By Miguel Maravilla at ringside
Veteran lightweight Jose Marrufo (13-10-2, 5 KOs) of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico won a hard-fought eight round unanimous decision over previously undefeated prospect Angel “Moreno” Rodriguez (10-1, 7 KOs) of Pico Rivera, California in winning the WBC USNBC silver super lightweight title Saturday night at the Derby Room in Pomona, California.
The fight was off to a fast start as Rodriguez and Marrufo traded in the center. Marrufo outworked Rodriguez in the third round as he kept bringing the pressure despite suffering a nasty cut on his left eye. The pressure continued from Marrufo in the fourth round as he kept backing Rodriguez. Marrufo swarmed Rodriguez much of the fifth round, letting his hands go. It was Marrufo with the pressure in the sixth round, but Rodriguez connected with big punches continuing to fight but Marrufo kept the offense going. Late in the fight, Marrufo kept beating and outworking Rodriguez to the punch. The eighth and final round saw Rodriguez and Marrufo let their hands go, Rodriguez suffered a mouse on his right eye in going the distance.
After eight rounds scores were 80-72, 80-72, and 79-73.
West L.A’s Alejandro “Pin Pon” Reyes (6-0, 4 KOs) of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico will take on Antonio Wattell (3-8-3, 1 KO) of Houston, Texas in the co-feature bout. Off to a fast pace, Reyes attacked as Wattell fought elusive and awkward. Reyes kept the pressure throughout the fight as Wattell’s style was slippery. It was all Reyes has was the busier fighter working his way to a unanimous decision as the judges scored the fight 60-54, 59-55, and 59-55.
Downey, California’s super lightweight Alfredo Fernandez (6-0, 4 KOs) of Downey, California won a hard-fought unanimous decision over Nicaragua’s Osmel Mayorga (2-4, 1 KO). Fernandez boxed patiently picking his shots connecting Mayorga. Attacking the body selectively, Fernandez landed the left hook to the body slowly breaking down Mayorga. There was no quitting in Mayorga as Fernandez continued his attack busting up the Nicaraguan’s nose but couldn’t knock him down in route to a decision win as all three judges scored it 40-36
Super flyweight Mexican prospect Andy Dominguez (5-0, 3 KOs) scored a first-round knockout over Jose Rodriguez Montemayor (5-6, 4 KOs). A pair of crunching left hooks to the body sent Montemayor to the canvas twice as Montemayor’s corner stopped the fight at 2:20.
Super lightweight Kyle Erwin (4-0, 2 KOs) of Oceanside, California pulled off a split decision over Jaying Phillips (1-2, 1 KO) of Florida. The southpaw Phillips boxed using his height and reach snapping the jab fighting slick as Erwin was on the attack working his way inside. Despite suffering a cut on his nose and bleeding, Erwin kept the pressure as Phillips continued to box, sticking, and moving. Erwin attacked in the final round connecting with an overhand right as he kept on top of the slick Phillips but in the closing seconds Phillips sent Erwin to the canvas as he got up quickly as the final bell sounded. After four rounds, 38-37 Phillips, 38-37 Erwin, and 38-37, Erwin.
Baldwin Park, California’s cruiserweight Sergio Jimenez (5-0-1, 4 KOs) Ray Santiago (2-9) of Albany, New York. Slugging it out from the opening bell, Jimenez and Santiago did not hold back as there was an accidental headbutt with Jimenez on the receiving end. There was a second clash of heads in round two as Santiago was cut on top of the head, Jimenez was on the attack as he dropped Santiago in round two, Santiago was up on his feet but did not want to continue as the referee Thomas Taylor waived it at 2:33 of the second.
Super middleweight Jaivion Cardinal (5-0, 4 KOs) of Long Beach, California scored a second-round knockout over Tyler Jacques (0-2-1) of Vermont. A slow start, Cardinal connected with the right hand in the closing seconds of the opening round snapping Jacques head. Cardinal dropped Jacques twice in the second round forcing the referee to stop the fight at 1:46 of the second.
Jesus Torres Beltran (5-1, 3 KOs) of San Bernadino, California won a unanimous decision over Ryan Venable (2-10) of Martinsville, Virginia in a super featherweight bout. Beltran boxed in the opening round and came out shooting the straight right against the southpaw Venable. Continuing to box, Beltran used the jab to his advantage as he followed up with the right hand. It was an action-packed fight as Beltran and Venable finished strong in going the distance. After four rounds the judges scored the bout 40-36, 40-36, and 39-37.
In the opening bout cruiserweight Carlos Rodriguez (2-0, 2KO) of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico made quick work of Jerrell Nettles (1-2) of Colorado in scoring a first-round knockout. Rodriguez attacked from the start snapping the jab and following up with overhand shots. A left hook by Rodriguez sent Nettles to the canvas as he got up but could not continue as referee Thomas Taylor waived it at 1:28.
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