Harold “King” Calderon Beats Crosstown Miami Rival JD “Pretty Boy” Martinez in a Battle of Undefeated Welterweights
There was a packed house of delighted boxing fans tonight at the Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida for Heavyweight Factory Boxing promoter Kris Lawrence’s “Hometown Throwdown.”
In the 10-round main event, undefeated Miami-based welterweight prospect turning contender Harold “King” Calderon 17-0(10 KO) outboxed former undefeated crosstown rival John David “Pretty Boy” Martinez 10-1(8 KO) while picking him apart with straight left hands and body shots. Calderon was superior tonight and his confidence was evident from the opening of round one. Martinez who had great crowd support was able to offer a challenge and occasional nice counter punches, however unable to catch a stride of momentum anywhere in the bout. As the fight wore on, the southpaw Calderon and his bigger boisterous crowd support carried the momentum and the energy of the arena. As the announcer announced the final round, the crowd went into a bleacher stomping frenzy cheering on the both Miami boxers. The final scorecards came in at 99-91, 100-90 and 100-90.
In the 10 round co-main event, promising 19-year-old Logan Yoon 12-0(10KO), the WBO-NABO Youth Super Lightweight Champion and WBO #13-rated contender earned himself a unanimous decision win over Colombian veteran Luis E Flores 24-10(20KO). Yoon chipped away at a blue-collar workman’s pace each minute of each round and stuck behind his jab and straight left hand, landing his power punch occasionally. A stern test and cautious battle for the Hawaiian who walked away with a unanimous decision victory in an otherwise uneventful but meaningful test. Official scorecards came in at 99-91 and 97-93 twice.
Towering 6? 9? Kazakhstani heavyweight Ivan Dychko (7-0, 7 KOs), the two-time Olympic super-heavyweight bronze medallist, stepped in the squared circle with long-time heavyweight gatekeeper Maurice “Mo Bettah” Harris (26-22-3, 11 KOs). Just 1:39 into round number one Dychko hit Harris with a simple left hook that toppled and dispensed the New Jersey native to the canvas where Mo felt it was better to stay down as looked very comfortable for the next 10 seconds. Unfortunately, we were not able to see what the Kaz had tonight.
To the crowds’ delight, Raul Chirino 11-9(6KO) knocked down Jessy Cruz 13-7-1(5KO) with a beautiful straight right hand at the end of round two. Cruz popped Chirino with a straight left hand and put him down in the fourth. The two combatants displayed alike pugilistic enthusiasm during this pleasurable face smashing body crushing matchup. There were no jabs in this scrap, just a fun throwdown between two warriors right to the final bell which had both guys swinging for glory! After six rounds of boxing, we go to the scorecards: 58-54, and 57-55 twice with the win going to Jessy Cruz.
Livan “Machine Gun Kid” Navarro from Havana Cuba got a big KO win over Julio C Reynoson 12-2(7KO). Navarro, now fighting out of Miami 8-0(6KO) dug a body shot into Reynonoson that put the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic fighter down and out 2:47 of just the first round.
Light Heavyweights Ulysses Diaz 6-0(5KO) and Israel Echevarria form Chicago 3-5(2KO) gave the crowd an entertaining match with Diaz coming out with the win with the scorecards reading 39-37 40-36. The Chicagoan was not too happy with the decision and he was visibly upset in the ring after Diaz looked to swipe a kick at him. Echevarria was sure to let the crowd know he was not happy with either; the after fight antics, nor the decision, on the way out of the ring and arena.
Super Middleweight Irosvani Duvergel originally from Guantanamo, Cuba now fighting out of Miami improved to 3-0(2KO) with a unanimous decision win over tough as nails Elie Agustama 6-9(3KO)
In a spirited crowd-pleasing lightweight tussle Dustin “Godson” Arnold 5-1(1KO) fought his way to a strong unanimous decision win over the previously unbeaten Daniel Placeres 6-1(5KO). Arnold pressed the action early connecting with a strong left hook right-hand combination in round two and the counterpunching southpaw returned the points later in the round which was a forecast of the final four excellent rounds. After 6 exciting rounds, the judge’s cards came in at 60-54 58-56 59-55.
Super Bantamweight Lawrence Newton kept his perfect record intact at 10-0(6KO) but not without a stern test from journeyman Pedro Melo 17-19-2(8KO) from Tijuana Mexico.
Sporting beautiful silver and blue trunks BT Newton worked behind a sharp and commanding jab from the opening bell, but the tenacious Melo insisted on paying the tax of eating heavy leather from Newton to get inside. Melo kept constant pressure on the slick Newton while creating competitive infight battles throughout the tilt. Judges scorecards read 60-54 and 59-55 twice for Newton for the unanimous decision win.
