SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA — In the ring for the fourth time since ending a nine-year sabbatical from boxing last year, Paul Nave scored a third-round stoppage over journeyman Daniel Schlienz in a return bout at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall, capping a four-fight card on Friday night.
Nave (19-8-2, 8 KOs) of San Anselmo, California had been out of the ring since scoring a six-round decision over Schlienz (7-20-1, 4 KOs) of Duluth, Minnesota last November. Nave, 146 ½, began the rematch a bit more aggressively than he had in their first meeting. Nave knocked Schlienz, 145, off balance once in the opening stanza and seemed to take the round by simply outworking his well traveled opponent.
The second round was more of the same, as Schlienz remained in a defensive posture until pressured by Nave, who had to force the fight at times. Late in the round Nave began to open up, flurrying as Schlienz looked to cover and counter. The fight turned early in the third as Nave wobbled Schlienz with a jab, right hand combination. Nave moved in to follow up, but Schlienz was already on his way to the mat when he attempted to land a hook. The punch missed over the falling Schlienz’ head and the Minnesota native made it to his feet on unsteady legs.
With referee Marty Sammon watching close, and the ringside physician already on his feet on the arena floor, Nave leaped in with an overhand right that landed flush and dropped Schlienz for a second time. Schlienz hit the mat hard and the fight was immediately called off as the doctor rushed in to check on the fallen fighter. Official time of the stoppage was 2:35 of the third round.
There was some controversy earlier in the week, as the California State Athletic Commission had reservations about approving Schlienz for the fight. Since losing to Nave in a fairly competitive bout last year, Schlienz had been stopped inside the distance in both of his next two fights. In retrospect, the concerns the Commission had regarding Schlienz proved to be warranted. Schlienz, who is 40-years-old, did appear less coordinated than he had in November, and his response to punches were not what one would hope for from a professional prizefighter.
Nave, who turns 50-years-old in September, had a differing opinion after the fight. “I think I hit him harder,” explained Nave. “I came out a little out more aggressive and eight ounce gloves and I caught him. I don’t think there ever should have been a controversy. We had gone six good rounds, I just happened to catch him.”
Nave last scored a knockout in March of 1997, putting away Jose Luis Madrid in eleventh round of a rematch in San Rafael. Nave fought six more times before stepping away from the sport, and had fought three times in his return prior to Friday’s rematch with Schlienz. “At the older age, I try to box more instead of just trading,” explained Nave. “I used to go out with a reckless abandon and I had a lot of early knockouts years ago. The idea is now, why take those punches if you don’t have to? I have a lot of experience now, so I might as well use my experience and try to outbox him. Outbox him, get the points win and go on to the next fight.”
Nave hopes to get back into the ring within the next few months. “I just need to fight more consistently before I jump up the proverbial ladder,” said Nave. “I need to fight more consistently and then go for it. Fight the best guy for the most money and I want to fight for a title if I get the opportunity.”
In addition to preparing for the fight, Nave was also the promoter of the event and he has been co-producing a documentary series about himself that airs on Sunday nights on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. As one might expect, Nave admits the workload was challenging. “I trained real hard for this fight, and I have been doing this reality show for two-and-one-half months and it has been a lot of work,” said Nave. “I wore a lot of hats, and the last hat really did me.” Local fight fans can expect Nave to return to San Rafael for his next fight. “I love fighting in Marin. It’s a professional venue and there are great people here so I love fighting here.”
In the other rematch on the card, Jose Alfredo Lugo (10-13-1, 5 KOs) of Richmond, California by way of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico evened up the score with a six-round split decision victory over Jaime Rodriguez (5-7-3, 2 KOs) of Reno, Nevada. The two- way action started right off the bat with a back-and-forth opening round. The forward-moving Lugo, 133, landed a few clean hooks that may have earned him the nod in the second round.
The taller and more fleet of foot Rodriguez, 132 ½, began to box in the third, which would be his best and worst round. It was a solid round for Rodriguez since he was clearly frustrating Lugo by keeping his distance and landing from the outside. However the fight began to turn against him in the very same round, as he seriously injured his right hand sometime during the three minutes. Even with the injury, Rodriguez had a strong fourth round as he caught Lugo with several one-two combinations as the Mexican made his way inside.
With an injured hand, Rodriguez nearly shut his offense down in the fifth, which allowed Lugo to get in range and land his shots. Lugo would rock Rodriguez with two hooks late in the round, prompting an apparently tired Rodriguez to hang on until the ring of the bell. Both fighters summoned the strength to let loose with their punches to close out the sixth and final round which brought the crowd to their feet. In the end, Rodriguez had a wide lead on one card, 59-55, but that score was overruled by the other two judges who both had the fight 58-56 for Lugo.
Both Lugo and Rodriguez have spent most of their careers giving touted prospects tough fights. The most noteworthy result on Lugo’s resume is a six-round draw against well regarded light welterweight Mike Dallas Jr. in 2008. Likewise, Rodriguez earned a four-round draw against unbeaten former amateur star Mel Crossty in May of last year. While they may not be elite fighters, Lugo-Rodriguez III would be a welcomed bout to a future undercard. Their first fight, a decision win for Rodriguez which took place on the first Nave-Schlienz undercard last November, was an exciting toe-to-toe battle that could have gone either way.
Jason Montgomery (2-0-1) of Hayward, California spoiled the ring return of previously undefeated Ulysses Caballero (4-1-1, 3 KOs) of San Pablo, California by taking a four-round unanimous decision. Montgomery, 153, was the busier boxer and more accurate puncher throughout. Early on Montgomery found a home for his uppercut and he would go on to land it almost at will for much of the fight. After outboxing Caballero, 150, for two rounds, Montgomery landed an overhand right in the third to score a knockdown. The determined Caballero returned to his feet but had a badly swollen left eye by round’s end.
In a nearly dramatic turn of events, Caballero turned the tide in the fourth, landing a double left hook that stunned Montgomery early in the round. With his corner imploring him to throw hooks and uppercuts, Caballero chased after Montgomery for much of the round hoping to score a fight-saving knockout. Montgomery, holding an insurmountable lead on the cards, boxed and moved as Caballero continued to apply pressure. Time eventually ran out for Caballero, who had a throng of supporters cheering him on and Montgomery was declared the victor unanimously by the scores of 40-35 and 39-36 twice.
John Dunham (1-5-1) of Stockton, California got himself into the win column for the first time with a four-round split decision over Herman Bacho (0-1) of Santa Rosa, California. Dunham, 144, caused the left eye of Bacho, 144, to swell badly by the second round. The injury may have been the result of a headbutt, as Dunham came rushing in ram style at times in the bout. By the third round it looked as though Dunham was just about out of gas, but the previously winless fighter outlasted the fatigued Bacho, downing him with less than thirty seconds to go in the fight. A left hand, followed by a looping right officially caused the knockdown, but it looked as though Bacho’s conditioning may have failed him. In the end, two judges scored the fight for Dunham, 39-36, with one lone dissenting judge having it 38-37 the other way.
Promising super bantamweight Jonathan Alcantara (4-1-1) of Novato, California was originally tabbed for the card, but after originally scheduled opponent Eder Peralta and then his replacement, Danny Pantoja, fell out, his fight was cancelled.
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.