Back in December of 2002, the two most well-known faces in women’s boxing at the time squared off in a crossroads bout of sorts, as Playboy cover girl Mia St. John squared off against Sports Illustrated cover girl and long respected fighter Christy Martin before a pay-per-view audience. To the surprise of many, St. John proved she could hang with a top level fighter as she boxed well but lost a wide decision. Both women have had their ups and downs professionally and personally, but still remain two of the most recognizable faces in the history of their sport. Another thing remains the same – neither seems to like the other all that much. The two meet this coming Tuesday at the Table Mountain Casino in Friant, California with Martin’s WBC Light Middleweight title on the line.

Martin (49-6-3, 31 KOs) of Orlando, Florida was the heavy favorite going into their first encounter. Martin was the fighter and St. John was supposed to be the novelty act. However, by lasting the distance with Martin and winning a handful of rounds, St. John (46-11-2, 18 KOs) of Oxnard, California legitimized herself as a solid pro and used the showing to launch the rest of her fighting career. Fast forward to the present day and Martin seems to give little credit to St. John for how well she performed back in 2002.

“I don’t think that the [first] fight was competitive, but she did take some great shots,” says Martin. “I was convinced in my mind that I was going to knock her out with a body shot, so that’s what I did. For ten rounds I worked on her body and stayed on her body. Whether or not she had on something under her clothes, I don’t know, but that is what I tend to believe. I didn’t hear a little moan or groan from Mia when she took those body shots. I hear that from my male sparring partners, that I have good body shots. So to see no reaction from Mia, makes me wonder what she had on.”

Under armor theories aside, Martin has seemed to forget that late in their first fight, it was “The Coal Miner’s Daughter” that asked her corner who they had winning the fight, not St. John. “Clearly she knew she was not easily winning the fight,” said St. John when that moment from their first fight was brought up. “I have a style that Christy does not do well with and many fighters don’t do well with. I’m a mover and I use a lot of angles, very difficult to land a clean punch. This is why I have only been knocked down once in my career and that was by a southpaw.”

It is almost hard to believe it took nearly ten years for a promoter to put together the rematch, as Roy Englebrecht has done. Both fighters spoke as though it was a fight they have wanted to make, and one that they look forward to. “This has been ten years in the making,” St. John said. “I am excited about it. I feel like I outboxed her in the first fight. And now that I know her even better, I feel that not only will I outbox her again, but I will actually stop Christy Martin and I will retire with the WBC belt.” Martin seemed extra juiced to be coming to California for the rematch. “It has been ten years in the making,” said Martin. “I am excited to have the opportunity to beat her again and this time in front of her hometown fans.”

A theme throughout the telecast of their initial encounter was how both Martin and St. John dealt with complications relating to the promotion of their first bout and how it could have affected them on fight night. “The first time around, there were a lot of distractions with the fight being scheduled and rescheduled,” Martin recalled. “It was going to happen. Then it was not going to happen. The day before I found out I was not going to be paid and I was going to have to sue the guy. My trainer at my time was my ex-husband, who was more interested in making sure that Mia got paid than I got paid. It was a bunch of bullshit basically.”

Admittedly both fighters have dealt with their share of distractions in the lead up to Tuesday’s rematch. The fight had been scheduled for earlier in the year, but with Martin still dealing with the legal entanglements surrounding the vicious attack by her ex-husband, the fight was postponed. Meanwhile St. John dealt with the grief of losing her mother to illness. Despite the hardships, both fighters seemed to have put their issues in their proper place and focused on the task at hand.

“We both went into that first fight not being able to spar and not being able to train,” recalled St. John. “We both had distractions having to do with the promoter of the first fight. With this fight, it is no different. She’s had distractions and so have I. My mother spent all of 2011 battling lung cancer and passed away five months ago. So we both have had major distractions in our lives, but at the end of the day we are fighters and that’s what we do. It is not going to be any different. None of that stuff is going to matter once the bell rings.”

Martin gave similar sentiments relating to her issues. “This time is altogether different,” says Martin, comparing the distractions before fight one and two. “I am training in Las Vegas with Miguel Diaz, a number one quality trainer. I am getting great sparring, so I will be more than prepared and ready to go. I am 100 percent. All the injuries from being shot and stabbed were all healed before I got in the ring last year. I broke my hand in nine places, but it is all healed. The doctor released me months ago, and I am ready to try it out on Mia’s head.”

Tuesday’s fight has been billed as “Final Victory.” Both St. John and Martin have kept in the tradition of their male counterparts, having both had more than one “final fight” in their career up to this point. However, it does seem like they recognize Tuesday’s fight at the Table Mountain Casino provides them a chance to go out with a bang, so maybe this will be it for them. Maybe.

“I know that when I win, she is going to want a rubber match,” said St. John, offering a scenario that could see her return to the ring another time. “Her ego is too big to let her just say ‘Mia beat me, I’m retired.’ She won’t do that. I will be willing to give her a rubber match, but I won’t fight anybody else, so stop calling me out. That is going to be it.”

Martin left the door slightly less open to another fight beyond August 14th, “I’m 99.9 percent sure of retirement at the end of the fight, win, lose or draw,” said Martin. “I’m a fighter, so it is hard to say 100 percent that I am done. But the end is definitely very, very near.”

Tomorrow’s undercard was originally meant to feature local Fresno-area fighters from top to bottom, but some late pullouts left the promotion scrambling to piece together the supporting card. Former amateur standout Luis Villagomez of Fresno is still on the bill and will take on Manuel Ortega (1-4) of Seattle, Washington in a four-round super featherweight bout. Yoshi Fuji (2-3-1, 2 KOs) of Fresno will end a five-year layoff against Jose Garcia (0-2) of Santa Ana, California in a four-round lightweight bout. Aaron Acevedo (1-0-1, 1 KO) of Moreno Valley, California will take on Angel Torres (2-10-2, 1 KO) of Yonkers, New York in a four-round lightweight bout. Rounding out the card, David Barragan (1-0-1, 1 KO) of National City, California will take on Beau Hamilton (0-2) of Montague, California in a four-round light middleweight fight.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Roy Englebrecht Events, are available online at Tmcasino.com.

Super featherweight prospect Diego Magdaleno continued his run through the lower rungs of the division with a fourth-round stoppage over faded trial horse Antonio Larel Davis in defense of his NABF title at the Texas Station Gambling Hall & Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.

Magdaleno (23-0, 9 KOs) of Las Vegas, who once had a streak of nine consecutive decision wins, scored his second consecutive stoppage, but over an opponent in Davis (29-8, 13 KOs) of Atlanta, Georgia that had been stopped in each of his last four defeats.

Magdaleno, 130, made sure to put in his work to the 40-year-old Davis’ body in the early going. At first, Davis, 130, seemed to take the shots well, but quickly it became apparent the damage was accumulating. By the fourth round the writing was on the wall. Magdaleno fell back on his jab and pried an opening for a right uppercut that badly rocked the weary Davis. Magdaleno ran in for the finish, pummeling Davis around the ring.

With their guy taking punishment, Davis’ corner began to inch up the ring steps, but it would be referee Joe Cortez that ultimately ended the onslaught as Magdaleno swung away. Official time of the stoppage was 2:59 of round four.

A member of Top Rank informed 15rounds.com that Magdaleno is in the running for a shot at the WBO 130-pound title recently vacated by Adrien Broner. Apparently former champ Roman Martinez will meet Miguel Beltran Jr. in an eliminator in September, with the winner a possible match for Magdaleno.

Already 16 fights into his career and mega prospect Jose Benavidez Jr. (16-0, 13 KOs) of Phoenix, Arizona has yet to fight a live body as a professional. On Saturday, Benavidez took care of business over novice styled Javier Loya (7-1, 6 KOs) of Phoenix via fourth-round stoppage.

Loya, 143, was unorthodox and routinely came rushing in with his head up and defense relaxed – a terrible plan of attack against any fighter, especially a schooled former amateur star. Bendavidez, 143 ½, took and early opening to score a knockdown with a left hook in the first round.

Somewhat surprisingly that would be the only knockdown for Bendavidez, but the end would come in the fourth with a series of unanswered blows that forced the hand of referee Tony Weeks. Official time of the stoppage was 1:41 for Bendavidez, who is definitely ready for a fairer fight.

Another Top Rank prospect was fed well, as Notre Dame alum Mike Lee (10-0, 6 KOs) of Chicago, Illinois pasted journeyman Tyler Seever (13-12-1, 11 KOs) of Saint Joseph, Missouri inside of two rounds.

After a nondescript opening round, Lee, 177 ½, let his hands go and landed a combination punctuated with a chopping right that dropped Seever, 175, down hard. When action resumed, Lee rushed in and landed a thunderous one-two combination that sent Seever backwards. With the Missouri native in trouble, referee Russell Mora opted to end the mismatch at 1:36 of the second round.

Lee is slated to return to the ring on September 15th on Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-Sergio Martinez bill at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Photos by Stephanie Trapp

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

CANYONVILLE, OREGON — On a Saturday night that featured excellent fights, but horrendous scoring nearly all the way through, unbeaten and wholly untested Mike Gavronski was lucky to escape the Seven Feathers Hotel Casino & Resort with win number ten over a shocked, deserved victor in Kevin Hand.

Gavronski (10-0-1, 8 KOs) of Tacoma, Washington got off to a slow start and was sporadic at best with his offense. Hand (3-3-1, 3 KOs) of Albany, Oregon clearly took the first two rounds, highlighted by a head-snapping right hand that seemed to hurt Gavronski in the second. Hand’s uppercuts landed with regularity in the round as well.

Entering the third round, the pro-Gavronski crowd was nearly silent, with only a few mutters of ‘Come on, Mike’ to be heard. After Hand tired for a moment midway through the round, Gavronski came on a bit to quite possibly earn the nod in scoring. However, Hand got his wind back in time for the final three rounds. Over the course of those frames, Hand seemed to be clearly the harder, more active puncher. Gavronski did little in stretches other than cover up, waiting for Hand to take a break in punching.

When lopsided scores of 58-56 and 59-55 twice were read, the overwhelming thought in the ring and in the building was that Hand must have been the winner. If Gavronski somehow won the fight, it would have to been with very close scores. But alas, the winner turned out to be a previously dejected-looking Gavronski. Unfortunately, the decision only continued a theme that plagued most of the scoring over the course of the night.

Decorated former amateur star Mike Wilson (7-0, 3 KOs) of Central Point, Oregon finally had the opportunity to fight before his supportive local fan base for the first time as a professional and sent his huge crowd home happy with a four-round unanimous decision over determined slugger Harry Gopaul (1-4, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California.

Wilson, dropping down well below the cruiserweight limit after fighting as a heavyweight throughout his pro run, used his natural size advantage against the more natural 175-pounder Gopaul. Wilson flashed the boxing skills that made him a national amateur champion some years ago as he kept the onrushing Gopaul out at range as much as possible.

In the third, Gopaul made inroads to close range, but Wilson did well enough for the most part, tying the Sacramento resident up and moving back out behind his jab. Aiding Gopaul’s aggression was a minor hand injury Wilson began showing signs of in the third stanza, which likely prevented him from committing to some of his blows. Still Gopaul is to be commended for bringing the fight to the bigger fighter, which was his only hope going into the bout.

When the final scores were read, Wilson had taken every round on every card, for tallies of 40-36 across the board. Given his strong local following, it is more than likely Wilson will be returning to the Seven Feathers Hotel Casino & Resort sooner than later.

In a fight more competitive than the scores indicate, Guillermo Delgadillo (3-2-1, 1 KO) of Walla Walla, Washington hammered out a four-round unanimous decision over Corben Page (4-4, 1 KO) of Springfield, Oregon in an action-packed super featherweight encounter.

The bout featured many give-and-take moments, but it was Delgadillo that was more consistently effective throughout the fight. In the end, all three judges had the fight a shutout, 40-36.

Marco Antonio Cardenas (4-3) of Salem, Oregon impressed in front of his home crowd with a well deserved four-round unanimous decision victory over Danny Martinez (2-2-1, 2 KOs) of Azusa, California.

Martinez, 129, was in trouble from the early going, as Cardenas, 129 ½, staggered him with a flush right hand midway through the first round. Despite the damage, Martinez refused to stop throwing his own arsenal, a theme that made for an entertaining contest all the way through.

After a solid comeback round for Martinez in the second, Cardenas seized complete control of the bout in the third as he began breaking down the Azusa resident slowly. The action went both ways, but it was clear Cardenas’ power shots were taking their effect. Martinez was badly wobbled again later in the third, but managed to throw enough back so that the referee could not rightfully stop the fight. After another solid round for Cardenas, scores read 40-36 and 39-37 twice.

Manuel Mendez (2-1) of Ontario, Oregon pounded out a four-round majority decision over boxer-mover Ronnie Reams (1-1) of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Mendez, 139 ½, worked over Reams, 139, from the outset in a fight that was undeserving of the even score handed in by one of the official scorers.

Reams looked to counterpunch, but was simply not aggressive enough to take any of the four rounds. Mendez continually pressed the action, often forcing to defend himself off the ropes. Mendez took what potshots Reams offered up well, and continued to move forward. In the second half of the fight, Reams seemed inclined to avoid the combat rather than trying to pull out the victory. Mendez again forced him to the ropes and pounded away as the bout came to a close. One judge surprisingly had an even score, 38-38, but was thankfully overruled by scores of 39-37 twice.

In one of several excellently matched fights on the card, Kevin Davila (1-1-1) of Puyallup, Washington outworked Gerardo Reyes (1-2-1) of Salem early, but faded late en route to a four-round split decision draw.

Reyes, 129 ½, boxed well in the first, outworking the tentative Davila, 129 ½, for the three minutes. Despite wobbling from a headbutt in the early going of round two, Davila came back and controlled the round with his constant pressure and relentless output. By the third, Davila looked a little spent which seemed to spark a fire underneath Reyes. After four hard-fought rounds, judges had it 39-37 for Davila, 39-37 for Reyes and 38-38 even.

From ringside it looked as though George Thompson (1-1, 1 KO) of Bellingham, Washington had done more than enough to edge out his second pro victory, but it was not to be as it was Sylvester Barron (6-1, 1 KO) of Anacortes, Washington that won over the official scorers in a wildly entertaining fight.

The two southpaw heavyweights slugged it out early, as Thomspon, 238, managed to press Barron, 219, into the ropes and launch and all-out attack. However, Barron quickly regrouped and soon had Thompson taking unanswered blows.

The second round looked a lot like the first, as both big men took their turns unloading on one another and playing to the crowd in between exchanges. Finally by the third, fatigue began to play a part as Barron began to show signs of slowing down. Thompson took full advantage and landed some clean left hands while Barron had his hands lowered. The two slugged it out throughout fourth as the packed house cheered until the final bell. In the end, scores were somewhat surprisingly unanimous for Barron, 39-37 across the board.

David Courchaine (1-2) of Spokane, Washington claimed his first professional victory in emphatic fashion, stopping Rafael Umarov (1-5) of Seattle, Washington 1:44 into the opening round. Courchaine, 170, connected with a clean straight right hand that sent Umarov, 163, crashing to the canvas. Though Umarov was clearly out on his feet when he beat the count, the referee allowed the fight to continue. However, it only took one more one-two before the fight was mercifully stopped.

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

The on again, off again return of former amateur star Mike Wilson is on again. After days in which it looked as though the fight was in jeopardy, Wilson will indeed take on free-swinger Harry Gopaul in a four-round cruiserweight special attraction on Saturday night at the Seven Feathers Casino Resort in Canyonville, Oregon.

Wilson (6-0, 3 KOs) of Medford, Oregon ended a long layoff in May with a four-round decision in Rhode Island and had been pegged to make his first home state appearance as a professional this Saturday night. Several opponents opted not to take on the former national amateur champion, but luckily rugged Harry Gopaul (1-3, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California has stepped up to the challenge and will meet Wilson this Saturday night.

For Wilson, who has fought all over the country and even in Australia, fighting at home is a dream come true. “It feels great,” exclaimed Wilson about coming back to Oregon. “I’ve been overseas and fought and we’re usually packing onto a plane to get to wherever I have fought. You are kind of going over there to no man’s land by yourself. Sometimes I have to look at the weigh-in for someone to work my corner and you are kind of a one-man team. Here being at home, you have the support of everybody – your friends and your family and all these people that have only read about you through the years. It is sort of like a home field advantage in the NFL. When you are tired, you have all these people hooting and hollering for you, it can really make the difference and pick you up. It gives a little more fuel to the fire.”

Wilson, who fought at 201 in his last fight and has come in as high as 220 as a pro, this fight also marks a move down to the cruiserweight division. “This is the start of a new run,” explains Wilson. “I dropped down a weight class. I have always fought at heavyweight and I was always considered a really small heavyweight. So I had to fight these really big guys. By today’s standards, heavyweights are about 250-pounds. So I started living right and making the right decisions as far as not being out there screwing around or drinking or anything like that. My whole body has tightened and I feel great, like a whole new person.”

Looking at the cruiserweight division rankings, it is definitely a weight class that has room for some new faces. “I just want to campaign at cruiser and I feel I definitely could move up the ranks a lot faster at cruiserweight than I could have at heavyweight. We’ll campaign at cruiser, hopefully get a cruiserweight title and then at the tail end of my career move on and go up to heavyweight. If you have a cruiserweight title, you are already pretty much in the top ten. So hopefully make some noise up there before I call it a career.”

Helping to keep Wilson motivated through the trials and tribulations any young fighter has in their career has been the success of other fighters the Oregonian competed against at the top amateur level. “It’s tough,” explains Wilson. “You are seeing all these guys fight on Showtime, and I would go, ‘Hey, that was my roommate at this camp or I beat that guy at this tournament.’ You feel like you have fallen off the radar. It is not really anything I’ve done, but being from the Northwest it seems you can sort of fall off the map. It has been tough so to speak, watching these guys come up. But I’ve never let it get me down. It has just given me fire.”

Though Gopaul does not sport a glossy record, he has a reputation for being a tough guy that will bring the fight to whoever he is in the ring with. “I expect him to be right at my face and come right at me,” says Wilson. “I know he is shorter than me, so I am going to keep him at the end of my reach. It is going to be like a bull and a matador. I just have to use my angles and I think I have superior boxing skills than him. I am not looking for a knockout, but if it comes then great. I am just looking to box and give him a boxing lesson. That’s what I do best is I box and that’s what I have done forever.”

Should the fight get tough, for once Wilson will have the support of the crowd. The Medford resident expects a crowd of over a 100 out to support him on Saturday. “It’s an honor to be able to fight before my hometown fans and bring them a fight that they want to see,” says Wilson. “We used to have a really big following as amateurs and had some shows with sellout crowds here. The people really enjoyed it and it is just a big deal. It is a big opportunity for me to hopefully get my foot in the door with this casino and hopefully do this on a regular basis.”

With all the ups and downs he has encountered in his career and in just making this fight, Wilson has always had a positive mindset and never given up, even when he was told no. It is the sort of determination you would want in any fighter. Wilson’s positive outlook has brought him to a place some others would have never found, “I took off two years, but I still got up and did my road work almost every day and I never let myself get out of shape because I knew there would be a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Wilson steps into the light this Saturday as part of a seven-bout card headlined by a Northwest Light Heavyweight title bout between Seattle, Washington’s Mike Gavronski and Kevin Hand of Salem, Oregon. Tickets for the event, promoted by Patrick Ortiz’ Ringside Ticket, are available online at StarTickets.com.

TIJUANA, BAJA CALIFORNIA – Local favorite Jesus “Bombardero” Valadez and returning former U.S. amateur standout Aldwayne Simpson thrilled the spirited fight crowd on hand at the Salon Mutualista with devastating first-round stoppages in their featured attractions as Diego “Pelucho” Morales’ Promociones PM returned to the border city on Friday night.

In what was a face-paced bout for as long as it lasted, Valadez (6-1, 3 KOs) of Tijuana scored a frightening knockout of aggressive swinger Edgar Vazquez (4-3-1, 2 KOs) of Tijuana, ending the night’s main event in just 1:13 of the first.

Vazquez, 140, charged out at Valadez, 140, as the bell sounded to begin the fight. Valadez, just 18-years-old, kept composed as he defended Vazquez’ onslaught. Once Vazquez began to slow his output, Valadez seized an open opportunity by connecting with a vicious short right hand. Vazquez was out immediately, but found himself tangled in the ropes near a neutral corner. Vazquez’ team rushed from his corner and spectators assisted in removing his unconscious body from the strands as referee Juan Morales Lee rushed in and waved off the bout. After some scary moments, Vazquez regained consciousness as his team removed his shoes and fanned him with a towel.

Aldwayne Simpson (2-0, 2 KOs) of Richmond, California, United States by way of Kingston, Jamaica worked off just a bit of ring rust with a first-round knockout of tough Jorge Sillas Amor (1-3) of Tijuana.

Sillas Amor, 135, looked to exchange early, but the difference in strength and hand speed were apparent immediately. When Sillas Amor leaned in to throw a body shot, Simpson, 142.9, grazed the top of his head with a left hand. Referee Manuel Rincon gave Sillas Amor a short reprieve to warn Simpson for the borderline infraction.

Shortly after action resumed, Sillas Amor came rushing in again, but soon found himself on the wrong end of straight lefts and straight rights as Simpson switched effortlessly from orthodox to southpaw and back. Sillas Amor continued to exchange, but when a counter left hook took him off his feet, the Mexican opted to stay flat on his back as Rincon counted to ten.

Sillas Amor replaced originally scheduled opponent Miguel Nava, who had failed to appear at Thursday’s weigh-in. Sillas Amor took to the scales Friday morning and came to fight, but was simply overmatched in skills and natural physical ability. Simpson, who is scheduled to return to the ring at the Craneway Pavilion in his hometown of Richmond on August 17th, had recently wrapped up a training stint alongside new WBC Interim Welterweight titleholder Robert Guerrero at high elevation in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, United States.

Former Tijuana amateur champion Erick Cebreros (3-0, 1 KO) methodically broke down a much shorter Benny Guevara (0-1) of Tijuana en route to a fourth-round referee’s stoppage. Cebreros, who turned professional only in April, had the most vocal following of any fighter on the card and sent his contingent home happy.

Cebreros, 127.2, began the bout using his advantages in height and reach by boxing the undersized Guevara, 123.5, at a distance. By the time round one was coming to a close, Cebreros began letting go with power shots to the head and body. Guevara attempted to get into the fight, at times unloading looping rights that would find their mark, but do little to faze Cebreros.

The Raul “Jibaro” Perez-trained Cebreros had completely wore down Guevara by the time the fourth round came along. With the fight out of Guevara, referee Juan Morales Lee opted to end the contest at 1:26 of the fourth, giving the young prospect his first career knockout as a pro.

In a rare all-Tijuana heavyweight attraction, Juan Manuel Dominguez (3-0, 2 KOs) halted Rodrigo Ramirez (0-2) in the second round for a scheduled four. After a fairly even first round in which both Dominguez, 229.3, and Ramirez, 260.1, landed their share of power shots, Dominguez pressed the fight in the second. After a series of unanswered blows from Dominguez, Ramirez winced, shaking his right hand to signal to his corner that he was injured. Dominguez refused to let up, swinging away with his foe back into his own corner. Eventually Ramirez’ corner opted to throw in the towel, forcing the hand of referee Manuel Rincon. Official time of the stoppage was 2:58 of the second. Ramirez had been out of action since a second-round stoppage loss back in September of 2010.

In a competitive action fight, Ciro Arrellanos (2-0) of Mexico City, Distrito Federal moved past Tijuana’s debuting Martin Gomez (0-1) via four-round majority decision. Arrellanos, 141.1, was solid all the way through, but Gomez, 141.1, seemed to have an edge in the middle two rounds. In the end, one judge had the fight even, 38-38, but was overruled by scores of 39-37 twice for Arrellanos.

In the opener, two fighters looking for their first pro victory fought their hearts out attempting to get into the winner’s circle, but it was Pedro Garcia (1-2) of Tijuana that ultimately achieved his goal with a four-round majority decision over Luis Contreras (0-3) also of Tijuana. Defense was a concern for neither Garcia, 134.5, nor Contreras, 135.7, but what the two lacked in boxing skill they made up for in heart and determination. Ultimately it was the harder-punching Garcia that won over two of the judges, 39-37. The lone dissenter had it 38-38 even.

Photos by Felipe Leon

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA — Some questioned whether former 126, 130 and recent 135-pound titleholder Robert Guerrero could handle a true welterweight in his first appearance above the lightweight limit. Guerrero answered those questions in fine form as he outfought previously unbeaten and longtime WBC #1 ranked Selcuk Aydin to claim the vacant interim version of the 147-pound title on his home court, the HP Pavilion.

Guerrero (30-1-1, 18 KOs) of Gilroy, California looked like a physical equal to career-long welter Aydin (23-1, 17 KOs) of Hamburg, Germany by way of Trabzon, Trabzon, Turkey. Guerrero, 145.8, surprisingly opted to stand and trade rather than rely on his superior boxing ability for much of the fight. Despite getting the type of fight he needed, Aydin, 146.6, could not handle Guerrero’s output. Aydin, who had held the WBC Silver title before signing on for the Showtime-televised bout with Guerrero, just did not have a Plan B when his Plan A was clearly not going to get it done.

The fight started with frantic action, as both men looked to take the initiative early. Guerrero placed some shots to the body and timed a couple combinations, but Aydin did not take more than a couple steps back.

The fight got rough as round two came to a close. Both challengers looked to get the edge on the inside, and both took a shot after the bell with Guerrero throwing last. After the late exchange, Guerrero and Aydin stood and stared each other down before their cornermen came to pull them away from each other.

The roughhousing continued through the third, as both combatants looked for any advantage possible. This round it was Aydin that got the better of it on the inside, as he landed a solid two-punch combination starting with the body and ending upstairs.

Guerrero became the first to hurt his opponent when he landed a picture-perfect counter left hand that violently snapped Aydin’s head back in the fourth. Guerrero followed up and controlled the round, but Aydin seemed to recover from the shot fairly quickly.

Guerrero controlled round five, but two right hands that landed for Aydin served as a reminder of the danger that will exist throughout fights as the Gilroy native and former 126-pounder moves up in weight.

Aydin broke through to hurt Guerrero for the first readily apparent time in the fight, highlighting a combination with a right uppercut that landed clean in close late in the seventh. Likely egged on by his corner between rounds, Guerrero stormed out and rocked Aydin back to open the eighth. Aydin came back with a right uppercut again in close, took some more from Guerrero and returned fire after the bell.

Midway through the tenth, Aydin bothered Guerrero with something in close and that had the local hero holding on inside. Aydin had trouble giving himself room to follow up, and Guerrero made it out of the round without taking anything else flush.

After a tough tenth, Guerrero found his range again in the eleventh and did well to keep Aydin at the end of his jab, A frustrated Aydin pulled down Guerrero’s head and attempted a downward strike to the back of the head right at the bell to end the round.

The fight started fast again in the twelfth as Guerrero opted to fight inside again. Aydin, unable to land the type of blow to rescue the bout, showed his frustration again, rubbing his laces against the Gilroy resident’s face and repeatedly attempting to land behind the head. Guerrero continued to fight unfazed and battled with Aydin to close the round.

When all was said and done, scores read 117-111 and 116-112 twice for the new WBC Interim Welterweight titleholder Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero. Of course, pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. holds the full version of the title. It is unclear what sort of timeframe Mayweather has with the WBC to decide if he is going to return to 147-pounds after his prison stint, or keep the 154-pound belt he won from Miguel Cotto last time out. Guerrero and his team have aggressively pursued the “Money” Mayweather fight for years, but it has never appeared that Floyd has any interest in the prospective bout.

Shawn Porter (20-0, 14 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio remained unblemished with a fairly dominant ten-round unanimous decision against gatekeeper Alfonso Gomez (23-6-2, 12 KOs) of East Los Angeles, California by way of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico in the televised co-feature.

Porter, 146.2, just had too many facets for the one-dimensional former title challenger and reality star Gomez, 146.4, to keep up with for ten frames.

The first round had its moments. An accidental headbutt opened a cut over one of Porter’s eyes. At the sight of his own blood, Porter upped his output in retort, only to have Gomez come right back as the bell sounded. The steady action continued into the second, as did the accidental headbutts. Despite the vastly apparent deficit in hand speed, Gomez got the better of Porter as the second round winded down. The right hook especially looked good for Gomez, and may have been enough to seal it for him.

Porter picked up his output again in the third, giving Gomez trouble with his hand speed. Gomez looked to place one or two when Porter paused, but the Ohio native’s breaks were brief. By the time Gomez threw or landed, Porter had an answer. Another heated exchange highlighted the fourth, but this time it was clear who was landing the harder shots – Porter. Gomez especially had trouble handling Porter’s right hand.

Porter again had the game as always Gomez in trouble in the fifth, landing loaded combinations at close range. Just when it looked like Gomez would wilt against the ropes, the longtime underdog fired back for an entertaining exchange. However, the momentum was still clearly with the surging Porter.

Gomez rebounded to a degree in the sixth, due in part to Porter’s decision to fight on his toes. Gomez was allowed to come forward without paying much of a price, and appeared to be the aggressor throughout the round.

The fight began to fall into the rhythm as the rounds wore on. Gomez continued to hang tough, but the cumulative punishment had left him a step or two slower than he already was heading into the contest. At that point, there was not much Gomez could do to turn around the fight.

Perhaps a small ray of hope entered into the bout, as an accidental head clash opened a nasty gash over Porter’s left eye in the tenth. After referee Edward Collantes brought Porter over for a long examination, the fight resumed and Gomez seemed to have renewed interest in the fight. The swing was fleeting, as Porter handled the blood well and returned to his close range attack to close the fight.

In the end, scores read 96-94, 97-93 and 98-92 for Porter. With the victory, Porter claims the vacant WBO NABO Welterweight title, which will more importantly lead to a world ranking with the WBO at 147-pounds.

Super bantamweight prospect Manuel Avila (8-0, 2 KOs) of Vacaville, California moved past Raymond Chacon (4-4) of Los Angeles, California in less-than-thrilling fashion in a bout shortened to four-rounds to fit the Showtime Extreme undercard television time slot.

Just as he has in other recent bouts, Avila, 122.5, had too much class for his overmatched opponent Chacon, 121.6, but the Cameron Dunkin-managed prospect failed to really make a lasting statement. Scores read 40-36 and 39-37 twice for the still undefeated and untested Avila. The Vacaville resident, who trains in nearby Fairfield, returns to the ring in the latter city’s Sports Center on August 25th.

In a dreadful fight, heralded prospect Hugo Centeno (15-0, 8 KOs) of Oxnard, California simply went through the motions against the much smaller Ayi Bruce (22-8, 14 KOs) of Albany, New York by way of Accra, Ghana en route to an eight-round unanimous decision.

Centeno, 152, went for the stoppage in the first and had Bruce, 151.4, in a bit of trouble early. However, from round two through the end, Centeno was satisfied to step around Bruce while placing one or two shots at a time. When the fight ended, much to the delight of the crowd, scores read for Centeno 79-73 and 80-72 twice.

WBC #5/IBF #9/WBA #11 ranked super middleweight contender George Groves (15-0, 12 KOs) of Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom showed resilience before ending the night of Francisco Sierra (25-6-1, 22 KOs) of Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico at 2:15 of sixth-round in the first televised fight of the night.

Groves, 169.4, opted to slug it out with the brawling Sierra, 170, for an entertaining close to the third round. The round saw Groves’ face opened up, but the injury never seemed to be a factor in the fight. An overhand right started the trouble for the underdog, as Sierra was downed in hard in the sixth. The Mexican fringe contender gamely returned to his feet. However, two clubbing rights were enough for Sierra’s cornerman to hurry up on the steps and sidearm the white towel through the ropes. Groves had been reportedly scheduled to fight September 14th in Wembley Arena in London, England, but it remains to be seen if the cut he suffered will prevent that date from sticking.

Paul Mendez (8-2-1, 2 KOs) of Delano, California took a workmanlike six-round unanimous decision over weathered journeyman Leshon Simms (5-11, 3 KOs) of Hemet, California in the second warm-up of the card. Mendez, 160.2, picked his way to the win, but never went in for the kill against Simms, 161.4, who goes by the nickname of “Scrappy Mix.” All three official cards read 59-55 for Mendez. The Delano resident, now fighting out of Salinas, California, returns to action August 25th at the Fairfield Sports Center in Fairfield, California.

Imposing heavyweight Gerald Washington (1-0, 1 KO) of Vallejo, California pounded hopeless Blue DeLong (0-4) of Glendale, Arizona for about two-and-one-half minutes en route to a first-round stoppage in the night’s opening bout. Washington, a mammoth figure at 246.6 pounds, scored one official knockdown of Delong, 254.4, who spent much of the night on the canvas. Referee Ray Balewicz ended the clobbering after Delong fell to the mat one too many times 2:36 into the fight. Ironically Washington shares the same nickname as Paul Mendez, the fighter in the fight that followed his – “El Gallo Negro.”

Photos by Stephanie Trapp

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

TIJUANA, BAJA CALIFORNIA – Former world champion turned promoter Diego “Pelucho” Morales is back giving young aspiring fighters in the border city opportunity to show their skills before their local followings beginning tomorrow night with a six-bout offering at the Salon Mutualista. Fighters weighed-in Thursday afternoon at the offices of the Comision de Box, Lucha Libre y Kickboxing de Tijuana next door to the famed Auditorio Municipal.

In the main event, local favorite Jesus “Bombardero” Valadez (5-1, 2 KOs) of Tijuana takes on determined Edgar Vazquez (4-2-1, 2 KOs) of Tijuana in a six-round light welterweight bout. Valadez, just 18-years-old, has become known for his crowd-pleasing action style. Vazquez is looking to rebound from a March stoppage loss to more experienced Miguel Zuniga. Both fighters weighed-in at 63.5 kilograms or about 140-pounds.

In a heavyweight attraction, Juan Manuel Dominguez (2-0, 1 KO) of Tijuana hopes to keep rolling against Rodrigo Ramirez (0-1) of Tijuana in a four-rounder. Dominguez, who scaled 104 kilograms (229.3-pounds), will already be fighting for the third time since turning pro in March. Ramirez, who came in at 118 kilograms (260.1-pounds), has been out of action since a second-round stoppage loss back in September of 2010.

Another active newcomer, former Tijuana amateur champion Erick Cebreros (2-0) will take on debuting Benny Guevara of Tijuana in a four-round featherweight fight. Cebreros, who turned professional only in April, scaled 57.7 kilograms (127.2-pounds). Guevara, faced with a tough assignment for his premier outing, came in at 56 kilograms (123.5-pounds).

Former U.S. amateur standout Aldwayne Simpson (1-0, 1 KO) of Richmond, California by way of Kingston, Jamaica ends a nearly three-year hiatus in a four-round light welterweight bout against Miguel Nava (0-3) of Tijuana. Simpson scaled 64.8 kilograms (142.9 pounds). Nava, never in an easy fight, was not present at Thursday’s weigh-in and will take to the scales Friday morning. Simpson recently wrapped up a training stint alongside former world champion Robert Guerrero.

Ciro Arrellanos (1-0) of Mexico City, Distrito Federal meets Tijuana’s debuting Martin Gomez in a four-round light welterweight fight. Arrellanos, one of three fighters on the card out of the Ray Solis Boxing Gym, scaled 64 kilograms (141.1-pounds). Gomez, fighting out of the Torito Gym, weighed-in at 64 kilograms as well.

Two fighters looking for their first win square off as Pedro Garcia (0-2) of Tijuana takes on Luis Contreras (0-2) in a four-round lightweight fight. Garcia, of the Chavez Gym, scaled 61 kilograms (134.5-pounds). Contreras, of the Xico Gym, came in at 61.4 kilograms (135.7-pounds).

Tickets for the event, promoted by Promociones PM, are available at the Perro Salado Billiards Hall, the offices of Box Latino and Hollywood Beauty Supply.

Quick Weigh-in Results (in pounds):

Light Welterweights, 6 Rounds
Vazquez 140
Valadez 140

Heavyweights, 4 Rounds
Dominguez 229.3
Ramirez 260.1

Featherweights, 4 Rounds
Cebreros 127.2
Guevara 123.5

Light Welterweights, 4 Rounds
Simpson 142.9
Nava*

Light Welterweights, 4 Rounds
Arrellanos 141.1
Gomez 141.1

Lightweights, 4 Rounds
Garcia 134.5
Contreras 135.7

*will weigh-in Friday morning

Mario Ortega Jr. can be contacted at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

SANTA YNEZ, CALIFORNIA — In by far his toughest test to date, lightweight prospect Art Hovhannisyan remained unbeaten with a ten-round split decision over former titleholder Miguel Acosta in the Showtime-televised main event emanating from the Chumash Casino Resort on Friday night.

Hovhannisyan (15-0-2, 8 KOs) of Glendale, California by way of Gyumri, Armenia got off to a strong start, and it looked as though he may make it a short night. Near the end of the first round, Hovhannisyan, 132, caught Acosta, 134, with a clean right hand to score a knockdown. Acosta (29-6-2, 23 KOs) of Santiago de Leon de Caraca, Miranda, Venezuela appeared to be in trouble, but lucky for the former champion the bell sounded before Hovhannisyan could really capitalize.

Though Hovhannisyan maintained in control for the next few rounds, Acosta got his legs under him and slowly worked his way back into the fight. In the fifth, Acosta countered Hovhannisyan with a right hand, dropping the Armenian to a knee for a knockdown of his own. It appeared to be a flash knockdown, but may have been motivation for Acosta to believe a decision was still possible.

Acosta carried some momentum into the final two rounds, but it was apparent he was running low on gas. Hovhannisyan closed stronger, though both fighters had some great moments in action-packed tenth-round. When the final bell sounded, both fighters found themselves on the shoulders of their team members.

In the end, it was Acosta’s team that would be disappointed. Scores read 95-93 twice for Hovhannisyan, with the lone dissenting judge having 96-92 for Acosta. With the victory, Hovhannisyan will likely find himself ranked in the top fifteen by one or more of the major sanctioning organizations.

“I’m very happy to get the win,” said Hovhannisyan. “Acosta can still fight. I think my conditioning played a great role in my performance, but at this level you need to be good in all facets. This fight was definitely a great learning experience for me.”

In the televised co-feature, Roman Morales (11-0, 6 KOs) of San Ardo, California used his size and skill advantages to move past tough Alexis Santiago (11-3-1, 5 KOs) of Phoenix, Arizona via eight-round unanimous decision.

It was apparent from the early going that Morales, 122, was not going to be much affected by the punches Santiago, 122, landed. Morales, who normally displays stellar defense, was more willing to take one in order to landed his three or four-punch combinations. Though outgunned, Santiago made it a fight and stood up to some hard shots. Only one was able to put him down, as a picture-perfect left uppercut from the southpaw stance dropped Santiago in the third.

By the final two rounds, it looked as though Santiago may not make it to the final bell. Towards the end of the final round, Santiago showed his grit again as he fired and traded with the still strong Morales. It turned out to be a treat for the fans despite the lopsided scores of 80-71, 80-72 and 79-72.

“I thought this was a good performance,” said Morales. “I’m glad I could go eight hard rounds because that is what I expected. I got a little tired, but I knew I had to keep working. I’ll be back in the gym soon and I’ll be ready to fight whoever my team wants me to.” Next up for Morales is tough Jonathan Alcantara on August 24th at the Tulare County Fairgrounds in Tulare, California.

Jonathan Maicelo (17-0, 10 KOs) of North Bergen, New Jersey by way of Callao, Peru demolished normally durable, but aging former title challenger Daniel Attah (26-12-1, 9 KOs) of Washington, District of Columbia by way of Calabar, Nigeria inside of three rounds.

Maicelo, 135, pressed the action, landing with power shots in regularity from the opening bell. By the third, Attah, 135, was on the way out. Maicelo landed a straight right upstairs to score a knockdown moments into the round. The veteran Attah returned to his feet, only to take more punishment from Maicelo, who closed the show with a right hook-left hook combination. Referee Lou Moret called a halt at 2:45 of the third.

Longtime local favorite Rufino Serrano (13-4) of Santa Maria, California by way of Morelia, Michoacan de Ocampo, Mexico did what he does and boxed his way to a six-round unanimous decision over Rob Diezel (8-5, 3 KOs) of Seattle, Washington.

Diezel, 125 ½, attempted to match boxing skills with the adept Serrano, 125 ½, from the early going. While Diezel did well in the opening stages, Serrano’s class took over as the rounds progressed. However, Diezel was never in any trouble, unless you count a cut he suffered from an accidental head clash. Serrano took all three cards 59-55.

In a fight where somebody’s ‘0’ had to go, nobody’s did as winless Edgar Alvarado (0-1-1) of Riverside, California and winless Erick Prado (0-2-1) of nearby Santa Maria battled to a draw in a slugfest. From the opening stanza, Alvarado, 157 ½, and Prado, 161, fought their hearts out much to the delight of the packed house. Prado landed the cleaner shots in the early rounds, but Alvarado often closed better by landing his own telling blows. By the look of things, Alvarado needed to take the final round and he did so in impressive fashion. Scores read 40-36 for Alvarado, 39-37 for Prado and 38-38 to force the draw. The only unfortunate result is neither fighter gets their deserved first victory.

Tureano Johnson (10-0, 7 KOs) of Atlanta, Georgia by way of Nassau, Bahamas made short work as was expected against inactive journeyman Arturo Rodriguez (12-12, 8 KOs) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Johnson, 160, outworked Rodriguez, 159, by applying pressure with punishing shots to the body and head. Finally, Johnson dropped Rodriguez with a clean uppercut, which ended matters. Referee Marcos Rosales called a halt at the 1:49 mark of round one.

Johnson’s next bout was already scheduled, as he will take on DonYil Livingston (8-1-1, 4 KOs) of Palmdale, California in an eight-rounder on August 10th ESPN2 undercard at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Morongo, California.

In the walkout bout, which was reduced from eight rounds to six, Francisco Santana (13-3-1, 6 KOs) of Santa Barbara, California cruised to a unanimous decision over journeyman Larry Smith (10-12, 7 KOs) of Dallas, Texas.

Smith, 150, looked to stay at range with his long wingspan from the outset. However, it was the onrushing Santana, 148, that dictated the fight. Santana, a recent Manny Pacquiao sparring partner, threw combination with short hooks and chopping shots from over the top.

Halfway through the fight, Smith began to concentrate more on posturing and mugging for the crowd than attempting to win the fight. In the end, Smith managed to duck and dodge enough to last the distance. Scores unsurprisingly read for Santana, 60-54 and 59-55 twice.

For the first time in his illustrious career, world renowned ring announcer “Generous” Joe Antonacci handled those duties for a West Coast event, in addition to conducting post-fight interviews for the off-TV fights.

Boxing returns to the Chumash Casino Resort on September 21st for another Gary Shaw Productions-promoted edition of Shobox: The New Generation.

Photos by Dwight McCann/Chumash Casino Resort

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rounds.com.

Rising super bantamweight prospect Roman Morales impressed with an eight-round unanimous decision over tough as nails Alexis Santiago in his Showtime debut at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California on Friday. The young fighter spoke to 15rounds.com moments after the win. Morales (11-0, 6 KOs) of San Ardo, California fights again August 24th in Tulare, California.

Rodolfo Tapia, trainer and father-figure to unbeaten super bantamweight Roman Morales, spoke to 15rounds.com moments after his young charge improved to 11-0 with a dominant decision over tough Alexis Santiago at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California on Friday. Morales (11-0, 6 KOs) of San Ardo, California fights again August 24th in Tulare, California.

SANTA YNEZ, CALIFORNIA — In tonight’s edition of the Showtime prospect series Shobox: The New Generation, unbeaten Art Hovhannisyan aims to make the move into contender status against former lightweight title holder Miguel Acosta in a ten-rounder at the Chumash Casino Resort. In the co-feature, rising super bantamweight Roman Morales takes a litmus test against tough Alexis Santiago in an eight-rounder. Fighters weighed in Thursday at the casino.

Hovhannisyan (14-0-2, 8 KOs) of Glendale, California by way of Gyumri, Armenia has not seen action since a cut-shortened technical draw against former featherweight champion Cristobal Cruz last August. Prior to that false start, Hovhannisyan made his name off of a eye-opening sixth-round stoppage of heralded Archie Ray Marquez in June of last year. Hovhannisyan, who scaled 132-pounds for tonight’s lightweight bout, appears to be taking a big step up in class against Acosta, depending on what the former champion has left in the tank.

Acosta (29-5-2, 23 KOs) of Santiago de Leon de Caraca, Miranda, Venezuela is best remembered for scoring a minor upset of previously unbeaten Urbano Antillon to claim the interim version of the WBA Lightweight title in July of 2009. Acosta bumped off Paulus Moses a year later to get full recognition as champion before eventually running into Brandon Rios and losing his title via an entertaining tenth-round stoppage. In his last appearance, Acosta tasted the canvas three times against Richard Abril en route to a twelve-round decision defeat last October. Acosta scaled 134-pounds Thursday.

When the originally scheduled junior middleweight attraction between Julian Williams and Said El Harrak was a late scratch, the Morales-Acosta bout was elevated from televised opener to co-feature. Looking to make the most of the exposure is super bantamweight prospect Morales (10-0, 6 KOs) of San Ardo, California. Morales, making his premium cable debut, has quietly built himself a reputation as one the top prospects in the country and appears primed for a coming-out party. Morales, fighting for the sixth time at the Chumash Casino Resort, weighed-in at 122-pounds on Thursday.

Santiago (11-2-1, 5 KOs) of Phoenix, Arizona gained a small measure of notoriety in defeat last July. In a Telefutura-televised main event, Santiago gave well publicized prospect Randy Caballero his toughest test to date, although the scorecards did not accurately reflect his effort. If there is a red flag on Santiago’s resume, it would be an eight-round majority decision loss to .500 fighter Evaristo Primero this past February. Santiago also came in at the super bantamweight limit of 122-pounds.

In other action off television, Francisco Santana (12-3-1, 6 KOs) of Santa Barbara, California returns to his home area against perennial opponent Larry Smith (10-11, 7 KOs) of Dallas, Texas in an eight-round light middleweight bout. Santana, coming in off of a hard-fought decision defeat to unbeaten Jermell Charlo last October, scaled 148-pounds. Smith, loser of his last six to quality guys, came in at 150-pounds.

Touted Jonathan Maicelo (16-0, 9 KOs) of North Bergen, New Jersey by way of Callao, Peru takes on faded former contender Daniel Attah (26-11-1, 9 KOs) of Washington, District of Columbia by way of Calabar, Nigeria in an eight-round lightweight bout. Despite his advanced boxing age, Attah still usually provides rounds even against quality opponents. Maicelo, a celebrity in Peru, has been taken the distance in three of his last four outings. Maicelo and Attah both scaled the division limit of 135-pounds.

Longtime venue favorite Rufino Serrano (12-4) of Santa Maria, California by way of Morelia, Michoacan de Ocampo, Mexico takes on Rob Diezel (8-4, 3 KOs) of Seattle, Washington in an six-round featherweight bout. Serrano, who scaled 125 ½, comes in off of a one-sided defeat to tonight’s co-main eventer Roman Morales this past March. Diezel, who weighed-in at 125 ½-pounds as well, has strung together three straight wins since a first-round knockout defeat to Ramon Valadez last year.

Edgar Alvarado (0-1) of Riverside, California hopes to erase the memory of his pro debut as he goes up against Erick Prado (0-2) of nearby Santa Maria in a four-round light middleweight battle. Alvarado, stopped in one by Thomas Turner in April, scaled 157 ½-pounds Thursday. Prado, a split decision loser in his two bouts to Louis Rose and Victor Manuel Medina respectively, weighed-in at 161-pounds.

Recently signed by Gary Shaw Productions, Tureano Johnson (9-0, 6 KOs) of Atlanta, Georgia by way of Nassau, Bahamas will take on Arturo Rodriguez (12-11, 8 KOs) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico in a four-round middleweight bout. Johnson, a 2008 Bahamian Olympian, weighed-in at 160-pounds. The 36-year-old Rodriguez ended a nearly seven-year layoff with a third-round stoppage of winless David Orozco on June 1st. On Rodriguez’ resume: a second-round stoppage loss to a 5-0 Miguel Cotto in 2001 and a first-round knockout loss to a 20-0 Paul Williams in 2003.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, are available online at StarTickets.com.

Quick Weigh-in Results:

Lightweights, 10 Rounds
Hovhannisyan 132
Acosta 134

Super Bantamweights, 8 Rounds
Morales 122
Santiago 122

Light Middleweights, 8 Rounds
Santana 148
Smith 150

Lightweights, 8 Rounds
Maicelo 135
Attah 135

Featherweights, 6 Rounds
Serrano 125 ½
Diezel 125 ½

Middleweights, 4 Rounds
Alvarado 157 ½
Prado 161

Middleweights, 4 Rounds
Johnson 160
Rodriguez 159

Photos by Tom Casino/Showtime

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

One of the three most famous women in the history of prizefighting, Mia St. John packed them in at the Downtown Club in Fresno, California on Tuesday for the press conference to officially announce her rematch with Christy Martin, which takes place August 14th at the Table Mountain Casino in nearby Friant. St. John (46-11-2, 18 KOs) of Oxnard, California came up short, but established herself as a legitimate pro in their 2002 encounter. The former champion spoke to 15rounds.com about the fight, which is being billed as her last.

Legendary women’s fighter Christy Martin returns to the ring August 14th in a rematch against Mia St. John at the Table Mountain Casino in Friant, California. Martin (49-6-3, 31 KOs) of Orlando, Florida will be defending the WBC Light Middleweight title in what could be the last fight for both women. Martin spoke to 15rounds.com after their formal press conference at the Downtown Club in nearby Fresno on Tuesday.

Two of the most recognizable names in women’s boxing history were in Fresno, California at the Downtown Club on Tuesday to formally announce their August 14th rematch at the Table Mountain Casino in nearby Friant, California. Martin (49-6-3, 31 KOs) of Orlando, Florida will be giving St. John (46-11-2, 18 KOs) of Oxnard, California an opportunity to take her WBC Light Middleweight title as well as avenge a 2002 decision defeat.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — Rising featherweight prospect Javier Fortuna flashed the speed, athleticism and power that combine to make him one of the most talked about prospects in the game in a two-round destruction of former champion Cristobal Cruz at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Friday night.

Fortuna (20-0, 15 KOs) of Oxnard, California by way of La Romana, La Romana, Dominican Republic came out swinging in the first before eventually landing a left on the top of Cruz’ head to score a knockdown. Cruz (39-14-3, 23 KOs) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico got up and looked to hold, but wound up tripping to the canvas, which was ruled a slip. Cruz returned to his feet, but was soon rocked by a wild left. Fortuna, almost coming out of his shoes with some of his swings, shortened up on a right to Cruz’ ear that hurt the Mexican late in the round.

Fortuna, 129, continued to rely on his left to great effect in the second. Fortuna, the WBA #3/IBF #6/WBC #8 ranked featherweight, hurt Cruz, 128, with a left hand over the top early in the round. Seconds later, Fortuna decided to lead with his left, which came at Cruz like a laser. Cruz, clearly not coping with Fortuna’s speed, tried to roughhouse and grapple, but Fortuna made room with a backwards step and landed a hard short left to drop the Mexican flat on his face. Referee Robert Byrd counted, but his efforts were not really necessary. Time of the stoppage was 2:22 of the second round.

With the kayo, Fortuna became the first to stop Cruz in nearly ten years. Though Cruz his not the same fighter that defeated Orlando Salido to claim a featherweight strap four years ago, Friday’s win was an impressive result for Fortuna nonetheless.

What looked to be a solid, competitive co-feature on paper turned out to be a one-sided drubbing, as Magomed Abdusalamov (15-0, 15 KOs) of Oxnard by way of Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan, Russia remained perfect with a second-round stoppage of Maurice Byarm (13-2-1, 9 KOs) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Both landed some sweeping shots in the early going, but Abdusalamov, 229, appeared to be unfazed by anything Byarm, 239, managed to land. By the end of the first, Abdusalamov had broken through Byarm’s guard as the Philadelphian covered up in a neutral corner. When the bell rang to end the first, Byarm had weathered a storm, but found his corner as if he was taking a sobriety test after a few too many drinks.

Abdusalamov’s corner saw Byarm’s struggle to find his stool, and instructed their man to come out and finish his opponent. Abdusalamov landed a crushing left that put down Byarm, who gamely rose before referee Tony Weeks could finish his count. However, it was just a matter of time before Abdusalamov flurried, forcing Weeks’ hand for the stoppage at 36 seconds of the second round. With the win, Abdusalamov retains his WBC USNBC Silver Heavyweight title and will likely find himself in the WBC’s top fifteen world rankings next time they are released.

Still searching for his first professional knockout, local favorite Rocco Santomauro (9-0) of Las Vegas pleased the crowd on hand in taking a four-round unanimous decision over awkward southpaw DeWayne Wisdom (2-4, 1 KO) of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Santomauro, 124 ½, pressed perhaps looking for the stoppage and came close to scoring a knockdown in the second round, but Wisdom, 125, was never in any serious danger. After closing the show in the fourth, Santomauro went on to win by scores of 40-36 and 39-37 twice.

Sampson Boxing prospect Ronald Gavril (3-0, 2 KOs) of Los Angeles, California by way of Bucharest, Romania gave the crowd little time to warm-up in the show’s opener, as a series of unanswered punches were enough to warrant a stoppage in referee Joe Cortez’ eyes against Kenneth Taylor Schmitz (2-3, 1 KO) of Saint Joseph, Missouri.

Gavril, 167, pressed Schmitz, 169 ½, from the early going, eventually forcing him against the ropes. Schmitz did little more than cover up for a half round. Realizing such, Gavril kept throwing until Cortez leaped in at the 1:53 mark of the first. Though he did not appear hurt, Schmitz seemed at peace with the referee’s call.

In what became a four-round war of attrition, William Mitch Williams (6-2-1, 4 KOs) of Jackson, Michigan survived a rocky third round en route to a four-round unanimous decision over Manuel Otero (2-4, 1 KO) of Peralta, New Mexico in the walkout bout.

Williams, 181, controlled the first two rounds before Otero, 184, caught him in the third. Williams was in trouble, but made it out of the round. Otero left nearly all he had in the third, leaving little to get him through the fourth and final round. Williams, rejuvenated, punished him for most of the three minutes, but the New Mexican resident made it the distance. Despite his solid third round showing, all three judges gave the fight to Williams via shutout, 40-36.

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — Tabbed by boxing insiders as one of top prospects in all of the sport, undefeated Javier Fortuna looks to make a statement against one of the longtime measuring sticks in the lower weight divisions, former featherweight champion Cristobal Cruz in tonight’s ESPN2-televised main event emanating from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Fighters for the five-bout card weighed-in Thursday at the casino’s Vanity Night Club.

When the originally scheduled main event of Marvin Sonsona-Luis Cruz was scratched, the spotlight shifted from a former champion and contender to what was to be the co-feature, featuring one of boxing’s likely future stars. Fortuna (19-0, 14 KOs) of Oxnard, California by way of La Romana, La Romana, Dominican Republic has been impressive since stepping up his level of competition in March of last year.

Derrick Wilson was one of the first fellow prospects to discover Fortuna’s power, as he lasted into the eighth round before the bout was stopped after his fourth knockdown. Most recently, previously unbeaten Yuandale Evans had the unenviable task of attempting to halt Fortuna’s ride to prominence. Evans, well regarded as a U.S. amateur, failed to make it out of round one against the pride of La Romana. Now Fortuna will attempt to do the same against a former world champion for the first time in his career.

Cruz (39-13-3, 23 KOs) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico became one of the unlikeliest world champs back in October of 2008 as he edged Orlando Salido to claim the vacant IBF Featherweight title via split decision. After three defenses, Cruz ran up against a reinvigorated Salido and lost the rematch and his title in wide unanimous decision in May of 2010. In his last time out, in a bout that was televised by ESPN2, Cruz failed in an attempt at claiming the WBC Silver 130-pound title from Juan Carlos Burgos this past February. Cruz weighed in for the ten-round bout at 128-pounds Thursday, while Fortuna made 129.

Both fighters seemed pumped for the fight at yesterday’s press conference. “It’s a tough fight,” admitted the WBA #3/IBF #6/WBC #8 ranked featherweight Fortuna. “I know he has a lot of experience, but this is my time.” Cruz on the other hand sees the fight as a potential launching pad into the next chapter of his career. “I am ready for anything tomorrow night because I am hungry to be world champion again,” proclaimed Cruz.

In the televised co-feature, promoter Sampson Lewkowicz’ heavyweight prospect Magomed Abdusalamov (14-0, 14 KOs) of Oxnard by way of Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan, Russia takes on what looks to be the toughest assignment of his pro career in Maurice Byarm (13-1-1, 9 KOs) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in a ten-round bout. Byarm was last seen as he took on undefeated prospect Bryant Jennings on short notice, losing a competitive ten-round decision televised by NBC Sports Network this past January. Abdusalamov, the WBA #13 ranked heavyweight, scaled 229-pounds Thursday, while Byarm weighed-in at 239.

The rest of the card is filled out by three four-round bouts. Local favorite Rocco Santomauro (8-0) of Las Vegas takes on DeWayne Wisdom (2-3, 1 KO) of Indianapolis, Indiana in a featherweight scrap. Santomauro, who has never fought outside of Las Vegas as a pro, scaled 124 ½-pounds. Wisdom, fighting for the fourth time this year, weighed-in at 125-pounds.

William Mitch Williams (5-2-1, 4 KOs) of Jackson, Michigan takes on Manuel Otero (2-3, 1 KO) of Peralta, New Mexico in a four-round cruiserweight contest. Williams, hoping to extend his five-fight unbeaten streak, weighed-in at 181-pounds. Otero, fighting for the first time this year, came in at 184.

Promising super middleweight prospect Ronald Gavril (2-0, 1 KO) of Los Angeles, California by way of Bucharest, Romania will take on Kenneth Taylor Schmitz (2-2, 1 KO) of Saint Joseph, Missouri in a four-rounder. Gavril, a top AIBA amateur from 2007-2010, weighed-in at 167-pounds. Schmitz, fresh off of a four-round unanimous decision loss to undefeated Antowyan Aikens on June 1st, scaled 169 ½-pounds.

Tickets for the event, dubbed “Moment of Truth” and promoted by Sampson Boxing and Greg Cohen Promotions, are available online at HardRockHotel.com.

Quick Weigh-in Results:

Super Featherweights, 10 Rounds
Fortuna 129
Cruz 128

WBC USNBC Silver Heavyweight Championship, 10 Rounds
Abdusalamov 229
Byarm 239

Featherweights, 4 Rounds
Santomauro 124 ½
Wisdom 125

Cruiserweights, 4 Rounds
Williams 181
Otero 184

Super Middleweights, 4 Rounds
Gavril 167
Schmitz 169 ½

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

With the hope of returning to the ring this fall, 51-year-old veteran fighter Paul Nave went before the San Rafael Park and Recreation Commission in San Rafael, California on Thursday night. Additional members of the community voiced their approval of the proposed event as well. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Commission voted to give their consent for a live professional boxing event to take place at Albert Park Field in San Rafael this September, where Nave promoted and fought last fall.

Light middleweight prospect and former amateur standout Richard Hargraves ends a fourteen-month layoff many miles from his hometown of San Francisco, California as he takes on Michael Faulk in a six-round featured attraction at the Black Bear Casino Resort in Carlton, Minnesota this Saturday night.

Hargraves (2-0-1, 2 KOs) turned pro way back in December of 2009 with a quick stoppage over John Dunham in Sacramento, California. Unfortunately for Hargraves, the 2009 U.S. Championships bronze medalist at 152-pounds, finding willing opponents has been a difficult task as he has attempted to advance his career.

“I couldn’t really land a fight,” explains the frustrated Hargraves. “There were a few guys that didn’t want to fight me and that’s pretty much what it was. When you don’t have a promoter it is a little tough to get in the game and stay in the game, as opposed to somebody that is promoted. Unlike myself, they already have everything set in place.”

Hargraves, whose size creates an imposing figure for any prospective opponent able to make 151 or so pounds, admits it has been hard to keep an eye on the prize with fights failing to materialize. “It is a little hard to stay motivated,” admits Hargraves honestly. “There are times when you just want to let go. When you are an amateur, you train hard every day because you can get a fight on any given day, so you stay ready. But as a pro, you want to tone down and let your body have a little rest. So I did lack a little motivation, but luckily some guys at the gym helped keep me motivated by the way they fight. So when you go to the gym and you are not motivated, those guys will cut you up. And I don’t want to get beat up at home too much.”

Luckily for Hargraves, Saturday’s bout came together with plenty of time for him to prepare both mentally and physically. “Fighting at 151, this is the first fight for me in a year and a couple of months and I am very excited,” Hargraves told 15rounds.com just moments before boarding his flight on Thursday morning. “I had a good month and a half of training camp. My body feels good and mentally I feel good. This is my first six-round fight I am just excited to go out here and not leave it in the judges’ hands. Be more active, be first, be last. Be great on defense and if I see the opportunity to get him out of there, get him out of there.”

The sport’s critical eye has been focused squarely on scoring in recent weeks, and by fighting Faulk (2-1) of Saint Paul, Minnesota near his home base, Hargraves could potentially be at risk for some home cooking, an idea not lost on the Californian.

“In the wake of the Pacquiao-Bradley decision, that weighs more heavily on my mind,” says Hargraves. “On national TV, that type of stuff can happen. But this is the sport we live in and the sport that we love and that is part of the game. To counteract all that, if I can knock him out, then I’m going to knock him out and take it out of the judges’ hands. But if the knockout don’t come, then just be more active, land more punches and do the best that I can. I just have to make it so impressive to where the judges can’t deny me.”

In Faulk, Hargraves goes up against a guy with some amateur credentials and only one loss on his ledger, which came at the hands of an undefeated prospect in Dominic Wade back in May of 2010 at middleweight. The San Franciscan, who fights out of the increasingly famed Straight Forward Club under Ben Bautista, does not underestimate his opponent.

“I think that if I am on my game, I should be able to beat him 80, 90 percent of the time,” explains Hargraves. “I just have to go out there and execute. I’m not taking anything away from the guy. He’s pretty good. He’s got good hand speed and he’s long in the limbs. But other than that, he’s a decent fighter and I did see him at the nationals one year. So he has to be pretty good to have won his state and go out to the nationals. But it’s going to be the battle of the 2s and one of us want to get win number three. And I want it more than he does, so that’s how it’s going to have to be.”

Tickets for Saturday’s event, promoted by Draw Events, are available online at Ticketfly.com. The bill, which includes eight total professional bouts, features unbeatens Cerreso Fort and Dave Peterson in the eight-round main event for the Minnesota State Light Middleweight title.

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com

Hoping to bring professional boxing back to his home area by staging the second ever such event at Albert Park Field in San Rafael, California this fall, longtime local favorite Paul Nave is reaching out to his community for support. Nave has promoted all five of his own fight cards since his ring return in March of 2009 under his Liberty Boxing Enterprises promotional banner. All five of the events, which have featured Nave himself as the main attraction, have gone on without incident.

Nave has released the following statement as he prepares to make his case to the San Rafael Park and Recreation Commission, which will decide if the event can take place at the park:

To Whom It May Concern:

Paul Nave
“The Marin County Assassin”

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com

I did not score the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley Jr. fight two Saturdays ago. Having felt cheated out of a chance to be outraged like most everyone else last weekend, I decided to score the fight during its televised replay as part of HBO’s World Championship Boxing broadcast last night. In addition to tabulating my card for the first time, I decided to critique the cards of Duane Ford (115-113, Bradley), C.J. Ross (115-113, Bradley) and Jerry Roth (115-113, Pacquiao) on a round-by-round basis. My findings were somewhat unexpected.

Firstly, my scorecard read 117-111 for Pacquiao. I gave “the Pride of the Philippines” rounds one through nine, marking rounds three, seven, eight and nine as rounds that could be argued for Bradley. I gave rounds ten through twelve to Bradley inarguably.

My biggest issue with folks that take umbrage to a “controversially” scored fight, is that they rarely take into account how many rounds in a given bout which could be scored for either fighter. Even though I had it wide for Pacquiao on my card, if Bradley had been given the benefit of my four close rounds, I would have had it 115-113 for Bradley.

The folks at HBO made analyzing the three officials’ cards easy, as in typical fashion, they displayed each judge’s card after each round. Having had four arguable rounds, those are the rounds where the judges could have had it for either fighter and I would not take a demerit against their final score.

Of the rounds I found to be poorly scored, Duane Ford had three of them, but one was actually a Pacquiao round I found to be puzzling – round eleven. Ford also had rounds one and five for Bradley. Counting Ford’s highly questionable rounds, it would be a one-point swing for Pacquiao, meaning in my eyes he should have handed in a card that read 114-114.

C.J. Ross called two rounds for the wrong guy, giving rounds two and five to Bradley. The two-point swing in favor of Pacquiao means this card should have read 115-113 for Pacquiao, not Bradley.

Jerry Roth missed the ball just once in my estimation, as he scored the second round for Bradley. This means his score should have been one round wider for Pacquiao at 116-112.

Boxing is a sport where winners are decided based on human interpretation, which means there is plenty of room for error. The Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley Jr. WBO Welterweight title bout was not the worst scored fight of the century, decade or even this year. Four out of the twelve rounds could have been scored for either fighter, a swing which makes several final scores acceptable.

I may be in the minority, but in breaking down the scoring round-by-round, I find little fault with the three judges currently being put under the microscope. Ford, the most outspoken of the three in recent days, had the worst night, which he may have even realized by the time round eleven came around. But in the end, Ford is human and boxing is boxing. We’ve seen computerized scoring, such as in the Olympics, and I’d take Ford over that any day of the week.

POSTSCRIPT

Speaking of human error, that applies to us the viewer as well. Many of us had an invested interest in the outcome of the June 9th bout. Whether it was our love for a national hero, our simple desire to see the two mega stars of the sport enter a ring against one another without a recent defeat on their record or financial – we watch fights with preconceived notions and emotions.

This past April I stood in a Las Vegas media room and heard Top Rank head Bob Arum tell his publicist he had Brandon Rios a winner on points over Richard Abril. I need no replay to tell me there is no way Rios should have left the Mandalay Bay with a decision win on that night. Giving Mr. Arum the benefit of the doubt, and let’s say his financial connection to a Rios win had no bearing on his card, than it must have been his preconceived expectation that Rios would win that swayed his opinion of the fight. Maybe that has a lot to do with his outrage this time too.

Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

CARSON, CALIFORNIA — Returning from an eleven month layoff, former light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver failed to muster up enough offense to claim victory over a still raw cruiserweight contender in Lateef Kayode at the Home Depot Center on Saturday night.

Excluding Tarver’s lone foray into the heavyweight division, Kayode (18-0-1, 14 KOs) of Hollywood, California by way of Lagos, Nigeria presented the largest and strongest opponent the veteran had met in his career. However, one might think it was a challenge a younger Tarver (29-6-1, 20 KOs) of Tampa, Florida would have surpassed.

Tarver, 198, started out tentatively as he refused to let his hands go at all in the opening rounds. Kayode, 199, put those rounds in the bank based on output alone as none of his shots did any damage.

Tarver, the WBO #6/IBF #10/WBC #12 ranked cruiserweight, came out of his shell in the third, as he loaded up and landed a left uppercut. Kayode took the blow well, but Tarver came back to land a straight left, punctuating the round.

Again the WBA #2/WBO #8/IBF #9 ranked Kayode took the fourth and fifth rounds on his output, but the Nigerian did not hurt Tarver with anything as the former champion seemed to put his offense in his pocket.

Tarver sprung back into action in the sixth, as a short left counter for Tarver made Kayode’s legs stumble back. Another left counter for Tarver landed clean in the follow-up, but Kayode did land one back late in the round. Tarver decided to let go with a nothing shot after the bell, which prompted Kayode to go after him for a second before referee Wayne Hedgepeth separated them.

Kayode strangely implemented some shuffling footwork to start the seventh. Tarver began landing left hand counters with great regularity as the round continued. One short left in particular rocked Kayode back. The Nigerian came back with some body blows while Tarver covered up before the bell.

Tarver went back to his left hand in the eighth, landing it mainly as a lead rather than a counter. Tarver landed another straight left that seemingly had Kayode briefly in trouble. Kayode did come back late in the round with a cracking right that may have broken through the guard.

Kayode slapped at Tarver’s body to start the tenth. Tarver retorted with a light-hitting flurry after a Kayode fall was ruled a slip. The final two rounds lacked action, as neither fighter acted as though the fight was on the line. Kayode especially went into run mode to start the twelfth. In the end, one judge had it 115-113 for Tarver. Another judge had it 115-113 the other way. The third judge forced the draw with a 114-114 tally.

“Everybody knows I won this fight,” proclaimed Kayode after the fight. “He won because he works for Showtime. Let’s go to HBO or my country and fight again.” Tarver was even more adamant that he won, “I beat the guy all night. I dictated every round. I landed clean shots and he was sloppy and slapped all night.” Hinting that he may have underestimated Kayode, Tarver said, “Maybe I fought down to his level, but I don’t know.”

In the co-main event, middleweight contender Peter Quillin (27-0, 20 KOs) of Hollywood, California may have booked himself a crack at the 160-pound title with a clear-cut ten-round decision over light middleweight champion Winky Wright (51-6-1, 25 KOs) of Saint Petersburg, Florida.

After a throw away first round, Wright continued to block most of Quillin’s leads and follow-ups in the second round. Towards the end of the round, Quillin backed into a corner, which enabled a conservative Wright to land one or two clean blows.

Wright, 159, had his moments in the third round as well, landing left hand leads. Quillin, 159.6, still struggled to get off as the round came to a close. Quillin, the WBA #5/WBO #7 ranked middleweight, walked into a stiff jab early in the fourth. However, by the end of the round Quillin began to land, mostly with the second or third punches of his combinations.

Early in the fifth, a straight left landed for Winky to set up combination with Quillin in the ropes. Quillin fired back as Wright gave ground an dropped the former champ with a right hand. Outside of a strong ninth for Wright, the fight was Quillin’s the rest of the way. Late in the eighth Quillin hurt Wright with a right uppercut, as the Floridian’s vaunted defense struggled to protect against a strong middleweight.

Wright came out throwing to start the ninth and outworked Quillin to sweep the round with the judges. But it was far too late to think about taking a decision, and Wright never did have the power to pull out a fight late, especially at 160-pounds. Quillin, who appeared to be holding back on his right, which he had fractured late last year, stil managed to land over the top of Wright’s jab over and over.

In the end, all three judges gave the fight to Quillin by the deservedly wide scores of 97-92 and 98-91 twice. The win could make Quillin a marketable option for the most recognized middleweight Sergio Martinez if his team feels he is ready for such a fight. Obviously after a three-year layoff, the loss puts Wright’s career in doubt. “I think I need to be at 154 if I fight again,” admitted Wright after the fight.

In defense of his WBA 154-pound title, Austin Trout (25-0, 14 KOs) of Las Cruces, New Mexico boxed his way to a somewhat lackluster twelve-round decision over WBA #3 ranked light middleweight Delvin Rodriguez (26-6-3, 14 KOs) of Danbury, Connecticut by way of Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.

After a feeling out round, Rodriguez, 151, had one of his better rounds in the second as he landed the only telling blow. Trout, 152.8, settled in and found his range by round four, as Rodriguez struggled to find his way around the jab and long reach of the champion.

Trout continued to peck away at Rodriguez from the outside in the fifth and sixth. Finally in the seventh, Rodriguez found his way in, but Trout proved to be an elusive target with his upper body and head movement. After avoiding Rodriguez’ shots upstairs, Trout would get back out at range.

Rodriguez found a bit of success as he stepped with Trout to land some of his better shots in the ninth. However, without going back downstairs, Rodriguez allowed Trout out of danger. Trout unloaded more of his arsenal in the tenth with a quick combination followed by a straight left that snapped Rodriguez’ head back.

Unfortunately for the fans watching ringside and on television, both fighters saved their best for the last 30 seconds of the fight. The first big exchange was won by Trout with a hard right hook. Another good exchange closed the fight which ended with a chorus of boos. Scores read 117-111, 118-110 and 120-108 for Trout.

Despite controlling the majority of the fight, Trout did little to endear himself to the mostly Hispanic crowd on hand. With Mexican star Saul Alvarez seated ringside and on the hunt for a September opponent, it was the Hispanic audience that Trout needed make an impression on in order to make that fight a financial possibility.

With a near perfect performance, Leo Santa Cruz (20-0-1, 11 KOs) of Lincoln Heights, California by way of Huetamo, Michoacan de Ocampo, Mexico claimed the IBF Bantamweight title recently vacated by Abner Mares with a near shutout over a game but outgunned Vusi Malinga (20-4-1, 12 KOs) of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.

What turned out to be a fairly one-sided contest actually began with some entertaining and competitive rounds. Both Santa Cruz, 117, and Malinga, 117, had their moments in the first three rounds.

Santa Cruz, the IBF #4/WBO #14 ranked bantamweight, appeared to have a clear edge in power over the IBF #1 ranked Malinga while the two landed punch-for-punch to open the fight. The battle was fought on the inside for the majority of the early rounds, which both fighters seemed to welcome.

Santa Cruz continued to place hard shots effectively while maintaining a solid defensive guard against Malinga’s counters in the fourth. Most effectively, Santa Cruz’ left to the body began to slow down Malinga’s offense.

As the rounds progressed, Malinga continued to have problems getting around the Winky-like guard of Santa Cruz. With the sting and velocity out of Malinga’s punches, Santa Cruz began to unload with four and five-punch combinations by the middle of the fight.

Midway through the eighth, Santa Cruz’ unrelenting body attack forced Malinga to pause for thought and perhaps make him think twice about his dedication to the bout. Further evidence of such was Malinga’s late exit from his stool to start the ninth.

After concentrating almost solely on Malinga’s body, Santa Cruz opted to mix in some head shots late in the fight. The stubborn Malinga continued to be a willing foe despite the punishment. No one will ever accuse Malinga of being quitter, as the South African stood his ground until the final bell, firing back everything he had. Too bad for him he ran into an emerging bantamweight star in Santa Cruz. Scores read 119-109 and 120-108 twice for the new IBF 118-pound champion Santa Cruz.

Former super middleweight title challenger Sakio Bika put himself back on the map with a tenth-round stoppage of streaking Dyah Davis (21-3-1, 9 KOs) of Coconut Creek, Florida to claim two regional titles.

Bika (30-5-2, 21 KOs) of Los Angeles by way of Douala, Cameroon controlled the bout at the outset, landing clubbing blows and utilizing his usual roughhouse style. Davis, 167.6, finally landed one clean blow to end the round, but Bika, 166.6, followed back with a clean overhand right that may have hurt the son of Howard Davis Jr.

The WBC #16 ranked super middleweight Bika continued to time his wild right hands to great effect in the second. Davis, WBC #4/WBA #10/IBF #11 ranked 168-pounder, tried to box more, but had trouble avoiding Bika’s long arms and wide swings.

Davis began to show the signs of Bika’s punishment as the Cameroonian pounded away at him to close round five. Even when he missed, Bika managed to hurt Davis with his left hand while falling inside.

After his best round in the ninth, Davis’ fortune reverted back to form as he as cut from an apparent Bika right hand. Bika seemed to be gathering himself for a second wind, as he shut his output down for the most of the three minutes.

Rejuvenated to start the tenth, Bika quickly pressured Davis into a corner before uncorking a huge overhand right that began problems anew for Davis. Bika continued to swing away and landed another right that almost dropped Davis. Finally after chasing Davis across the ring to another corner, Bika flurried for a stoppage at 1:40 of the tenth and final round.

With the win, Bika claimed Davis’ NABF Super Middleweight title as well as the vacant WBO Intercontinental Super Middleweight belt, which almost guarantee him top ten rankings with the WBC and WBO.

In the last fight before the televised portion of the show, lightweight prospect Sharif Bogere (23-0, 15 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada impressively dismantled Manuel Leyva (21-7, 12 KOs) of Downey, California by way of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico inside of two rounds.

Bogere, 137.2, dropped Leyva, 137.4, with a straight right on the inside late in the first. Leyva moved just enough to avoid a first-round stoppage, but all he did was delay the inevitable. In the opening moments of the second, Bogere dropped Leyva again, this time with a left hook. Leyva gamely rose, but found himself against the ropes on the receiving end of a Bogere flurry. With referee Zac Young looking in, Bogere landed a clean uppercut that prompted a stoppage at 38 seconds of the second.

To no great surprise, Omar Figueroa (17-0-1, 14 KOs) of Weslaco, Texas made short work of career opponent Tyler Ziolkowski (14-16, 8 KOs) of Saint Joseph, Missouri in the second fight of the evening. The Golden Boy promoted-Figueroa, 138.4, ended matters with his first clean shot, a left hook to the body. Ziolkowski, 137.6, writhed in pain on the mat as referee Thomas Taylor counted him out at 2:00 of round one.

In the opener for tonight’s marathon card, Juan Reynoso (1-0) of Tampa, Florida hammered out a four-round unanimous decision in his pro debut over game Beau Hamilton (0-2) of Montague, California. Reynoso, 153.2, promoted by Antonio Tarver’s A.T. Entertainment, was clearly the better schooled and conditioned fighter. Hamilton, 154, was never in any trouble, but failed to land anything telling in the twelve minutes. Scores read 39-37 and 40-36 twice for Reynoso.

Photos by Esther Lin/Showtime

Aldwayne Simpson contributed to this report.

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — Saturday night the Home Depot Center in nearby Carson hosts the highly anticipated four-fight Showtime-televised card headlined by the cruiserweight clash between Antonio Tarver and undefeated Lateef Kayode. Fighters for the mega event, which includes two world title bouts and the return of former champion Winky Wright, weighed-in Friday mostly at Nokia Plaza at L.A. Live.

In his last fight (a ninth-round stoppage over Danny Green in Australia last July) former world light heavyweight champion Tarver (29-6, 20 KOs) of Tampa, Florida reignited belief in his career. However, since that time Tarver has seemingly concentrated less on becoming the world’s top cruiserweight and more on his Showtime broadcast duties. It was during that role that the somewhat trumped up storyline for tomorrow’s fight was created. Broadcasting several of Kayode’s recent outings, Tarver has been less than complimentary of the Nigerian’s performances. Despite his many available options, Tarver, the WBO #6/IBF #10/WBC #12 ranked cruiserweight, opted to put his money where his mouth was and take on Kayode rather than pursue one of the numerous belt holders in the division.

Kayode (18-0. 14 KOs) of Hollywood, California by way of Lagos, Nigeria burst on the public scene with a string of knockouts against modest opposition in 2010, before promoter Gary Shaw upped his class of opponent last year. The result was three straight decision wins, including a horribly scored bout with unheralded Nicholas Iannuzzi that could have gone either way. The WBA #2/WBO #8/IBF #9 ranked Kayode aims to add the most significant name by far to his win column Saturday as he takes on the former world light heavyweight champion.

Tarver, who risks his IBO Cruiserweight title in the twelve-rounder, scaled 198-pounds. Kayode, who forwent a mandatory bid against WBA titleholder Guillermo Jones in order to make Saturday’s bout, scaled 199-pounds Friday.

In the intriguing co-feature, former unified light middleweight champion Winky Wright finally ends his three-year hibernation against up-and-coming middleweight contender Peter Quillin in a ten-round middleweight bout.

Wright (51-5-1, 25 KOs) of Saint Petersburg, Florida was last seen back in April of 2009, as he lost a clear-cut decision to Paul Williams. In the years since, Wright has turned down or backed out of several proposed bouts seemingly due to their low profile. However, recent quotes indicate that Wright senses his time is limited, and thus he agreed to fight Quillin.

For his part, Quillin (26-0, 20 KOs) of Hollywood, California capped a busy 2011 with one of his better victories – a sixth-round stoppage over prospect Craig McEwan last November. Quillin, often mentioned as a possible opponent for recognized middleweight kingpin Sergio Martinez, aims to stamp his ticket to a big money fight at the expense Wright on Saturday. Depending on how much the layoff hinders Wright, Quillin, the WBA #5/WBO #7 ranked middleweight, appears to be up against his toughest challenge to date.

After weighing less than one pound over the contracted 160-pound limit during his first and second attempts at Nokia Plaza, Quillin weighed-in officially at 159.6 during his third attempt, which took place at the Torrance Marriott South Bay in nearby Torrance, California. Wright weighed-in at 159-pounds.

In yet another intriguing bout, WBA Light Middleweight Champion Austin Trout (24-0, 14 KOs) of Las Cruces, New Mexico finally gets a chance at impress on a big stage as he aims to make the third defense of his title against the determined WBA #3 ranked Delvin Rodriguez (26-5-3, 14 KOs) of Danbury, Connecticut by way of Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.

Trout claimed his belt with a twelve-round unanimous decision over Rigoberto Alvarez back in February of last year. Now with title defenses over dangerous David Lopez and an overmatched Frank LoPorto under his belt, Trout hopes to solidify his claim to the throne with an impressive premium cable victory Saturday. Standing in Trout’s way is Rodriguez, fresh off of his impressive schooling of Pawel Wolak in their rematch last November. Rodriguez, who came up just short in a welterweight title bid three years ago, scaled 151-pounds. Trout originally came in at 154.8-pounds, but reweighed-in at the Torrance Marriott at 152.8.

In the Showtime opener, Leo Santa Cruz (19-0-1, 11 KOs) of Lincoln Heights, California by way of Huetamo, Michoacan de Ocampo, Mexico vies for the vacant IBF Bantamweight title against Vusi Malinga (20-3-1, 12 KOs) of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.

The IBF #1 ranked Malinga, who like Santa Cruz comes from a fighting family, is the fighter that helped provoke Abner Mares’ move up to 122-pounds. Malinga was Mares’ mandatory challenger, but the rising star opted to vacate the belt rather than take on the little known South African. Santa Cruz, the IBF #4/WBO #14 ranked bantamweight, weighed in at 117-pounds, as did Malinga.

In a bout to be televised by sister network Showtime Extreme before “Showtime Championship Boxing” goes on the air, super middleweight contenders Sakio Bika and Dyah Davis will battle it out in a scheduled ten-round with two minor titles on the line.

Bika (29-5-2, 20 KOs) of Los Angeles by way of Douala, Cameroon is still looking to rebound from his one-sided defeat in a failed title bid against Andre Ward back in November of 2010. In his lone fight since, Bika moved past sub .500 Alfredo Contreras via cut-induced third-round stoppage last December.

Davis (21-2-1, 9 KOs) of Coconut Creek, Florida has worked his way to a three-fight win steak, which should really be a four-fight win streak, since his loss to Aaron Pryor Jr. in 2010. Should he move past Bika, the WBC #4/WBA #10/IBF #11 ranked Davis could be knocking at the door of a major title opportunity. Davis weighed 167.6-pounds, while Bika scaled 166.6, for their NABF and WBO Intercontinental Super Middleweight title bout.

Another face familiar to Showtime viewers, Sharif Bogere (22-0, 14 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada will take on journeyman Manuel Leyva (21-6, 12 KOs) of Downey, California by way of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico in a ten-round light welterweight bout. Bogere, a lightweight by trade, scaled 137.2-pounds, while Leyva came in at 137.4.

Another lightweight prospect Omar Figueroa (16-0-1, 13 KOs) of Weslaco, Texas was not forced to sweat down to his fighting weight as he stays busy against journeyman Tyler Ziolkowski (14-15, 8 KOs) of Saint Joseph, Missouri in a six-round light welterweight bout. Figueroa, who is already scheduled to fight another journeyman on June 23rd at the Staples Center across the street, weighed-in at 138.4-pounds. Ziolkowski, who has the distinction of suffering second-round kayos at the hands of both Omar and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., came in at 137.6-pounds.

In the opener, debuting Juan Reynoso of Tampa, Florida will meet Beau Hamilton (0-1) of Montague, California in a four-round light middleweight bout. Reynoso, a part of the Antonio Tarver camp, weighed-in at a chiseled 152.2-pounds. Hamilton came in at 154-pounds, seven pounds north of where he was for his debut two months ago.

Tickets for the event, promoted Golden Boy Promotions, A.T. Entertainment and Gary Shaw Productions, are available online at AXS.com.

Quick Weigh-in Results:

IBO Cruiserweight Championship, 12 Rounds
Tarver 198
Kayode 199

Middleweights, 10 Rounds
Wright 159
Quillin 159.6

WBA Light Middleweight Championship, 12 Rounds
Trout 152.8
Rodriguez 151

IBF Bantamweight Championship, 12 Rounds
Santa Cruz 117
Malinga 117

NABF Super Middleweight Championship
WBO Intercontinental Super Middleweight Championship, 12 Rounds
Bika 166.6
Davis 167.6

Light Welterweights, 10 Rounds
Bogere 137.2
Leyva 137.4

Light Welterweights, 6 Rounds
Figueroa 138.4
Ziolkowski 137.6

Light Middleweights, 4 Rounds
Reynoso 153.2
Hamilton 154

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

Too drained to take the podium at the post-fight press conference, Brandon Rios sat down with media for a brief interview session after his controversial victory over Richard Abril on Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Rios (30-0-1, 22 KOs) of Oxnard, California answers questions about the selection of Abril as his opponent, failing to make the lightweight limit, the fight itself and his immediate future. Also, Rios’ trainer Robert Garcia gives his take on the fight and the decision to schedule the bout at lightweight limit.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — Though he did not make it look pretty, huge underdog Richard Abril appeared to be on his way to claiming the vacant WBA Lightweight title over a lackluster Brandon Rios after twelve rounds at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on Saturday night. But then the judges’ scores were read.

After a feeling out first round, Abril’s plan became readily apparent in the second. The WBA’s interim titleholder looked to place one or two hard shots at range and smother Rios any time the fight came in close. Rios landed one right uppercut inside, but Abril caught the former champion coming in several times and looked to have taken the round.

Rios (30-0-1, 22 KOs) of Oxnard, California began to try and rough up Abril on the inside in the third, but his punches were vastly ineffective. Abril (17-3-1, 8 KOs) of Miami, Florida by way of Isla de la Juventud, Cuba had a solid fourth, as he began measuring the shorter Rios with his left and landing solid rights. The lead right became a weapon as well for Abril, 135.

Rios, 137, may have deserved the fifth as Abril became too defensive. Rios did not land anything to great affect either, but he carried the action for most of the three minutes. Abril, the WBA #1 ranked lightweight, took the sixth on all three cards with an early offensive rally. Rios, the WBA #3 ranked lightweight, took to his jab for the only time in the fight late in the frame, but it was not enough to win back the round.

The seventh seemed to be another clear round for Abril, however two judges ended up giving it to Rios. Abril landed a lead right twice in the early going and kept good distance, tying up Rios when he got in close. Abril was warned for holding by referee Vic Drakulich, before landing another solid combination to close out the round.

By the eighth the fight had fallen into a familiar pattern. Rios would fall in and lean on Abril, throwing tired shots over his own shoulders. Abril blocked most of the blows inside, before stepping out and throwing one or two of his own as Rios looked to lean in again.

Despite all the trash talk and press conference shoving matches, neither fighter ever showed any desire to really hurt their adversary. Round after round, Rios’ winging shots looked drained of any power. Despite Abril’s effective punch selection throughout frames eight thru eleven, there was not a consensus round scored for the Cuban import by the three judges during that third of the fight. When Abril closed up shop a bit in the final round all three judges did agree to score it for Rios.

Both fighters did show good sportsmanship in the immediate aftermath of the final bell, as Abril offered his glove and Rios gave him a hug. Much to the dismay of everyone on press row, two veteran judges, Jerry Roth and Glenn Trowbridge, had the fight for Rios, 117-112 and 115-113 respectively. Judge Adalaide Byrd scored it right, 117-111 for Abril.

The post-fight press conference, which was held back until after the conclusion of the Juan Manuel Marquez-Serhiy Fedchenko fight broadcast from Mexico, never really took place. Top Rank execs explained that Rios was too drained to take the podium and instead a brief question and answer session took place at a media table.

It remains to be answered if Rios is still on the dance card for Marquez in July.

Making his case for a Marquez meeting, rising junior welterweight contender Mike Alvarado (33-0, 23 KOs) of Thornton, Colorado turned back a determined effort from Mauricio Herrera (18-2, 7 KOs) of Lake Elsinore, California en route to a ten-round unanimous decision.

Herrera, 140, opened well as his apparent plan was to smother the power of Alvarado, 140, while placing his own shots when the openings were presented. Herrera, the IBF #7 ranked 140-pounder, evaded enough of Alvarado’s attack to perhaps take the round. However it was apparent that Alvarado, the WBO #3/IBF #9/WBA #11 ranked light welterweight, held a decided edge in power.

Alvarado began to take over the fight in the second as Herrera could not keep the range he needed to stay out of harm’s way. Herrera was constantly throwing his shots, even while backed against the ropes. However, when Alvarado would land the effect on Herrera was much greater.

And so the fight went. Herrera bravely throwing, and gaining fans, but Alvarado landing the blows that win rounds. After a seventh round in which Alvarado was more selective with his output, Herrera’s face began to resemble hamburger meat, prompting a post-round look-in from the ringside physician.

In the eighth, a two-punch combination rattled Herrera into the ropes. Just when a stoppage looked eminent, the Lake Elsinore resident again offered back to close out the round. After another in between round visit from the doctor, Alvarado let off the gas a bit in the ninth, giving Herrera a brief reprieve.

Incredibly Herrera had a solid tenth, fighting on instinct perhaps more than anything else. Alvarado appeared to be a bit punched out as Herrera persevered through another two or three hard head shots to outwork him in the final round.

In the end, Alvarado deservedly took all three cards by scores of 99-91, 97-93 and 96-94. “I want Marquez,” pronounced Alvarado after the fight. “I deserve Marquez, I’m ready for Marquez and I have no weight issues.” Alvarado’s last line was an obvious knock on Rios, who has been mentioned as the leading candidate for a July meeting with Juan Manuel Marquez.

In the opening bout of the pay-per-view broadcast, Mercito Gesta (25-0-1, 13 KOs) of San Diego, California by way of Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines worked his way to an eighth-round stoppage of awkward Oscar Cuero (15-8, 12 KOs) of Cartagena, Colombia.

Gesta, the WBA #7 ranked lightweight and WBO #8 ranked 140-pounder, was forced to chase Cuero, 138, around the ring for much of the early rounds. When Gesta, 137, did manage to pin Cuero against the ropes or in a corner, the Colombian quickly wrapped his long arms around the Filipino contender, leading to a point deduction in fifth.

As the sixth opened, Cuero decided to fight and had a fairly decent round pressuring Gesta, who only landed in spots. Cuero’s momentum was fleeting, as a rising right body shot gave Gesta his first knockdown in the bout in the seventh. Cuero got up slow and tackled an onrushing Gesta to the canvas. The extra time helped Cuero come on for a moment. But after taking a few clean head shots, Gesta smiled and nodded at his tiring foe.

Early in the eighth, a cuffing right near Cuero’s ear put him back on the mat. Cuero got up slow, prompting referee Robert Byrd to wave it off at the 1:38 mark.

Well regarded former amateur standout Eric Flores (1-0, 1 KO) of Inglewood, California topped his brother’s performance from earlier in the night with a 40-second technical knockout of Wilbert Mitchell (1-3) of Lake Dallas, Texas.

Flores, 139, came out fast, eventually landing a straight right hand, which he soon followed with a short left in close. Mitchell, 137, fell back into a neutral corner, where Flores followed and flurried him to the mat. When Mitchell got up, referee Tony Weeks saw something in his eyes he did not like and quickly waved off the bout.

Light welterweight prospect Terence Crawford (16-0, 12 KOs) of Omaha, Nebraska took an apparent step-up in class and impressively met the challenge as he dismantled Andre Gorges (11-3, 6 KOs) of Windsor, Ontario, Canada by way of Baghdad, Iraq inside of five rounds.

Crawford, 142, was clearly just too quick for Gorges, 141, from the early going. Gorges was game, but was countered at nearly every opportunity throughout the bout. After wearing Gorges down to the body, Crawford began to punish the Canadian resident upstairs in the fourth. A left hook on the inside wobbled Gorges’ legs and forced him down to a knee late in the round. With just seconds left in the round, Gorges survived to the bell, but returned to his corner on very shaky footing.

Early in the fifth, Crawford set up a vicious overhand right with Gorges against the ropes. Gorges was out even before the follow up left landed, which aided his slow fall to the mat. Referee Kenny Bayless stopped the bout 44 seconds into the fifth. Crawford’s win is especially impressive considering Gorges had gone twelve in a majority decision loss to soon to be ranked contender Albert Mensah last time out.

Light middleweight prospect Mikael Zewski (14-0, 10 KOs) of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada capped a patient, but effective offensive display with a sixth-round stoppage of Brandon Baue (12-6, 10 KOs) of Troy, Missouri.

Zewski, 153, mixed his attack well to both the body and head of Baue throughout the fight. The hook to the body as well as some well placed left uppercuts did damage from the early going, as Baue, 153 ½, became less willing to offer up as the fight wore on.

Finally in the sixth, a two-handed combination bothered Baue enough to bring him down to one knee in his own corner. Baue returned to his feet at the count of nine, but apparently looked dejected enough for referee Tony Weeks to stop the bout after a short series of unanswered blows at 2:46 of the sixth.

Anthony Flores (1-0, 1 KO) of Inglewood impressed in his professional debut with a scary first-round knockout of Gabriel Medina (1-1) of Hemet, California. Flores, 140, pressured Medina, 141, from the early going, ultimately using a left jab to set up a thunderous overhand right. Medina was out even before the back of his head bounced off the canvas. Referee Vic Drakulich rightly stopped the bout without a count at the 2:41 mark.

Former National Golden Gloves Champion Tremaine Williams (1-0, 1 KO) of New Haven, Connecticut put in a quick night’s work in his professional debut with a first-round stoppage of Jesse Anguiano (0-2) of San Antonio, Texas. Williams, 123, sent Anguiano, 121 ½, into a corner with a fast combination and the ensuing flurry sent Anguiano’s head through the ropes. Shortly after referee Robert Byrd separated the two fighters, Williams rushed in an put together a series of punches that prompted Byrd to rescue the stunned Anguiano from further punishment. Official time was 2:21 of the first.

Photos by Chris Farina/Top Rank

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — Former WBA Lightweight title holder Brandon Rios forfeited an opportunity to regain his title as he again failed to make the lightweight limit of 135-pounds for his bout against Richard Abril tonight at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. However, the grudge match will go on as scheduled, with the title on the line for Abril only. Fighters weighed in Friday afternoon at the casino’s Mizuya Lounge.

Rios (29-0-1, 22 KOs) of Oxnard, California of course was originally scheduled to fight Yuriorkis Gamboa tonight, before the Cuban’s unexpected pullout during the beginning of the promotion’s press tour. Before that tantalizing match-up began to materialize, Rios and his team had publicly declared he was going to move up to 140-pounds. Rios had failed to make the 135-pound limit for a title defense against John Murray last November, and even before that weigh-in the talk was he was done at lightweight.

Abril (17-2-1, 8 KOs) of Miami, Florida by way of Isla de la Juventud, Cuba entered into the mix after getting into a shoving match with Rios at a Florida press conference that Gamboa opted to no-show. Abril, the WBA #1 ranked lightweight and reigning interim belt holder, felt he should have been fighting for the vacant title from the start and voiced that opinion at the presser. Abril claimed that title with a twelve-round decision over former champion Miguel Acosta in Panama last October.

Rios, the WBA #3 ranked lightweight, scaled 137-pounds on his first attempt Friday. When Rios returned to give it a second try he ended up being a little heavier than the first time around. Abril, who only loses have come by split decision to Hank Lundy and Breidis Prescott, came in at the division limit of 135-pounds.

Due to the fact that Rios did not make the lightweight limit, it is not clear whether or not Abril will lose his interim title should he not win tonight. In correspondence through e-mail, WBA Executive Vice President Gilberto Mendoza Jr. informed 15rounds.com that the status of the interim title in the event of an Abril loss would decided in a meeting of the WBA’s directors.

Highlighting the undercard, light welterweight contender Mike Alvarado (32-0, 23 KOs) of Thornton, Colorado will take on once-beaten Mauricio Herrera (18-1, 7 KOs) of Lake Elsinore, California in a ten-round affair.

Alvarado comes in off of one of his better wins as he became the first to take down 140-pound contender Breidis Precott inside the distance last November. Alvarado, the WBO #3/IBF #9/WBA #11ranked light welterweight, has been taken to the final bell just once in his last six outings. Alvarado weighed in at 140-pounds Friday.

Herrera, the IBF #7 ranked 140-pounder, last saw action in June of last year. In that fight, Herrera took a controversial majority decision over prospect Mike Dallas Jr. However, the last time Herrera was in Las Vegas, he scored the most impressive win of his career. In January of 2011, Herrera stunned the crowd at the Cox Pavilion to take a decisive ten-round decision over previously unbeaten Ruslan Provodnikov. Herrera weighed in at 140-pounds.

Opening the pay-per-view telecast, touted Mercito Gesta (24-0-1, 12 KOs) of San Diego, California by way of Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines takes on journeyman Oscar Cuero (15-7, 12 KOs) of Cartagena, Colombia in a ten-round light welterweight bout.

Gesta, the WBA #7 ranked lightweight and WBO #8 ranked 140-pounder, is coming off of a ten-round decision over former title challenger Ricardo Dominguez back in November. Though Cuero does not sport a very impressive record, he has not been stopped in almost four years, having gone the distance against notables Dannie Williams and Monty Meza Clay. Gesta weighed in at 138-pounds, while Cuero scaled 137.

Light middleweight prospect Mikael Zewski (13-0, 9 KOs) of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada looks to keep busy against Midwest journeyman Brandon Baue (12-5, 10 KOs) of Troy, Missouri in a bout slated for six or eight rounds. Zewski, a former amateur star, has been matched incredibly safe despite his credentials. The Canadian fought less than a month ago, scoring a first-round knockout of a 3-5 fighter in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Baue, who scaled 153 ½-pounds, has lost every time he has gone up against a remotely familiar name.

Terence Crawford (15-0, 11 KOs) of Omaha, Nebraska will take on Andre Gorges (11-2, 6 KOs) of Windsor, Ontario, Canada by way of Baghdad, Iraq in the most competitively matched bout off the off-television undercard. Their light welterweight bout is scheduled for six or eight rounds, depending on the distance of the other preliminary bouts. Crawford, who scaled 142-pounds, has been out of action since a September eight-round decision over Angel Rios in Atlantic City. Gorges, who scaled 141-pounds, is coming in off of a twelve-round decision loss to Albert Mensah last July.

Former amateur standout Eric Flores of Inglewood, California will make his professional debut against Wilbert Mitchell (1-2) of Lake Dallas, Texas in a four-round light welterweight bout. Flores, a top amateur and former member of the Los Angeles Matadors World Series of Boxing team, weighed in at 139-pounds. Mitchell, coming in off of his lone pro win, weighed in at 137-pounds.

Ingelwood’s Anthony Flores, Eric’s brother, will also be making his pro debut against Gabriel Medina (1-0) of Hemet, California in a four-round light welterweight bout. Flores, the slightly older of the two brothers, weighed in at 140-pounds. Medina weighed in at 141-pounds. Both Flores brothers are managed by Cameron Dunkin.

In the opener, 19-year-old former amateur star Tremaine Williams of New Haven, Connecticut will turn pro against Jesse Anguiano (0-1) of San Antonio, Texas in a four-round super bantamweight bout. Williams, the 2011 National Golden Gloves Champion at 123-pounds, came in at 123 on Friday. Anguiano, who lost his debut on March 24th via decision, weighed in at 121 ½-pounds.

HBO Pay-Per-View will broadcast the three main bouts followed by the WBO Interim Light Welterweight title bout between Juan Manuel Marquez and Serhiy Fedchenko from New Mexico City Arena in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico. TopRank.com will stream the preliminary bouts from Las Vegas live.

Tickets for the event, promoted by Top Rank, are available online at Ticketmaster.com

Quick Weigh-in Results:

WBA Lightweight Championship, 12 Rounds
Rios 137*
Abril 135

Light Welterweights, 10 Rounds
Alvarado 140
Herrera 140

Light Welterweights, 10 Rounds
Gesta 137
Cuero 138

Light Middleweights, 6 or 8 Rounds
Baue 153 ½
Zewski 153

Light Welterweights, 6 or 8 Rounds
Crawford 142
Gorges 141

Light Welterweights, 4 Rounds
Mitchell 137
Eric Flores 139

Light Welterweights, 4 Rounds
Medina 141
Anthony Flores 140

Super Bantamweights, 4 Rounds
Anguiano 121 ½
Williams 123

*Rios overweight, vacant title on the line for Abril only

Photos courtesy Top Rank
Alvarado-Herrera & Gesta-Cuero Photos by Chris Farina/Top Rank

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Previously unknown Albert Mensah is unknown no longer after a hard-earned ten-round unanimous decision over proud warrior Michael Katsidis at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Friday night. With the ESPN2-televised win, Mensah vaults into the world rankings, while the future of Katsidis’ career becomes uncertain.

Katsidis (28-6, 23 KOs) of Hollywood, California by way of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia began the fight well. Moving up to junior welterweight from lightweight did not slow the always offense-minded Katsidis down one bit. Though his punches may not have had the same effect on a natural 140-pounder as they did on lightweights, on sheer output alone Katsidis controlled most of the first three rounds.

After finding his jab in the third, Mensah (25-3-1, 10 KOs) of Joliet, Illinois by way of Accra, Ghana came out of his defensive shell for a big fourth round. With each clean shot landed, Mensah, 140, seemed to gain confidence. Several shots snapped Katsidis’ head back and drew gasps from the crowd. Despite taking some really clean blows, Katsidis, 138, rarely took a step back.

Katsidis, who entered the bout as the WBO #8 ranked lightweight, bounced back midway through the fifth to again outwork Mensah, who had let off the gas pedal after a strong start to the stanza.

The sixth round provided a quandary for ringside scorers. Katsidis outworked Mensah by a wide margin, but not one of his shots stood out as something that really hurt his opponent. Mensah, despite languishing on the ropes the entire round, deserved the nod as he caught Katsidis with several hard head shots.

Mensah loaded up and landed several bombs in an action-packed seventh round. Just when Katsidis seemed to be in danger of going down, and with Mensah a bit punched out, the former interim champion rallied. Katsidis took Mensah to the ropes and placed some hard shots, before Mensah regrouped and landed one of his own.

After a solid eighth for Katsidis, Mensah came out determined in the ninth and landed well to the body. Mensah followed up with a series of head shots that seemed to bother Katsidis, who still refused to go into retreat. Mensah closed out a great fight with more solid blows upstairs in the tenth. The fight had opened eyes to Mensah’s ability, but only reaffirmed what everyone has known about Katsidis. One would be hard pressed to think of an active fighter with an ounce more heart than the Australian.

One judge had the fight even, 95-95, but was overruled by scores of 98-92 and 96-94 for Mensah. With the win Mensah successfully defended his IBF International Light Welterweight title, and will now find himself ranked when the sanctioning body releases their next world rankings.

Mensah had just one previous fight in the Unites States, a July win over once-beaten Andre Gorges in Illinois. “Not many people have known about him, but he was well known in his home country of Ghana, where he had held many titles,” explained Mensah’s promoter Cynthia Tolaymat of Chicago Fight Clubs Promotion. “But now after this exposure, I am sure everyone will know about him. We want to move him next, and as fast as possible, into world title position.”

In a jaw-dropping performance, Alan Sanchez (10-2-1, 4 KOs) of Fairfield, California ran through prospect Artemio Reyes (15-2, 10 KOs) of Colton, California via first-round knockout.

Sanchez, 147, hurt Reyes, 146, with a clean right early in the round and chased him about the ring, landing a right uppercut and several straight rights in succession. Finally the dazed Reyes succumbed and fell into the ropes, as referee Joe Cortez came in to stop the contest at 2:08 of the first round. Sanchez had dropped a highly competitive six-round decision to Reyes back in June of 2010.

In a rematch of an October 2011 draw, Cameron Kreal (1-1-2) of Las Vegas moved into the win column with a hard-fought four-round majority nod over Tyler Lawson (0-2-1) of Las Vegas. Lawson, 141, took as good as he gave much of the way, especially over the first two rounds. However, Kreal, 140, deservedly got the nod as he outworked Lawson in a solid scrap. Scores read 38-38 and 39-37 twice for Kreal.

In the last fight before the televised card, Alexis Hernandez (1-1) of Las Vegas by way of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico scored three knockdowns over the first three rounds to score a four-round unanimous decision over determined Sergio Lopez (0-1) of Las Vegas.

Hernandez, 123, rocked Lopez, 122, into the ropes to score a knockdown late in the first round. Lopez managed to quickly regroup and fought well in spots off the ropes, most notably uncorking a hard left hook that momentarily stopped Hernandez in his tracks. The following exchanged carried past the bell, with Hernandez’ late shots the most flagrant.

Lopez carried some momentum into the second, which he controlled in the opening moments. Just as the fight began turning his way, Lopez was caught in an exchange and dropped for the second straight round. Again, Lopez regrouped and returned fire to close out the round.

The third looked much like the second round, with Lopez doing well early before finding himself again on the mat. This time it was a Hernandez left hook that put Lopez on the canvas. After a strong fourth round for Hernandez, all three judges had the fight for him by scores of 40-35, 40-34 and 39-38.

In an entertaining welterweight bout, Yusmani Abreu (2-2-1) of Las Vegas survived some scary moments in the first en route to a four-round split decision draw with Brent Rodriguez (1-3-2) of Venice, California.

Rodriguez, 146, caught Abreu, 146, with a wide right hook that sent the local fighter across the ring and against the ropes. Rodriguez either felt referee Jay Nady was going to call a knockdown or decided to admire his work, because he failed to follow-up on the stunned Abreu. With seconds left, Rodriguez swung away, but did not land a punch as Abreu fell to the mat. Even though the earlier landed punches had something to do with the fall, Nady waved it off as a slip.

To his credit, Abreu shook out the cobwebs and battled back in the second and third rounds. Each fighter had their moments in the fourth and ultimately the official scorers were split on who they liked. Each fighter took one card 38-37, with the third card coming in even, 38-38.

In a free-swinging four-rounder, Edwin Reyes (0-0-1) of Nashville, Tennessee battled back over the second half of the fight to force a unanimous draw with Yosigey Ramirez (0-0-1) of Las Vegas.

Ramirez, 104, appeared to be the stronger puncher through two, as he and Reyes, 104, exchanged at close quarters. However, Reyes came on in the third, landing hard shots inside some of Ramirez’ looping swings. Reyes completely dominated the fourth, nearly dropping Ramirez with a well-timed combination. In the following minute, Ramirez evaded just enough shots to remain on his feet, and even landed some as Reyes momentarily punched himself out.

By the time the fourth was coming to a close, Reyes was again getting the better of the action. In the end, all three judges had the fight a 38-38 draw.

Before the ring lights had a chance to warm-up, Richard Quesada (1-0, 1 KO) of Havana, Cuba stopped Luis Monda (0-1) of Miami, Florida in the night’s opening bout. The southpaw Monda, 140, quickly found himself against the ropes on the receiving end of a straight right hand, which apparently had him second-guessing his chosen profession.

Quesada, 141, followed up with a right to the body that put Monda down to a knee. Before reaching his count of ten, referee Russell Mora decided call off the contest at 50 seconds of the first.

Copyright Photos by Mary Ann Owen

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

Long one of cable television’s most exciting fighters, light middleweight contender Delvin Rodriguez and his team feel he is deserving of the big fight that has eluded him to this point in his thirteen-year pro career. Just last month, one such fight came close to coming to fruition, but evaporated in deflating fashion. Undeterred, and with the options plentiful in his weight class, Rodriguez has his sights sight on the rest of the division’s big names.

Back on February 10^th, Rodriguez (26-5-3, 14 KOs) of Danbury, Connecticut sat down for an interview with ESPN’s Bernardo Osuna during a live Friday Night Fights telecast. As Rodriguez, also a commentator for ESPN Deportes, sat there he believed he was close to signing for a fight with Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. When asked what was next for him, Rodriguez cracked a smile, hinting that such a big fight was coming close. Unfortunately for Rodriguez, about 30 minutes later, Osuna would come on air to report that Alvarez had signed on for a May 5^th bout with Shane Mosley instead.

For Rodriguez the Alvarez fight represented not only the largest payday of his career and a chance to become a world champion, but also the opportunity to prove himself to the skeptical boxing public. “It was very disappointing because it was a fight where I would have been able to show the boxing world what I’m all about,” says Rodriguez. “At 147, I wasn’t 100 percent every time I stepped in the ring. I was feeling weak and I didn’t belong in the division because I was struggling with the weight class. I believe there is still a little bit of doubt in some people’s mind. Fighting “Canelo” would have been great. He is a star right now and it would have been the opportunity of a lifetime. So it was very disappointing.”

Perhaps making lost opportunity even harder to swallow was how close it came to becoming a reality. “From what I was being told, it was down to us and Mosley,” explained Rodriguez’ manager A.J. Galante. “There was nothing set in stone we were told. Obviously it would have been a huge opportunity and we were under the impression we were going to get the match. We were down to the final two and we were very excited for it. It would have been a great challenge.”

With Alvarez’ fight taking place as the co-feature to the Floyd Mayweather-Miguel Cotto main event on pay-per-view, the decision on his opponent likely came down to whose name would sell more buys and not necessarily which was the better fight. Mosley’s is a name recognizable to more casual fans than that of Rodriguez, who offered his opinion on the match-up when asked to put on his analyst cap.

“I think it is a fight that people are not really interested to see,” says Roriguez of Alvarez-Mosley. “This boxing world is all about the last fight. Whatever you do last is what people remember. Shane Mosley’s last fight, he was pretty much trying to survive. So I think people aren’t really interested in that fight and I think people would have liked to see me and “Canelo.” Unfortunately it didn’t go that way. It is just the politics of boxing.”

There is a stark contrast in the shaping of Rodriguez’ and Alvarez’ careers. As a welterweight, Rodriguez played the game the way it is supposed to be played. He gradually moved up in the rankings, fighting stiffer and stiffer competition until he was in position to fight in a title eliminator. He won his title eliminator and fought for a world title, losing a controversial decision. He was rightfully granted another eliminator, which he won, to get another crack a world title, which ended in a controversial draw. Again he fought in an eliminator, losing yet another controversial decision. On the other hand, Alvarez had a carefully managed run lead to a vacant WBC Light Middleweight title bout against a natural welterweight in Matthew Hatton last year. In his three defenses since, Alvarez has yet to meet a capable challenger still in the prime of his career.

“He’s definitely been the golden boy pretty much,” says Rodriguez of Alvarez. “They brought him up the right way, babying him. Everything he wanted he’s had come real easy, put right in his hand. There’s no doubt in my mind, the kid has talent. He’s a very strong kid. He’s very dedicated to the sport at this moment. He has the youth and the power, but honestly he hasn’t been tested. Shane Mosley is not on top of his game right now and he’s not in his best years, but he will test him. Shane does still have speed and Shane could hurt him. The kid has talent, but he just hasn’t been tested yet. We don’t know how he is going to react in a real fight and that’s what makes a fighter. A fighter that knows how to adapt in a fight and come back and we haven’t seen that from him yet.”

With Alvarez in the rearview for the moment, Rodriguez and his team are looking for a fight with one of the division’s other title holders or leading contenders. “I talk to our promoter Joe DeGuardia almost every day and I tell him we want the best guys out there,” says Galante. “In all four sanctioning bodies were are number five, so there are just four guys ahead of us to get to one of those [champions]. We will take on whoever, we are just looking forward. If a title eliminator is there, that is no problem. We are willing to do whatever it takes. We are definitely looking for a championship, and however we have to do it, that’s what we will do.”

Having paid his dues and never having had anything handed to him, Rodriguez remains determined for another chance to prove that he belongs with the top guys in his division. “We want to fight guys that are on top of us that are going to put us on the next step,” explains Rodriguez. “We don’t want to fight anybody underneath. I believe I have done my job already. I have been through the bad decisions, bad management, bad promotion. I have been through everything you can name in this career. I put in my work and I think I have proven myself. So I just want to go forward. I want to fight somebody that is going to take me to the next level and get me to that world title.”

Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

Fighting before his local fan base, Vicente Escobedo scored three first round knockdowns of Lonnie Smith en route to the impressive stoppage victory at the Woodland Community & Senior Center in Woodland, California on Saturday night. With the knockout, the WBO #10 ranked lightweight and IBF #10 ranked 130-pounder netted the WBO NABO Super Featherweight title. Escobedo (25-3, 15 KOs) of Woodland spoke to 15rounds.com moments after the big win.

WOODLAND, CALIFORNIA – With a world title opportunity potentially looming right around the corner, Vicente Escobedo thrilled his hometown crowd by scoring three first-round knockdowns en route to a stoppage over Lonnie Smith at the Woodland Community & Senior Center in the Telefutura Solo Boxeo main event on Saturday night.

Smith (14-3-2, 10 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada started out strong, backing Escobedo to the ropes and placing a couple strong body shots. The fight quickly turned midway through the first round, as Escobedo (24-4, 15 KOs) of Woodland found a home for two right hands and walked through Smith’s retort.

Escobedo, 129, soon backed Smith, 130, into the blue corner with a one-two and dropped “El Negro Mexicano” with the jab-right hand combination that followed. Smith got up smiling, but was soon deposited on the canvas with a right from over the top. This time Smith got up without a smile. Escobedo rushed in when the action resumed, catching Smith with a right hand. Smith caught himself on the middle ropes, but was quickly flurried to the mat again as referee Dan Stell leaped in to stop the fight. Official time of the stoppage was 2:20 of round one.

With the win, Escobedo, who entered the ring as the WBO #10 ranked lightweight and IBF #10 ranked 130-pounder, claimed the vacant WBO NABO Super Featherweight title, his first as a professional. “By now I thought I would have had about two world titles, but better late than never,” said Escobedo just after his win. “That is the way I look at it. I think it is just my time. I was a late bloomer, but now that I have had the experience of fighting the top fighters, the best out there, I have learned a lot and that showed tonight.”

Escobedo had fought in nearby Sacramento before, lastly in 2009, but never in his hometown of Woodland. “It was a good homecoming,” said Escobedo. “I wanted to give the people that. I think this is the best gift I could have given Woodland. To actually come to Woodland, in front of my friends and family and the people that have never been able to see me live, that was really special for me.”

Escobedo’s name has been mentioned as a possible opponent for reigning WBO Super Featherweight titleholder Adrien Broner, who is likely to see action on the May 19th Lamont Peterson-Amir Khan card in Las Vegas. Escobedo’s manager Rolando Arrellano acknowledged there have been talks in regards to Broner, but nothing is set regarding his fighter’s next move.

In a rematch, Manuel Avila (7-0, 2 KOs) of Fairfield, California remained unbeaten with a six-round unanimous decision over a fleet-of-foot David Reyes (2-2) of Montebello, California.

Throughout the fight, Avila, 118, played the role of counter-puncher, even as his trainer Al LaGardo implored him to press the action from ringside. In the end, his clean counter shots were more than enough to win the rounds over the unorthodox Reyes, 120, but it is likely Avila could have been more impressive had he put his corner’s advice to use.

While his offense came in short bursts, Reyes’ conditioning could not be questioned as any time Avila landed anything of significance, the Montebello resident would be well out of range by the time the young prospect attempted a follow-up attack. One of the more heated two-way exchanges came just before the final bell, as Reyes was cornered against the ropes.

In the end, two judges had the shutout for Avila, 60-54, while the third found a round for Reyes, 59-55. In their initial October meeting on the Bernard Hopkins-Chad Dawson undercard in Los Angeles, California, Avila downed Reyes in the third round, but had to settle for a four-round split decision victory.

In an entertaining six-round affair, Paul Mendez (7-2-1, 2 KOs) of Delano, California and Dmitry Chudinov (6-0-1, 3 KOs) of Los Angeles, California by way Serpukhov, Moscow Oblast, Russia fought to a majority draw.

Chudinov, 159 ½, found Mendez, 166, first, with a couple solid left hooks in the opening round. The taller Mendez began the fight in close, but opted to get on his toes late in the first round. Mendez tried to keep Chudinov at distance again in the second, but the Russian continued to set the tone with a higher output and level of aggression.

Mendez had a better third round, as he began to place his jab to greater effect and connected with a cracking left hook that drew a reaction from the crowd. Still the most telling blow of the round was thrown by Chudinov, who rocked Mendez with a left hook late in the frame. Mendez, a bit wobbled, covered up well, as Chudinov failed to land anything punishing in his follow-up.

Each fighter had their moments in the fourth, as Chudinov scored well early, but Mendez came on late with a nice series of combinations. Chudinov came out strong in the fifth, but Mendez weathered the onrush and controlled the action over the second half of the round. Chudinov continued to press forward in the sixth, but Mendez out landed him for stretches and kept the fight at his distance for much of the round. In the end, one judge had the fight 58-56 for Chudinov, but was overruled by the other two official scorers, 57-57.

Jonathan Chicas (5-0, 3 KOs) of San Francisco, California kept his unbeaten record in tact with a four-round majority decision over an undersized, but extremely determined Ephraim Martinez (4-2, 1 KO) of Buttonwillow, California.

Chicas’ natural size advantage was readily apparent in the early going, as the San Francisco resident fired rights and walked through the returns from Martinez, 137, a super bantamweight moving way up the scale. However, Martinez, who took the fight on short notice, made it clear he was in the fight for the long haul, as he came back with a solid right late in the round.

To the surprise of many seated ringside, it was Martinez that pressed the fight in the second, forcing Chicas, 140, to backpedal for much of the round. Chicas’ corner must have said something to wake him up in between rounds, as he came out blazing in the third. However, after a strong first half, Chicas was giving ground again to close the round.

Chicas started the fourth well, before Martinez caught him in close and backed him up with combinations. When Martinez punched himself out for a moment, Chicas regained control of the round late. After withstanding Chicas’ attack, Martinez called his opponent in and fired back to end the fight. One judge had the fight even, 38-38, with the other wo judges scoring it 39-37 for Chicas.

In the opening bout of the night, Harry Gopaul (1-2, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California moved into the win column while spoiling the professional debut of former amateur standout Payton Boyea (0-1) also of Sacramento via second-round stoppage.

Action was frantic at the outset, as Gopaul, 174 ½, and Boyea, 172, exchanged shots at close range in the first round. Gopaul got the worst of it in the early going and was soon dropped by a right hand. Gopaul managed to regain his footing in short order and charged back at Boyea, who did well to catch his adversary on his way inside.

The Sacramento natives came right out at each other to start the second, but this time it would be Gopaul that landed hardest, as he backed Boyea against the ropes with a one-two. With Boyea leaning back on the upper stands, Gopaul connected with a sweeping left hook that put his opponent in trouble. With Gopaul unloading his arsenal against the ropes, Boyea would fall out of the ring onto a ringside table from an apparent right hand. However, referee Edward Collantes waved off the knockdown and signaled it was a push.

Shortly after making it back into the ring, the shaky-legged Boyea was in trouble taking shots along the ropes. The unanswered series of blows that followed gave Gopaul his first official knockdown of the night. When Boyea returned to his feet, Collantes took a look and waved off the fight at the 2:02 mark of the second.

Photos by Erik Killin

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

CAPAY, CALIFORNIA – 2004 U.S. Olympian Vicente Escobedo is back in his hometown as he headlines tonight’s edition of Telefutura Solo Boxeo against Lonnie Smith at the Woodland Community & Senior Center in Woodland, California. For Escobedo the fight presents a risky proposition, as he is a name fighter in a division lacking such a commodity, but instead of a walkover opponent he meets the capable, upset-minded Smith. Fighters weighed in Friday night at the Road Trip Bar & Grill in nearby Capay.

Escobedo (24-3, 14 KOs) is back on Telefutura for the third straight time after his wide points loss to Robert Guerrero in late 2010. Last time out, Escobedo moved past faded and undersized former title challenger Rocky Juarez via ten-round unanimous decision last November. Though Escobedo has fought in nearby Sacramento eight times in his professional career, tonight marks his Woodland debut.

Smith (14-2-2, 10 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada has reeled off nine straight victories since he last suffered a defeat back in 2007. The one time previously that Smith stepped up in class, he controlled former fringe contender David Rodela over six rounds last April. Tonight’s bout marks a major step up, both in class and distance, as Smith, who will be fighting on his 25th birthday, has never had a fight scheduled for more than six rounds. Smith is scheduled to go ten tonight, as he and Escobedo vie for the vacant WBO NABO Super Featherweight title.

The word at the weigh-in Friday was that should Escobedo, currently the WBO #10 ranked lightweight and IBF #10 ranked 130-pounder, move past Smith tonight, he could find himself in against reigning WBO 130-pound champion Adrien Broner next time out. However, looking past Smith, a fighter with nothing to lose and everything to gain, would be a horrible misstep for the former Olympian. Escobedo weighed in at 129-pounds, while Smith scaled 130.

In the televised co-feature, Golden Boy Promotions’ super bantamweight prospect Manuel Avila (6-0, 2 KOs) of Fairfield, California moves up to the six-round distance for the first time as he takes on David Reyes (2-1) of Montebello, California in a rematch. Back in October on the Bernard Hopkins-Chad Dawson undercard, Avila floored Reyes in the third round, but had to settle for a split decision win. Fighting not to far from his Fairfield home, Avila aims to prove his superiority over Reyes once and for all. Avila weighed in at a career-low 118-pounds, while Reyes scaled 120.

An intriguing match on the undercard almost came apart at the weigh-in Friday, as Paul Mendez (7-2, 2 KOs) of Delano, California failed to make the contracted weight for his six-round bout against unbeaten former amateur standout Dmitry Chudinov (6-0, 3 KOs) of Los Angeles, California by way Serpukhov, Moscow Oblast, Russia. Chudinov weighed in at 159 ½-pounds. Mendez came in at 166-pounds.

Initially Chudinov threw his hands up and said there would not be a fight. But after some deliberation, Chudinov decided to go through with the fight and Mendez did not even have to sweat off any weight. When Chudinov appeared on the December card in Woodland, he took on a 180-pound version of Tony Hirsch, who had accepted the fight just before the official weigh-in.

Coming in off of his an impressive performance in Woodland last December, Jonathan Chicas (4-0, 3 KOs) of San Francisco, California takes on blown-up super bantamweight Ephraim Martinez (4-1, 1 KO) of Buttonwillow, California in a four-round light welterweight fight. Chicas, who scaled 140-pounds Friday, quickly dismantled former amateur star Paul Cano in under two rounds in December.

Martinez has fought as low as 118-pounds, and never heavier than 124 ¾ in his pro career. Martinez has been out of the ring since September 2010, when super bantamweight prospect Efrain Esquivas stopped him in five. Given the natural size disadvantage, it is hard to envision Martinez going the full four with the power-punching Chicas tonight.

In an all-Sacramento battle, former amateur standout Payton Boyea makes his professional debut against Harry Gopaul (0-2) in a four-round light heavyweight bout. Boyea, who is training under former world champion and legendary Sacramento boxing figure Tony “The Tiger” Lopez, weighed in at 172-pounds. Gopaul, who also has competed in mixed martial arts, weighed in at 174 ½-pounds.

Any remaining tickets for the event, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Don Chargin Productions, Paco Presents and Jorge Marron Productions, will be made available at the door.

Mario Ortega Jr. can be contacted at ortega15rds@lycos.com.