In what was a definite fight of the year candidate Mexican warriors went to battle as WBC super featherweight champion Francisco "El Bandido" Vargas of Mexico City and former three-time world champion Orlando "Siri" Salido of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, went toe to toe at the Stub Hub Center in Carson, California on HBO Boxing After Dark.
The two started off trading away in the opening as Vargas connected Salido with a straight right and then went at it. Vargas went to the body in round two with Salido going forward Vargas backed him to the ropes then the two continued to trade. The action continued in round three as they traded with Salido landing a huge right on Vargas. Round four was all toe to toe as Salido jumped on top of Vargas they traded inside.
Vargas had Salido against the ropes in round five as they continued to trade away. At the halfway point in round six a short right hand by Vargas staggered Salido as Vargas pressured but the veteran fought on trading away. In the seventh Salido had a good round as he tagged Vargas early on with a combination inside. A right hand momentarily hurt Vargas with a looping right in the eighth round Salido kept the pressure landing it continuously as the champ continued to stand and trade.
Round nine saw the two trading inside with Vargas connecting with uppercuts as Salido fired back. Fighting on the inside Salido slipped as they continued to go toe to toe in round ten exchanging big punches. Heading into the championship rounds the trading continued with a bloodied Vargas backing Salido to the ropes in the final minute of the eleventh round. The twelve and final round with Vargas bleeding from his cut him and Salido continued to brawl going bombs away fighting it out to the final bell.
Scores were 115-113, 114-114, and 114-114 as the bout was declared a draw. Francisco Vargas retains his WBC super featherweight title as he stays undefeated at 23-0-2, 17 KO's. Orlando Salido as always gives his all and goes to 43-13-4, 30 KO's.
Lopez Decisions Ramirez
Southern California featherweights Julian "Camaron" Ramirez (16-0, 8 KO's) of East Los Angeles and La Puente's Abraham 'Chamaco" Lopez (20-0-1, 15 KO's) squared off as they made their HBO debut opening up the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast. Lopez boxed keeping his distance in the opening round later in the round Ramirez connected with a solid left. In round two Ramirez and Lopez traded away as Ramirez closed the round strong. The southpaw Ramirez landed the straight left solidly on Lopez in round three. Continuing to trade in round 4 Ramirez and Lopez threw lots of punches.
In round five Ramirez landed the solid straight left once again on Lopez. A clash of heads caused a cut above Ramirez's right eye in round six as he pressured Lopez most of round six. Lopez circled away with Ramirez continuing to go forward in round seven as the cut appeared to be bothering Ramirez. Fighting on the inside in round eight Lopez and Ramirez traded despite Ramirez being cut he continued to press. Lopez continued to circle the ring popping the jab with Ramirez applying the pressure in round nine later in the round Lopez connected solidly. The final round saw the two not holding back as they went toe to toe inside to the final bell.
In the end the judges scored the bout 97-93, 97-93, and 98-92 in favor Abraham Lopez as the crowd was not pleased. Abraham Lopez stays undefeated 22-0-1, 15 KO's.
Rosado Edges Gutierrez
In a middleweight showdown Philadelphia's Gabriel Rosado and Tijuana's Antonio Gutierrez battled it out in a scheduled ten round bout. Trading away in the early rounds Rosado was down in the fourth round from a Gutierrez . Rosado tough as always fought on standing and trading with Gutierrez.
Past the halfway point in round seven Rosado boxed landing big as the Mexican pressed forward. In round eight Rosado looked tired as Gutierrez pressured the Philadelphia fighter. The final two rounds saw Mexican and Rosado step up the pace as the fight was close with Rosado cut on the side of his head Gutierrez pressured staggering Rosado in the final seconds. In the end the judges scored the bout 95-94, 95-94, and 96-93.
Rosado improves to 23-9, 13 KO's as Gutierrez goes to 20-2-1, 9 KO's.
Other Bouts
Undefeated lightweight Christian "Chimpa" Gonzalez and Jhon Gemino of the Philippines went the distance in a scheduled eight round bout. The taller Gonzalez used his jab and kept his distance from Gemino in the opening round. Gonzalez pummeled Gemino to the ropes in round two unloading his attack. Stalking in round three Gonzalez controlled Gemino with the jab following up with big shots but the Filipino stood his ground trading away. The fourth round saw Gonzalez walk through Gemino continuing to press forward as he landed solid punches.
Halfway through in round five Gonzalez and Gemino traded with Chimpa getting the better of the exchange. Fighting on the inside in round six Gonzalez worked Gemino with hooks and uppercuts. Going seven rounds for the first time in his career Gonzalez worked patiently mixing it up with the jab and inside. The eighth and final round Gonalez finish strong to a decision win as Gemino held his own. Judges scored the bout 80-72, 80-72, and 79-71.
Chimpa Gonzalez stays undefeated as a prospect improving to 14-0, 12 KO's. Jhon Gemino goes to 12-7-1, 5 KO's.
East LA's Jonathan Navarro stopped Marc Torres of McAllen, Texas in two in a scheduled six round super featherweight bout. Going toe to toe in the opening round a barrage of punches sent Torres to the canvas. A left uppercut by Navarro in round two dropped Torres for a second time as referee Jack Reiss waived the bout at 1:21.
Jonathan Navarro with the win goes to 6-0, 5 KO's. Marc Torres 4-2, 1 KO.
Local favorite Nick Arce dominated Francisco Dominguez of Mexico in front of his fans that packed the house in a scheduled six round super featherweight bout. Arce teed off on Dominguez in the early rounds. Later in the fight Arce mixed it up boxing well keeping his distance as he cruised to an easy decision win as all three judges scored the bout 60-54.
Nick Arce stays undefeated improving to 8-0, 6 KO's. Francisco Dominguez 8-10, 2 KO's.
Santa Ana's Alexis Rocha won a unanimous decision over Anthony Woods of Las Vegas in a scheduled four round super welterweight bout. The southpaw Rocha outworked Woods hitting him with solid shots throughout the fight.in route to the decision win. All three judges scored the fight 40-36.
Alexis Rocha improves to 3-0, 2 KO's. Anthony Woods goes to 0-5.
San Diego lightweight Genaro Gamez made quick work of Juan Bryand of Laredo, Texas in a scheduled four round bout. A left hook to the body crunched Bryand as he took a knee referee Jack Reiss reached a ten count at 1:36 of the first round.
Genaro Gamez stays perfect improving to 2-0, 2 KO's. Juan Bryand goes to 1-4.
In the opening bout from the Stub Hub Center in Carson, California Mexican lightweight Oscar Duarte won a unanimous decision over Luis Lizarraga in a scheduled four round bout. Duarte closed string knocking down Lizarraga in the final round. All three judges scored the bout 40-35.
Oscar Duarte stays undefeated improving to 5-0, 2 KO's. Luis Lizarraga goes to 5-9-1, 2 KO's.