Review of Bobby D Presents’ boxing show of Friday, 8-30-13
Friday, August 30, 2013, 2012 USA Olympic heavyweight Michael Hunter competes on the Bobby D Presents fight card at the Four Points By Sheraton Hotel in San Diego.
When growing up, did you ever go out on a blind date and then at the close of the night, ask yourself, “Why did I ever agree to do that? Has any blind date ever turned out well? It has to be a very low percentage.
Last night’s Bobby D Presents’ boxing show at the Four Points By Sheraton Hotel in San Diego, reminded me of a blind date I once had. With high expectations, it turned out to be a clunker.
The week before the show, Amaris Quintana had to bow out. She was one of the featured attractions and surely worth the price of admission.
Then, came the most dreadful news ever. The passing of a very popular, 23 year-old boxer, Pablo “Bronco” Armenta (10-1-0, 5 KOs). After being murdered gangland style in Tijuana with his body being dumped at a local park, the local news sources in both Tijuana and the U. S. have timidly buried their heads in the sand. The only way to learn of this travesty was to canvas the local blogs.
The very sensitive issue was handled extremely well by ring announcer Benny Ricardo. Like most, Ricardo considered Armenta, not only a top athlete but a dear friend. No eulogy, no ten count, can soothe the pain now being felt. The kindhearted Ricardo gave it his best shot.
Then, mysteriously, the match between Prince “Tiger” Smalls and Luis “Ace” Ventura was canceled even after the two appeared at Thursday’s weigh-ins. As it turns out, Ventura needed an MRI test and his camp waited until the final day. After failing the MRI test, he couldn’t box.
Everyone in the fight game knew the welterweight match of Emmanuel “Renegade” Robles of Old School Boxing and Adolfo “Terror” Landeros (22-32-2, 10 KOs) was a walkover. It was the second time the gentlemen had met. In their first meeting, six months ago, it was a shutout as Robles took every round. This time around he did even better by adding a knockdown in Round #1.
With Robles’ non-stop pressure, the only thing the durable Mr. Landeros could do was hang in there and hope he could land that one lucky punch to turn the tide. That never happened.
With the win, Robles improves to (9-0-1, 3 KOs) while Landeros sinks even deeper into the quagmire of being the guy who pads everyone else’s record.
Emmanuel Robles (left) makes his way to the ring. (top right) The 57 fight veteran, Adolfo Landeros makes his way to the ring. All photos: Jim Wyatt
(top photo, left) In the very first round, Adolfo Landeros went down. Here we see him looking up at the referee Tony Crebs hoping beyond hope he won’t rule it a knockdown.
It was a one-sided fight as Landeros (r) spent the majority of his time covering-up.
In the end, it was Emmanuel Robles (center) hearing the cheers from his loyal supporters.
Now for the biggest farce of the night. Featured in the Co-main event was Francisco “Taz” Mireles from Agua Prieta, Mexico, a guy who looks like he’d be better suited for a pie eating contest. For his last fight, Taz, who stands only 5’10” tall, weighed 235 pounds which made him around 85 pounds overweight. While getting in shape for this fight, Taz put on an additional 49 pounds. On average an adult male Panda Bear weighs 250 pounds. That meant, at this point, with Mireles weighing 284 pounds, he now outweighs most adult panda bears by 34 pounds.
Mireles’ opponent, the 2012 Olympian, 6’2” Michael Hunter from Las Vegas, NV came ready to fight at a trim 210 pounds.
Regardless of his performance, even without landing a punch and lasting just 59 seconds in the ring, Francesco “Taz” Mireles can now tell mates how he once fought Michael Hunter, the 2012 Olympian.
The matchmaker could have found himself a better and cheaper opponent if he had just canvassed our local pubs.
Smiling from ear to ear, it appears the well known hype man – Repo Ric – is enjoying his night, “Damn, I sure do love this match-up! We’re going to whoop dat ass!”
Taking note of the size of his breast, several people in the crowd wondered if the referee might require Mireles to wear a bra.
(top photo, right) Michael Hunter lands a hard right cross to Francesco Mireles’ head. The fight didn’t even last a full minute. After walking just a few steps from his corner, Hunter met Mireles and sent him back-peddling into his own corner.
In a four rounder, 20 year-old Luis Ambrosio (2-0-0, 2 KOs) of Fresno, CA made quick work of Akeenz Zamani of New Orleans by way of Tanzania, East Africa who was making his pro-debut.
The trainer who taught Zamani the fundamentals of boxing, should have his license revoked. Zamani came out swinging but with his chin high in the air. When seeing this alluring target, Ambrosio’s eyes lit up. Only Zamani’s jitter bug style made the bout last as long as it did, two minutes and 48 seconds of the first round.
(top, left to right) Akeenz Zamani of New Orleans by way of Tanzania, East Africa awaits his entrance music just prior to making his pro-debut. Zamani’s opponent on Friday night, Luis Ambrosio soon followed. Photo center shows Luis Ambrosio landing the knockout blow to Akeenz Zamani’s head. All photos: Jim Wyatt
(photo left) At the conclusion of his bout with Akeenz Zamani, Luis Ambrosio has his arm raised in victory by referee Jose Cobian. (photo right) Ambrosio is joined by his trainer from the San Ardo Boxing gym in San Ardo, CA.
The only match that had a chance of being interesting, also ended early. Super bantamweight Pablo Cupul of Lakeside, CA by way Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, known for being very competitive got caught early and repeatedly by the crushing left hand of the undefeated Carlos Carlson of Tijuana, B. C., Mexico.
Carlson, who recently signed with southern California’s Thompson Boxing Promotions, was in his first fight in the U. S. after building up his record in Mexico. At first the two stood their toe to toe pounding each other. Cupul went to the body while his opponent relied more on his boxing skills. Before long Carlson was landing these quick and potent combinations to the head and body. A hard right hurt Cupul just before the bell to end round one.
Then early in the second round, Carlson took a step back and unleashed this hard left hook that landed flush on Cupul’s chin. It appears Cupul never saw it coming and dropped straight down.
Just prior to their fight, Pablo Cupul (left) awaits his cue to enter. (below right) Carlos Carlson is shown making his entrance.
After Carlos Carlson’s left hook landed flush with Pablo Cupul face, there was no way he was going to survive the blow. He tried to come out of the fog but couldn’t. All photos: J. Wyatt
- Carlos “Memin” Carlson (l) has his arm raised in victory by referee Jose Cobian.
Carlos Carlson (center) is joined by his support group which includes the CEO of Thompson Boxing Promotions, Ken Thompson (raising Carlson’s arm) and alongside Mr. Thompson is his General Manager Alex Camponovo. All photos: Jim Wyatt
It was Carlson’s fifth straight win by knockout as he improves to 11-0-0, with 8 KOs. Cupul’s record drops to 8-13-0, 5 KOs).
(boxing notables introduced during intermission, l to r) MMA & boxing trainer Tony Martinson, Welterweight John “Motor City” Jackson from Detroit, trainer Joe Burns who with his brother Pat, trained Jermain Taylor, Jr. lightweight Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker, heavyweight Edwin Alvarez (who will make his pro-debut soon), featherweight Prince “Tiger” Smalls, Tijuana Women’s Boxing Commissioner Carlos Labastida, (behind him) trainer Vince Parra, flyweight Amaris “Diamond Girl” Quintana, (behind her) Jr. Welterweight Rafael “Pride of San Diego” Ramirez, former boxer, now trainer Jeff Mayweather, former boxer, now trainer Priest “Tiger” Smalls, Joe Soyadavich, former trainer of Orlin & Terry Norris, and finally Juan Carlos Pelayo, the President of the Tijuana Boxing Commission.
All told, the fans were treated to a total of 10 rounds of boxing. On the plus side, there were a great many celebrities on hand, the Ring Card Gals were exceptionally beautiful and after a problem with the microphone, patrons did a harmonious, easy on the ear rendition of our National Anthem.
