By Miguel Maravilla at ringside
In the co-feature bout, Phoenix welterweight Abel Ramos (27-4-2, 21 KOs) stopped former world champion Omar “Panterita” Figueroa Jr (28-2-1, 19 KOs) of Welasco, Texas in a WBA title eliminator. Figueroa applied the pressure from the start as he worked his way inside on Ramos. The fighting continued but a nasty shiner underneath the left eye of Figueroa began to develop as Ramos tagged him with the solid right. Ramos kept bringing the pressure as it was too much for Figueroa as he did not come out for the seventh. Officially at TKO6.
In a WBC super welterweight eliminator, 6’6 Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora (17-0-1, 12 KOs) stopped Jorge “El Demonio” Cota (30-5, 27 KOs) Sinaloa, Mexico in the fourth round. Coming out swinging, Cota came right at Fundora, but the 6’6 fighter mixed it up in what was a fun start. Continuing to exchange, Cota began to bleed from a cut on his right eye as Fundora stood close to him. Fundora ripped Cota on the inside but Cota continued to fight back swinging wildly at the tall fighter. In the fourth, Fundora landed huge punches as Cota continued to stay on his feet but the referee stepped in to stop the fight at 2:35. Cota and the fans were not happy with the stoppage.
In the opening bout of the FOX Sports PPV, Jesús Ramos, Jr. (16-0, 14 KOs) of Phoenix won a hard-fought tough unanimous decision over 2008 U.S. Olympian Javier “El Intocable” Molina (22-4, 9 KOs) of Norwalk, California in a 10 round welterweight bout.
Exchanging jabs in the first round, Molina kept his distance with Ramos lurking working patiently. Ramos appeared to cut the ring early in the second as Molina circled letting his hands go, later in the round Ramos connected with a solid straight left snapping Molina’s head back. Ramos worked the jab to start the third and pressured, Molina continued to box. In the fourth, Ramos continued to stay on the flashy Molina crouching him attempting to keep him close. Molina clinched as Ramos’s pressure began slowing down the 2008 Olympian.
Ramos began connecting with big punches. Closing in with the pressure, Ramos worked patiently in the sixth landing solid shots, but Molina fought back. Things got intense in the seventh round as Ramos continued to hold down Molina’s head, out of frustration Molina retaliated by hitting him on the break as the referee immediately deducted a point from Molina. In round eight, Molina fired the jab to keep Ramos off. The tenth and final round was all flash as Ramos and Molina peppered away with the jab.
The judges scored the bout 99-90, 99-90, and 97-92.
A convincing victory by Ramos but not an impactful victory. I expect Ramos to settle at 154-160. At 147, Ramos could have been a potential monster but oh well.
That’s probably the end of the line for Figueroa. I don’t think his heart has been in fighting for quite awhile now.
Figueroa is a tough dude, but he received a horrible reminder as to why there are weight classes. Figueroa fought a real welterweight with a variety of punching skills (especially to body). Figueroa should try to fight at 140, but money talks at 147, so I do not blame him for fighting at 147.
Absolutely love FUNdora! He’s 6’6 and he just gets right to throwing down. Only 23, if he keeps progressing he can be a superstar. He has the fighter mentality and plenty of skill along with that freakish height and reach. I have no idea what Figueroa was doing. I was dumbfounded by that defensive maneuvering. He was trying to block punches by moving his opposite hand cross-body around his neck and left his face exposed. Bizarre.
I was thinking the same thing. You put one hand on one side of your face and that’s all – well the other side of your head is wide open.
What happened to Figueroa he had so much potential as a young guy which i feel he has wasted.
Too much inactivity. Should have never gone over 140.
Why doesnt anyone give Kudo to bad bad Omar Figueroa. The guy can Rock!!!
How about Ramos Vs Josesito Lopez on the next PPV undercard for PBC? Seem like a great match and should not be hard to make.