Ortiz and Alexander battle to majority draw
Victor Ortiz and Devon Alexander battle to a 12-round majority draw in a welterweight bout at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.
In round two, Ortiz was cut over his right eye.
Ortiz won a card at 115-113, while two cards read even at 114-114. Ortiz, 146.4 lbs of Garden City, KS is 33-6-3. Alexander, 146.6 lbs of St. Louis, MO is 27-4-1.
“I absolutely thought I won the fight,” said Alexander. “The last few rounds I probably gave him, but I thought I out landed him in the 12th. I thought I did enough to win. I gave him three rounds.”
“I thought the decision was a little off and I thought I did enough to win,” said Ortiz. “The first few rounds were a little complicated. He’s a great boxer and he was timing me just right. I wasn’t leaving the line of fire.”
“The eye was tough to overcome,” said Ortiz. “I can’t really see out of it. I really had to listen to my corner. I tried to stay composed as I could, but he’s a really good fighter.”
“My game plan was to be smart,” said Alexander. “Victor always has problems with people that are faster and have more ring IQ. I wanted to put him in the state of mind that he can’t win.”
“I would love a rematch,” said Alexander. “That’s up to my team to see what’s next, but I’ll fight anybody. I’m a real fighter.”
“A rematch would be awesome,” said Ortiz. “If both teams agree and the fans want it, let’s make it happen.”
Caleb Plant won a 12-round unanimous decision over Rogelio Medina in a super middleweight elimination bout.
In round three, Medina began to bleed from his nose. Plant landed the superior punches and used a terrific jab to keep the hard charging Medina at bay. Medina made an effort in the final part of the final, but Plant was never threatened, and by scores of 120-108, 119-108 and 117-111 to raise his perfect mark to 17-0. Medina, 168.8 lbs of San Luis, MEX is 38-9.
“It was a tough fight tonight against a tough competitor who puts everything on the line,” said Plant. “I’m happy we got the job done tonight.”
“I stuck to the game plan and I did exactly what I said I was going to do,” said Plant. “I boxed his ears off for 12 rounds.”
“He never had me hurt, but I found his style very difficult,” said Medina. “He moves a lot and he’s pretty quick, so that was tough to deal with.”
“I think I felt the struggle to make weight a little bit,” said Medina. “I was a little tired in the later rounds and it probably was due to the drain to make weight. But it is what it is.”
“I want (IBF 168-pound champion) Caleb Truax,” said Plant. “He was calling me out when I was 12-0. I’m on the doorstep knocking now, let’s see if he still wants it. He can either ship me the IBF belt to my doorstep, or I’ll come take it off his waist.”
2016 U.S. Olympian remained undefeated by winning a four-round unanimous decision over Jorge Rojas in a lightweight bout.
Balderas, 133 lbs of Santa maria, CA won b y scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 4-0. Rojas, 132.6 lbs of Puebla, MEX is now 4-3-1.
“I felt good in there,” said Balderas. “I need to learn to relax a little bit more in the ring. I hurt him in the first round and I could have finished him quickly. My corner reminded me to slow down, but I was still throwing everything with power. I’m going to keep working on my composure in the gym. I can’t kill everyone in the first round.”
“I’m going to keep picking up my opposition this year,” said Balderas. “Rojas had a really good chin. I’m going to stay in great shape so I’m ready whenever the call comes. I’m going to keep working and aiming for that world title shot down the road.”
