Christian Bojorquez narrowly defeats Walter Sarnoi in a classic
Christian “El Huevo” Bojorquez of National City, CA by way of Tijuana, B. C., Mexico has his arm raised in victory by referee Jose Cobian after getting a split decision victory over Walter “School Boy” Sarnoi of Monterrey Park, CA on Friday night, July 27, 2012 at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, CA. Photo: Jim Wyatt
If you’re a boxing fan and had the misfortune of missing the Walter “School Boy” Sarnoi versus Christian “El Huevo” Bojorquez slugfest on Saturday at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, CA, you missed out on a top candidate for “Fight of the year.” The match turned out to be a classic with two knockdowns a piece with the razor thin decision being decided by a low blow in Round #4. With the constant momentum swings, it was a nail biter. Just like in a world title fight, the judges had to be on top of their game to come up with the winner. There was no slacking off in this contest – the hands kept flying from Round one through Round six.
SportofBoxing.com’s scoring:
Round one was too close, it seems unfair to award a 10-9 score to anyone but it’s mandatory. Since Sarnoi landed one or two additional punches, it goes to him.
With Sarnoi being knocked down in Round #2, Bojorquez gets the 10-8 round. Sarnoi came right back and scored his own knockdown with a punch flush on Bojorquez’s chin in round #3, 10-8 for Sarnoi.
In Round #4, Bojorquez started landing the more telling blows and perhaps to slow him down, Sarnoi resorted to throwing this left hook below the belt. There was no doubt about the infraction for it was in clear view of the referee. Noting the pain, referee Jose Cobian immediately stopped the action to allow Bojorquez time to recover. Before resumption, Cobian grabbed Sarnoi’s arm and told all three judges to deduct a point. As action resumed, Bojorquez continued to land the sharper blows and more of them to secure a 10-8 round.
With a sense of urgency, back came Sarnoi in Round #5. He landed another telling blow that had Bojorguez in trouble and falling back into the ropes. Instead of boxing, Sarnoi turned to roughhousing and literally shoved his opponent to the canvas. The referee immediately stepped in to issue Bojorquez another 10 count. Before the round ended, Sarnoi had been issued additional warnings, one for hitting behind the head and another for a low blow. Sarnoi had become an all out brawler to make certain he’d get that 10-8 round.
In the final round it can be argued that Sarnoi threw the majority of the power shots but Bojorquez caught Sarnoi off guard and down he went touching his right glove and possibly his right knee to maintain balance. Justifiably, the touching of the canvas was ruled a knockdown. As close as the scoring was, Sarnoi knew it was desperation time and went all out to KO Bojorquez. To counteract this onslaught, Bojorquez traded blows and started grabbing Sarnoi in an attempt to survive the final round.
In the end, judges Sergio Caiz and Max DeLuca scored the bout 55-54 for Bojorquez and judge Eddie Hernandez had it 55-54 for Sarnoi. Without that one infraction, this bout would have most certainly been ruled a mixed decision draw. With the win, Bojorquez remains undefeated at 8-0, while Sarnoi drops to 10-4. If they were to fight again, I’m certain it would be a tremendous draw especially with the patrons who saw Saturday night’s nonstop action.
Christian Bojorquez (R) lands a straight right to Walter Sarnoi’s midsection. Photo: Melissa Jewel/Courtesy of Pechanga Resort & Casino
Christian Bojorquez (R) catches Walter Sarnoi with a short left. Photo: Melissa Jewel/Courtesy of Pechanga Resort & Casino
Christian Bojorquez is a victim of a flash knockdown in Round #3. Photo: Jim Wyatt
From the looks of this photo, it appears Christian Bojorquez was not seriously affected by the punch that sent him to the canvas. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Christian Bojorquez, a victim of a low blow in Round #4, spends a few minutes recovering in a neutral corner. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Referee Jose Cobian wastes no time and immediately issues Walter Sarnoi a point deduction for the low blow. Photo: Jim Wyatt
As mentioned, the hands were flying at terrific speeds throughout this fight. Melissa Jewel/Courtesy of Pechanga Resort & Casino
Here we see the right cross being thrown by Christian Bojorquez to cause Walter Sarnoi to lose his balance and touch the canvas for the ruled knockdown by referee Jose Cobian (R).
It appears Walter Sarnoi (left rear) is in trouble after getting hit by what turned out to be a another flash knockdown. Photo: Jim Wyatt
The undeniable proof that Walter Sarnoi’s glove did in fact touch the canvas in order to be ruled a knockdown. Photo: Melissa Jewel/Courtesy of Pechanga Resort & Casino
Eyes down Walter Sarnoi appears to be a bit glassy eyed as he assesses his situation. Meanwhile, referee Jose Cobian points his finger to the canvas to indicate Sarnoi’s glove did in fact touch the canvas for a ruled knockdown. Photo: Jim Wyatt
With an incredulous look on his face Walter Sarnoi questions the referee’s ruling that his glove touched the canvas for a ruled knockdown. Photo: Jim Wyatt
The Detroit-based Kronk Boxing Team returned to the Pechanga Resort & Casino to appropriate additional “Ws” (wins) for their boxers. Their high-profile light middleweight Tony “Superbad” Harrison faced Calvin Odom in Saturday’s main event. While throwing hardly any punches, Odom, who has won just once in eight years, took punch after punch from the “so-called Tommy Hearns clone” but never wavered. Amazingly, not one punch got the durable Mr. Odom off his feet.
The undefeated Harrison (8-0, 8 KOs) was purportedly riding high after a high profile victory in his last outing, a first round KO of a former European champion by the name of Flavio Turelli on the undercard of the Wladimir Klitschko-Tony Thompson fight card.
After looking at Turelli’s past exploits, we discover he’s only beaten two boxers with a winning record over an eight year career and has only one stoppage in that time. Indeed, he won the Swiss light middleweight title but the Swiss only have four light middleweights in the whole country. We must also take into consideration the 36 year-old Mr. Turelli has now lost his last three fights. Insiders were telling me they couldn’t have found him an easier opponent. That claim seems overblown now that we’ve seen Calvin Odom in action. Odom has won just two fights over a nine year period.
Tony Harrison (R) came at the defenseless Calvin Odom (L) with the big overhand right. Melissa Jewel/Courtesy of Pechanga Resort & Casino
Tony Harrison gave it his all against Calvin Odom, but all he had wasn’t enough to stop the durable Mr. Odom. Melissa Jewel/Courtesy of Pechanga Resort & Casino
It’s all about maturation. “Flash” Harrison had an entirely different wardrobe on Saturday. Gone were the gaudy sunglasses and high billed hat which he normally slants to the right.
As a Co-feature, they added welterweight Hector “Teco” Serrano (15-3-0, 6 KOs) of Perris, CA to face Arthur Brambilia (9-17-0, 4 KOs) from Phoenix, Arizona, a fighter who has won just once in his last 15 fights. Brambilia lasted a minute and 39 seconds before being knocked out.
For all of a minute and a half things were awkward as Hector Serrano sized up the taller 32 year-old cowboy, Arturo Brambilia who hails ffrom Phoenix, Arizona. Melissa Jewel/Courtesy of Pechanga Resort & Casino
Like looking down at fallen timber, Hector Serrano looks down at the fallen Arturo Brambilia. Melissa Jewel/Courtesy of Pechanga Resort & Casino
After knocking out Arturo Brambilia, Hector Serrano has his arm raised in victory by referee Tony Crebs. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Another Kronk protege, welterweight Jacob Bonas (2-0-1, 1 KO), had a more difficult time against Saul Benitez (1-2-0). Despite Bonas’ swarming tactics, Benitez was able to counter and keep Bonas honest. Honest enough that they ended up going the distance.
Jacob Bonas (R), the eventual winner in Bout #3, is shown landing a straight right to the head of his opponent Saul Benitez, Saturday night at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, CA. Photo: Melissa Jewel/Courtesy of Pechanga Resort & Casino
Jacob Bonas (R) lands another straight right to the chin of Saul Benitez.
Jacob Bonas (L) of the Kronk Boxing Gym in Detroit, Michigan has his arm raised by referee Tony Crebs after defeating Saul Benitez of Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Welterweight Luis Hernandez (1-0-0, 1 KO) made his successful pro-debut against Rashad Hughes (0-3-1). Hughes looked good for all of one round and even gave Hernandez a mouse under his left eye before he went down for the count in Round #2.
At the outset Rashad Hughes (L) gave Luis Hernandez plenty of trouble. All that changed after Hernandez got over his first round jitters. Photo: Melissa Jewel/Pechanga
Luis Hernandez, with a mouse under his left eye, has his arm raised by referee Tony Crebs after knocking Rashad Hughes out in the second round. The going was pretty rough in the first round as Hughes dominated the early action. Photo: Jim Wyatt
The same can be said for welterweight William McElroy (2-0-0) who faced Moses Alvizo (1-4-0). Alvizo’s granite chin and awkward style gave McElroy conniptions as the Motor City fighter had to go the distance in order to pull out the mixed decision victory.
William McElroy (L) is shown battling it out against Moses Alvizo (R). Melissa Jewel/Courtesy of Pechanga Resort & Casino
