left hook sent Scott crashing to the canvas. Scott beat the count, but was met with dozens of flush shots from Serrano, forcing the referee to stop the bout at the 1:40 mark of the first round. Serrano was credited with a TKO victory.

Serrano’s record improves to 10-0-1 with 6 knockouts and Scotts record is now 2-4 with 2 knockouts.

– Arben Paloka

Raul Lopez vs. Victor Valenzuela — 6 rounds, Bantamweight

In a six round war, the Bronx, New York’s Raul Lopez scored __ over Passaic, New Jersey’s Victor Valenzuela.

The fight was riddled with constant engagement and solid action, but it was Raul Lopez who consistently scored with the better punches. Valenzuela, once an 8-0 prospect with reasonable upside, now sports a record of 8-3, with 2 KOs. Valenzuela doesn’t turn his punches over, he slaps. Lopez, conversely, throws with conviction — and his shots left lasting impressions in the judges’ minds. All three scored the bout in favor of Lopez, one judge seeing it a shutout, 60-54, while two other judges agreed Lopez won the bout 59-55.

With the win Lopez improves to 6-1, 3 KOs.

– Kyle Kinder

Jorge Maysonet Jr. vs. Adam Alvarez — 4 Rounds, Junior Welterweight

Well…that was quick. It took just :21 seconds into the evening’s first bout for Jorge Maysonet Jr. to drop an unworthy Adam Alvarez twice, forcing the referee to step in and prevent further punishment.

The first knockdown came courtesy of a Maysonet Jr. one-two that sent Alvarez to the mat. Maysonet’s first punch after the ten count was a perfectly placed left hook that dropped Alvarez once more and subsequently ending the bout.

With the win, Maysonet Jr. improves to 4-0, 3KO, while Alvarez drops to 0-2.

– Kyle Kinder

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