It doesn’t get much better than the Mixon vs Ceballos slugfest

The Manuel “El Venado” Ceballos versus Ronald Mixson fight at Del Mar which featured three knockdowns will be remembered for a long time. Photo: J. Wyatt

Friday evening inside the Activity Center on the Del Mar Fairgrounds, it was Paco Presents in association with Jorge Marron Productions, A & T Boxing Club and Don Chargin Productions continuing their Ringside at Delmar Boxing Series now in it’s second season.

In the opener, they had Jose Mejia of Santa Paula, Calif. (0-1)  in a four round super welterweight clash with newcomer Julian Bautista of Oxnard, Calif.  Despite being much shorter and having to overcome these whip like uppercuts and looping hard shots to the body, Bautista hung tough and surprised many by the way he took a punch, remained in close and showed his punching power which twice rocked Mejia and had him very close to being a knockout victim. Round after round Bautista remained active and not once would he allow himself to get behind on the scorecards.

In Friday’s opening bout, it was Julian Bautista (red trunks) coming away with an unanimous decision victory over the game Jose Mejia (black trunks).

Bout #2 featured 40 year-old heavyweight Michael Robinson (346 lbs.), the popular head boxing coach at the Encinitas Boxing Club for 11 plus years, making his pro-debut against the 6’6”, 245 pound Rafael “El Grande” Rios (1-1) also from San Diego. Not only was Robinson much shorter and a debutante, he was 100 pounds overweight and 10 plus years older.

And yet, for Robinson, this was one of those lifelong dreams that kept getting derailed either by a major injury or a family matter. For Robinson, who only had 10 amateur bouts but often sparred with professionals, this was now or never opportunity that he couldn’t pass up. The fact he decided to go now against a man of Rios’ size, with the height and reach advantage plus better mobility, proved to be a big mistake.

After around eight head snapping jabs, it appeared Robinson was having problems breathing through a nose that was bleeding and likely broken.

Miraculously, Mr. Robinson survived the first three minutes but then at the 1:59 point of round two, the giant landed a hard shot to the head that had Robinson falling backwards to the canvas. He tried in vain to get up, but the referee placed his hand on his shoulder and strongly advised him to call it a night.

In Bout #2, all eyes were on the courageous Michael Robinson, head boxing coach at the Encinitas Boxing & Fitness Club, as he took on the formidable 6’6″ Rafael “El Grande” Rios, also from San Diego.

The Rafael Rios’ knockdown of Michael Robinson came at the 1:59 point of round #2. Veteran referee Jose Cobian could see Robinson was in trouble and called for the stoppage of the match. All photos: Jim Wyatt

At the conclusion of his bout against Michael Robinson, the victorious Rafael Rios poses for a photo with his support group.

Rafael Rios has time for one last photo with the lovely ring card girls.

Bout #3 was a welterweight (140-147 lbs.) clash between 27 year-old Brian Nevarez (2-0) of the Rhino’s Gym, Vista, Calif. taking on 28 year-old Daurend Niyazbayev from The Boxing Club in La Jolla. Niyazbayev, an exchange student from Astana, Kazakhstan, may have been making his pro-debut, but he was far being a novice at the sport. Niyazbayev, a former member of the Kazakhstan National Boxing Team, had 110 Amateur bouts in a country well known for it’s boxing exploits.

While going the distance Nevarez put up a good fight, but he was no match for Niyazbayev who used his quick jab to perfection. Before you knew it, Nevarez, who was being picked apart, had swelling around both eyes. All three judges scored the bout the same, 39-37 for Niyazbayev.

In Bout #3, it was Daurend Niyazbayev (gold trunks) coming away with an unanimous decision victory over Brian Nevarez of Rhino’s Boxing in Vista, CA.

(photo bottom) Hall of Fame referee Pat Russell raises the arm of the victorious Daurend Niyazbayev after he handed Brian Nevarez his first loss Friday evening March 27, 2015 inside the Activity Center on the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

At the conclusion of his battle with Daurend Niyazbayev from Astana, Kazakhstan, Brian Nevarez was joined by his number supporter Sandra Chanel Carlon.

In Bout #4, they featured light heavyweight Manuel “El Venado” Ceballos (4-0-0, 3 KOs) from Merida, Yucatán, Mexico taking on Ronald Mixson (2-0, 2 KOs) from San Bernardino, Calif. Since both were undefeated and had remarkable amateur careers, you just knew this was going to be an exciting match and it was. How exciting? If this boxing show was a movie then the Mixson versus Ceballos bout would have to be considered the most intense, dramatic scene in that movie.

From the outset, Mixson, with his lethal straight lefts and left hooks, had Ceballos in trouble and twice sent him down on the canvas – although one of the knockdowns appeared to be a slip. With the dreadful start, Ceballos knew full well he had to even the score with his own knockdown or knockdowns. It wasn’t to the point of complete desperation but it was close.

In the third round, Ceballos surprised Mixson and had him take a seat on the canvas. Then, in the final round, Ceballos again appeared to have the upper hand but that all changed when Mixson landed this awesome left uppercut. At first the scores that were announced had the match being ruled a majority draw. After re-tallying the scores, it was discovered that judge Alejandro Rochin’s scores added up to 37-36 in favor of Mixson instead of 36-36 draw.

After the bout, most everyone was clamoring for a rematch. Then, not to make excuses, it was discovered that during Ceballos’ training camp, not once did his trainer have him spar with a lefty. That discovery alone makes you wonder if Ceballos had been given an opportunity to spar with lefties, could this match have had a different outcome?

The two, first round knockdowns of Manuel “El Venado” Ceballos by Ronald Mixson had Ceballos battling for his life the rest of the way.

  In Bout #5 it was super featherweight Roque Ramos (5-0-1, 1 KO) of Vista, CA taking on the Wizard of Wall Street, Raymond “Bad Boy” Chacon (5-14-0, 1 NC).

By going the distance, Chacon keeps his “nobody can stop me” record in tack for the 21st straight time. Like his predecessors before him, Ramos marked Chacon up but failed to land the knockout blow. The final tallies, all favoring Ramos, had judges Pat Russell and Tony Crebs scoring the bout 39-37 while judge Alejandro Rochin gave Ramos every round.

The elusive Raymond Chacon (blue trunks) is without a doubt a hard target to hit. Just ask the victorious Roque Ramos. Photos: Jim Wyatt

The victorious Roque Ramos poses for a photo after his victory over Raymond Chacon. Also in the photo are Ramos’ trainer Kalina Fernandez (l) and Cutman 4 Hire’s Juan Ramirez (l). Photo: Jim Wyatt

As ring announcer Benny Ricardo (r) announces Roque Ramos’ name, veteran referee Jose Cobian raises his arm in victory. Photo: Jim Wyatt

During a brief intermission, some of the top boxers from the area (l to r) flyweight Johnny Boy Quiroz, super middleweight Ulises Sierra, USA Amateur Champ Julius Ballo, super welterweight Isaac Freeman, former WBO World Flyweight Champion Kenia Enriquez of Tijuana, former super flyweight, now promoter Saul Rios of the Borizteca Boxing Management Group and top ranked welterweight Alan Sanchez were asked to come up into the ring to be acknowledged.

Bout #6, the Main Event, featured super middleweights, 24 year-old, 5’11”, 74” reach Elias “Latin Kid” Espadas (7-1-0, 3 KOs) from Merida, Yucatán, Mexico going up against 28 year-old, 5’9”, 70” reach Adan “Borrego” Leal (9-4-0, 7 KOs) of Nogales, Arizona who was making his comeback after not fighting of three years, three months and 17 days. Espadas was not exactly the best opponent to pick when working off your ring rust. Not once was Espadas in any jeopardy and throughout their contest he held a three punch to one advantage.

At the 1:02 point of round four, referee Pat Russell had to jump in and stop the bout after Leal was getting pummeled repeatedly and not answering back.

The combatants in Bout #6, the Main Event of the evening, Elias Espadas (top, right) and Adan Leal (top left) make their ring entrances.

(photo, top) Elias Espadas (r) takes a swat at Adan Leal who ducks under his punch.

(top, right) Elias Espadas has arm raised in victory by Hall of Fame referee Pat Russell. (below) Espadas is joined by his trainer and the lovely ring card gals.

The next show in the series at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is tentatively set for the second week of May.