Gutsy performances, Huerta upset, Gary Russell Jr. gets win #14
Raul Hirales of La Paz, Mexico (12-0-1, 7 KOs) upsets Charles Huerta of Paramount, CA. Photo: Jim Wyatt
On Friday evening, at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in San Diego, CA., Raul Hirales Jr. (12-0-1, 7 KOs) handed Charles Huerta (16-2-0, 9 KOs) his second loss. Even after having a point deducted for a low blow, Hirales was still able to come away with the split decision victory. Being the busier and more accurate of the two fighters, he won by scores of 78-73, 77-74 on two cards, while Huerta was up on the third card, 77-74.
In the first round, Huerta dropped him. In the second round Hirales dropped Huerta. From the third round on, it was a war. Instead of working from the outside, Hirales got in close to score repeatedly with powerful uppercuts and shots to the midsection. In the closing rounds, Huerta’s corner was in panic mode and began urging their fighter to step it up. Despite being from afar, La Paz, Mexico, Hirales gradually won the crowd over with his thrilling style and control of the fight.
Gary Russell Jr. gives a dominating performance on Friday evening, January 28, 2011 at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in San Diego. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In the co-main event, Gary Russell Jr (14-0, 9 KOs) won a seven round technical decision over veteran Feider Viloria (23-8-1, 16 KOs). Russell dropped Viloria in round five and again in round seven. The bout was stopped in round seven at the 0:50 mark after Viloria suffered a cut over his right eye from an unintentional head butt. You could see in his eyes, Viloria didn’t want to continue. After stopping the bout, the referee went to the score cards. All three judges had Russell way out in front, 70-62, 70-62 and 69-63.
Bastie Samir keeps his consecutive KO record in tact after ending Loren Myers' night on Friday, January 28, 2011 at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in San Diego. Photo credit: Jim Wyatt
Super middleweight Bastie Samir of Accra, Ghana (9-0-0, 9 KOs),went five rounds with Loren Myers (7-11-1) before the ring doctor called for a medical stoppage. Myers said later he knew he couldn’t win but he wanted to be the first to end Samir’s consecutive knockout record. While examining Myers, the ring doctor saw blood in his mouth. When being hit, Myers accidentally bit his own tongue. The doctor surprised everyone, especially the crowd when he immediately recommended the medical stoppage.
Myers was so adamant about finishing the fight he began to argue vehemently with the doctor, “What’s that have to do with anything! This is boxing; there’s always going to be a little blood!” The crowd began to boo loudly and continued to boo for an additional three to five minutes.
The day after his battle with Carlos Musquez, Anthony Martinez attends a USA Amateur boxing show in Carlsbad with friends. He's confident he'll be back and be even stronger for his next test. Photo credit: Jim Wyatt
Anthony Martinez (6-0-1, 5 KOs) was also in a war against Carlos Musquez (3-3-3). After four of the toughest rounds in his career, the judges decided the match was a draw.
The following morning, an observer at ringside explained how this bout played out. “Martinez clearly took round one and two and appeared quite confidant going into the third round. Then in that third round, Musquez caught Martinez with a big overhand right that rocked him. Landing that punch and knowing he could repeat it, gave Musquez the much needed confidence. From that point on, Martinez, the boxer, and Musquez, the power puncher, were unloading on each other with some really heavy blows.”
Later the same day, I was at the USA Amateur Boxing show in Carlsbad. Martinez was there with his girlfriend to show their support for a member of their gym who was competing that day. Martinez had his arm in a sling and told me about his dislocated shoulder, broken jaw and bruises on his face.
It was undeniable that he had been in a war with Musquez and how he managed to hang in there while suffering from all those injuries is truly remarkable. If Martinez were to say, I never want to face that guy again, could you blame him?
Emmanuel Robles of the Old School Boxing gym in San Diego signals that Friday's win is just one more step in his quest to become a champion. Photo credit: Jim Wyatt
Super lightweight Emmanuel Robles (2-0-0) of Old School Boxing in San Diego defeated David Morales (2-1-1) of the Oscar De La Hoya Gym in Los Angeles. In almost the same fashion that he whooped Luis Sanchez to win his first fight back on September 10, 2009, Robles was no doubt the busier and more accurate boxer in this match-up. How one judge scored it 38-38 is a mystery. In round four, Robles came close to knocking out his opponent.
She now has four wins and continues to get tougher and tougher on her competition. In Friday's contest, Amaris Quintana took every round from the scrappy Blanca Raymundo of San Bernardino, Ca. Photo credit: Jim Wyatt
In her four rounder with light flyweight, Blanca Raymundo (0-2-0) from San Bernardino, CA, Amaris Quintana of La Mesa, CA (4-0-2) looked sharp and had no problem beating her opponent to the punch or being able to slip her opponent’s punches. After taking every round, she was awarded the unanimous decision.
