Boxing results involving local boxers
Friday, 11 February, 2011
Lester "El Cubanito" Gonzalez, Photo credit: Jim Wyatt
On Friday evening, Lester “El Cubanito” Gonzalez (11-3-1) of San Diego’s Black Tiger Gym lost his third straight fight. Gonzalez, who was in the main event at the Magic City Casino in Miami, Florida, fought valiantly for eight action packed rounds against the very tough Eromosele Albert (24-4-1) until his corner finally decided he was taking too much punishment and tossed in the towel. The grizzled veterans gave it all they had in this scheduled 10 rounder for the IBO Latino Middleweight Title.
The back and forth contest took an ugly turn in the seventh round when the fighters’ heads clashed resulting in an ugly gash above Gonzalez’s nose. Seeing blood Albert moved in quickly to finish him off. At that point Gonzalez’s corner was convinced they had to stop the bout but there was no way they could convince Gonzalez to quit. The talk about quitting angered Gonzalez who came out in the eighth round with renewed purpose and actually had Albert in trouble and backing up. The failed all or nothing attempt by Gonzalez further convinced his corner that he couldn’t win. To save their fighter, Gonzalez’s corner and the bout’s referee corroborated on the decision to end the bout.
In his two earlier losses, Gonzalez went the distance against Brandon Gonzales (13-0-0) and Chris Chatman (9-1-1) but lost both matches when it went to the score cards. Gonzalez, who will turn 34 in November, is now entering the twilight of his boxing career.
At the Sports Center in Fairfield, California
Alan Sanchez wins #7. Photo credit: Jim Wyatt
Local favorite, Alan Sanchez (7-2-1, 2 KOs) won a unanimous decision with scores of 78-72, 79-72, and 80-70 over the previously undefeated John Ryan Grimaldo (6-1-0, 5 KOs).
Both boxers opened the bout tentatively at first, with Grimaldo aggressively stalking Sanchez who fired off an occasional snapping jab or overhand right to get Grimaldo’s attention. Then midway through round three, Sanchez sent Grimaldo to the canvas as the fighters threw simultaneous left hooks. After Grimaldo beat the count, he managed to survive Sanchez’s flawed attempt to end it early.
Surprisingly, Grimaldo did better in the next three rounds, relying on a consistently accurate left hook while Sanchez, the sharp-shooter fell back into his routine of keeping his distance from the heavier power-puncher.
Sanchez regained momentum in the seventh round with several effective combinations which eventually opened a cut above Grimaldo’s right eye. Then Sanchez landed this beautiful left hook that sent Grimaldo flying backwards and again down on the canvas.
On the same card, middleweight, Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (23-0-0, 17 KOs) won by TKO over Dennis Sharpe (17-6-3, 4 KOs). Referee Marcos Rosales stopped the bout at 1:54 of round four to save Sharpe who was being pummeled. Sharpe could never seem to figure out how to avoid Quillen’s right hand. In the end it was a devastating left uppercut that sent Sharpe back against the ropes. At that point Quillen unloaded another series of right hands to convince the referee to wave off the fight.
After the results were announced, Quillen, once again, engaged the crowd with his trademark chocolate candy toss from the ring, including one each for the gentlemen of the press.
Another local fighter, amateur standout Manuel “Tino” Avila, (2-0, 1 KO), scored a fourth-round knockout of winless Jose Garcia, (0-3), in a scheduled four-round battle of 18-year old junior featherweights.
Utilizing his superior hand speed, Avila was in control throughout and punctuated his performance with a left hook late in the final round that staggered Garcia sending him back against the ropes. Avila followed with a flurry of unanswered punches giving cause for the referee to stop the fight.
Also on the undercard
Albuquerque, New Mexico lightweight Fidel Maldanado, Jr., (7-0, 6 KOs), a winner of 118 amateur bouts, had no problem with Carlos Hernandez, (3-6-2, 0 KOs), stopping him at :37 of round two.
Sacramento’s Guy Robb, (2-0, 0 KOs), scored an unanimous decision win, 39-35 on all three scorecards, over Fairfield’s Omar Sanchez, (0-2), in a four-round junior welterweight bout. Robb scored knockdowns in both the third and fourth rounds. Robb dominated the bout despite entering the ring weighing six pounds less than his opponent.
Scheduled fights featuring unbeaten lightweight Max Becerra and heavyweight Lamont Williams were cancelled.
At the Bally Casino in Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Heavyweight, Eddie Chambers (36-2-0, 18 KOs) defeated Derric Rossy (25-3-0, 14 KOs) by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. Chambers dropped Rossy with an overhand right in round six and generally picked him apart en route to a 115-112, 117-110, 120-107 victory.
Rico Ramos lands a solid right uppercut on the chin of Alejandro Valdez, February 11, 2011 in Atlantic City, N. J. Photo credit: Tom Casino/Showtime's Shobox
Super bantamweight, Rico Ramos (19-0-0, 10 KOs) of Pico Rivera, CA. won an unanimous decision victory over Alejandro Valdez (23-5-3, 14 KOs) after 10 rounds.
Ramos remained small and compact while battling it out with the taller Mexican. Once again he proved how he can assert his dominance and superior boxing skills. Ramos consistently landed more of the cleaner shots while Valdez kept coming forward to throw his looping and ungainly punches.
“It was tough. I didn’t think it would be this tough,” said Ramos after the fight. “There were a lot of head butts and holds but I’ve got no complaints.”
Super middleweight, Don George (21-1-1, 18 KOs) of Chicago, Illinois won by TKO in the first round of a 10 rounder over Cornelius White (16-1-0, 15 KOs) of Houston, Texas. White was dropped three times before referee Randy Neumann called an end to the fight.
Wednesday, 9 February, 2011
Keisher "Fire" McLeod-Wells' dream is to become the next super-flyweight world champion. Photo: Emily Brandt/New York Women's issues Examiner
After going six nonstop rounds with Melissa McMorrow (4-2-3) of San Marcos, CA. at the BB King Blues Club & Grill in New York City, super flyweight Keisher “Fire” McLeod-Wells (4-1-0) won an unanimous decision victory.
Traveling East to fight someone of Wells’ stature was a gutsy decision by McMorrow. As an amateur, Wells was a two time Ringside World Champion, four time New York Golden Gloves Champion and a three time Empire State Champion.
When you train with the best, you have a better chance of becoming
Light flyweights Amaris Quintana (l) and Melissa McMorrow pose for a photo at the weigh-in for their second bout back on April 8, 2010. Photo: Jim Wyatt
one of the best. To help Wells reach her goal of becoming a world champion, she has an above average support group: her husband, Darryl Wells, also a boxer, her trainer, Mark Breland, a former Olympic Gold Medalist and welterweight champion, and where better to train but at Gleason’s Gym.
In Wednesday night’s bout, Wells was truly impressive, keeping her smaller opponent at bay with a strong jab and occasionally unloading with an overhand right. In the final round, she briefly stunned McMorrow before winning the bout by an unanimous decision (58-55, 57-56, and 57-56).
Why key on McMorrow’s loss? McMorrow twice fought Amaris Quintana of La Mesa, CA. and both bouts ended in a draw. If the best from the East were to challenge the best from the West, a Wells versus Quintana showdown, Quintana would have to overcome the two inch height advantage, the sizable reach advantage, and most likely weigh between seven to ten pounds lighter come fight night. Having said that Wells has never met a fighter like Quintana who is like that energizer bunny; she’ll go non-stop for six, eight or even twelve rounds.
