Victor Ruiz gets win #12, Kenia Enriquez #6 at Las Pulgas

Victor Ruiz’s support group celebrates their hero’s victory over the game Sergio “Finito” Frias. Photo: Jim Wyatt

Wednesday, April 10, 2013, Las Pulgas Nightclub, Tijuana, B. C., Mexico

Once again it was fight night at the Las Pulgas Nightclub in Downtown Tijuana with two of the city’s top, hot prospects on the bill, Victor “Pelon” Ruiz (10-1-0, 7 KOs) and Kenia Enriquez (5-0, 3 KOs). In the Main Event of this Mayen Promotions in association with Zanfer Promociones fight card “Prueba de Fuego” (“Test under Fire”), Ruiz had Sergio “Finito” Frias (13-2-1, 7 KOs) from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico in front of him. Within the very first minute of the opening round, both of these gentlemen were throwing punches as if it were the final round of a world title fight. With caution thrown to the wind, it was inevitable this bout would not go the distance. Then, a nasty cut appeared over Ruiz’s left eye caused by a Frias head butt. With Ruiz’s determination on display, there was no way anyone was going to step in and stop this bout.

In round two, Ruiz caught Frias with a solid left hook and followed with a powerful right cross. At that point, it was as if Ruiz had his fish on the line and there was no way he was going to let Frias escape. This onslaught resulted in a knockdown. Just seconds after the issuance of an eight count, Ruiz was right back swarming all over Frias with another barrage of punches. After six straight unanswered blows, referee Juan Jose Ramirez finally stepped in to halt the contest.

Victor Ruiz (black trunks, white stripe) is shown unloading a barrage of punches on his opponent Sergio “Finito” Frias. All photos: Jim Wyatt

(bottom, right) In the end it was Victor Ruiz getting his arm raised in victory by referee Juan Jose Ramirez.

In the co-feature, Kenia Enriquez (5-0, 2 KOs) went to work immediately on the previously unbeaten Rosa “Vaquerita” Diaz (4-0, 3 KOs) of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico. With the disparity in their skill levels being dramatic, referee Juan Jose Ramirez wasted very little time in calling for a stoppage to the mismatch. The end came at the 1:09 point of round one of their scheduled six rounder.

Bout #7, Rosa Diaz (top, left) makes her entrance followed by the hometown favorite Tijuana’s Kenia Enriquez (top, right).

(bottom, left) The end came swiftly for Rosa Diaz of Agua Prieta, Sonora. Sitting there on her stool, it appears she’s wondering what went wrong.

(bottom) Kenia Enriquez has her arm raised in victory by referee Juan Jose Ramirez after earning her sixth victory, third by an early stoppage.

Bout #8 featured bantamweight Brenda Flores (2-1, 1 KO) from Tijuana going up against Monica Murrieta (0-0) who is also from Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico. Murrieta was making her Pro Debut.

In Bout #8, Brenda Flores of Tijuana put a similar beat down on her opponent, Monica Murrieta. There’s not much you can say about Murrieta’s performance, only that it was over in a hurry.

(top photo) Brenda Flores has her arm raised in victory by referee Juan Jose Ramirez. (below) The young ladies, Rosa Diaz (l) and Monica Murrieta (r) will remember this night for a long time and most assuredly come better prepared for any future bouts in Tijuana. All photos: Jim Wyatt

The rest of the Undercard

Jorge de Alba returns.

A late addition to the lineup, had super featherweight southpaw Jorge de Alba (8-0-1, 6 KOs) taking on Diego Flores (0-14-1). De Alba, an amateur standout, was making his return to the ring after a year and seven month hiatus. De Alba had no problem stopping Flores at 0:49 of round one.

Bout #2, a scheduled four rounder between Luis Nery (5-0) and Marino Canete (0-2) in the super flyweight division, was another short bout which didn’t get very far. From the outset it was evident that Canete needs more time in the gym before facing the likes of Nery who ended up scoring the second round TKO victory. Canete’s coach, his father, a former boxer, had gone old school on his boy. He was asking his son to do the near impossible. This was Canete’s third bout in less than a month and to keep the pressure on on his son, each of his opponents were getting harder.

(bottom photo) Referee Juan Manuel Morales Lee raises the arm of the victorious Luis Nery of Tijuana.

In Bout #3, super featherweight Erick Martinez (4-0-1, 2 KOs) earned a tough, unanimous decision victory over the elusive Antonio Villa (1-8, 1 KO). Even though Martinez led throughout, he seemed frustrated by the way Villa was able to slip under each of Martinez’s big overhand rights.

   In Bout #3, it was Erick Martinez (l) getting the best of Antonio Villa.

Bout #4, a lightweight match between Roberto “Rifle” Ramirez (6-0, 6 KOs) and Julio Paz (5-3) ended up going the distance. Why is this significant? It was the first time in Ramirez’s career that he had been forced to go the distance. As a matter of fact, with Paz being so elusive in Round #3, and landing more of the telling blows, it’s likely Paz won the round. In the end, Ramirez got his win but failed to keep his stoppage streak alive.  

Bout #4 (top photo) Roberto Ramirez makes his entrance. (bottom, l to r) Julio Paz in his corner plus we see both Ramirez and Paz unloading on each other at the very same time. Photos: Jim Wyatt

(top) Julio Paz with his coach. (below) A much happier Roberto Ramirez has his arm raised by referee Juan Morales Lee at the conclusion of Bout #4.

Bout #5 featured lightweight Leobardo Laguna of Tijuana making his pro-debut against Leon “The Third Generation” Spinks III (2-0-1, 1 KO) from Huntington Beach, Calif. by way of St. Louis, Missouri. 

Who pray tell is Leon Spinks III and why does that name sound so familiar? In 1978, one Leon Spinks defeated Muhammad Ali to become the WBC and WBA world heavyweight champion. He’s the brother of the former Light Heavyweight and then Heavyweight Champion Michael Spinks, father of the late Leon Calvin Spinks and former Welterweight and Junior Middleweight Champ Cory Spinks, and thus the grandfather of Leon Spinks III. At the age of 19, Leon Calvin Spinks, Leon Spinks III’s father, a promising young light heavyweight was tragically shot and killed.

Leon Spinks III, the third in succession to carry that great name, is a southpaw who stands 5’ 11” tall. Since coming from that fine pedigree, he had no problem defeating Mr. Laguna just as his PR man “Repo Rick, the Hype Man” predicted. Best way to describe “The Hype Man” is to say he’s a souped up version of Don King. His main function is to rile up the opposition’s fans before each fight by slithering around the ring in a braggadocios manner while the DJ plays Repo Rick’s rap music which predicts the defeat of any and all opponents.

In Spink’s last outing, August 11, 2012, the judges awarded him a majority draw over Eddie Melendrez. On Wednesday evening, Spinks went hard and fast to prevent any chance of a repeat.

In the second round of this match, Spinks caught Laguna with a solid left and down he went. Laguna beat the count but was still dazed when he got up. Spinks then backed Laguna up against the ropes. With Laguna’s back to the ropes, Spinks went nonstop until referee Christian Curiel had to finally step in and stop the carnage.

(top to bottom, l to r) Leon Spinks, former World Heavyweight champion from St. Louis, MO, Leon Spinks III with his support staff from Huntington Beach, CA, then it’s Leon with “the Hype Man” and Leon’s opponent on Wednesday evening Leobardo Laguna from Tijuana.

In Bout #9, Jose “Bull” Pech (3-2, 1 KO) took a four round super bantamweight unanimous decision over first timer Julio “Niño” Castillo (0-1). At times Castillo made Pech work for his win but in reality Pech with his experience was in the driver’s seat all the way.

Jose Pech (top) gets the victory over Julio Castillo (bottom). Photos: Jim Wyatt

In Bout #10, it was two gutsy super flyweights battling it out. The end came in Round#3 when Alejandro “Peque” Santiago (3-0, 3 KOs) stopped the much taller Pablo Lopez (0-2). A left hook to the liver in the second round began Lopez’s downfall. After that first knockdown, a second and third followed until he had to admit to himself the pain was too excruciating to continue.

In Bout #10 it was Alejandro Santiago getting the TKO victory over Pablo Lopez.

Bout #11 was a light middleweight contest between Alvaro Aguilar (22-2-1, 17 KOs) who continues on the comeback trail with an unanimous decision victory over Alejandro Alonso (2-15-2, 1 KO).

The 34 year-old Aguilar fought twice this year, didn’t fight at all in 2012, once in 2011 and only once from October 29, 2005 until August 20, 2011.

After Wednesday night, Alonso might end up having nightmares about Aguilar following him around the ring. His “in-your- face” stalking, then pounding by either hand can be quite intimidating.

Bout #11 saw light middleweight Alvaro Aguilar (r) pick apart Alejandro Alonso for the win.

At the conclusion of Bout #11 we see Alejandro Alonso (top, left) awaiting the judges’ decision. Below, Alvaro Aguilar (r) has his arm raised in victory.

The final bout of the evening was over in a flash. Junior welterweight Jose Torres (1-2, 1 KO) earned his first win by pounding Edgar Galvan (0-5) in the midsection, and thereby stopping him in the first round. Galvan has now been stopped in every one of his five contests; not exactly the record you want when you’re sitting down with the grandkids and discussing your career in boxing. 

In the final bout of the evening, it was Jose Torres (in the photo to your right) getting the TKO victory over the dejected Edgar Galvan. All photos: Jim Wyatt