Vazquez returns to stop Priolo in nine

Boxing returned to downtown Los Angeles, California at the Nokia Center as Golden Boy Promotions brought us the return of Izzy Vazquez after a 19 month lay off due to eye surgery.

In our main event, Israel Vazquez (43-4, 32KO’s) took on the experienced and always game Angel Priolo (30-7, 20KO’s).
The first round was a close one, both guys were active and there was not much of a feeling out process. Priolo landed the biggest shot of the round.
Vazquez picked up his activity level I the second and landed numerous big shots. Priolo was less effective as he was beat to the punch.
The next few rounds were relatively even. Vasquez landed a straight right that seemed to stun Proilo in the 4th.
The next few rounds all seemed to go Priolo’s way as he could not miss with the right. Vazquez’s left eye was the target and it was cut and bloodied.
In the 9th round it all turned around as Vazquez opened up and in classic Izzy form, pulled thru when the chips were down. Israel dropped Priolo with a flurry for his first knockdown of the fight and Priolo never recovered. Priolo was floored two more times before the referee stopped the fight at 2:10 of round 9.

Making his pro debut in a four round, junior featherweight, Oscar Venegas earned his first victory over the winless Misael Martinez (0-5), after the ringside physician stopped to fight at the end of the first round.

In the second bout of the night, Ricky Duenas (4-1, 2KO’s), won by TKO when the ref stepped in at 2:09 of the third round. Jose Cardenas (1-3, 1KO), looked out of shape and it showed in his lackluster performance.

The next bout was a featherweight battle that featured “The Crazy Russian” Khabir Suleymanov against Hugo Ramos. Suleymanov (9-0, 4KO’s) got more than he bargained for as he was floored twice en route to the referee stopping the fight with :21 seconds left in the fourth. Ramos dropped to 2-4-1, 1KO.

The first co-main event was a scheduled 6 round bout in the welterweight division featuring two undefeated fighters. Luis Grajeda improved to 7-0 with 6 knockouts as he dropped Juan Carlos Diaz (3-1, 2KO’s) in a fairly one-sided bout.

The next co-main event was a scheduled 6 round featherweight affair. Ronny Rios (8-0, 4KO’s) showed great skill for such a young fighter as he pressed forward, worked his jab well, and attacked both upstairs and down. The fight was stopped at 1:53 of the 6th and final round. John Wampash drops to 1-3-1 with 1 knockout.