Super featherweight Nicaragua’s Rene Alvarado pulled out a split decision Friday night over Jayson Velez of Puerto Rico at the Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino Events Center in Indio, California. Velez used his reach in the opening round using the jab keeping Alvarado away. Keeping his distance in round two Velez pumped the jab as Alvarado worked his way in aggressively. In round three Velez continued to stick with the jab and box as Alvarado landed a short right. Swinging away wildly in round four Alvarado caught the taller Velez off balance.
At the halfway point in round five Velez and Alvarado fought on the inside. Past the halfway mark in round six Alvarado began to come on backing Velez. Trading away inside in round seven Velez abandoned his reach advantage as Alvarado got the better of the exchange. In round eight the Nicaraguan took it to Velez as Alvarado smothered and kept Velez at close range. Chasing away in round nine Alvarado displayed aggression as Velez kept his distance. The tenth and final round Alvarado came out strong connecting Velez with a left hook, the Puerto Rican stood at close range trading as both closed strong.
In the end the judges saw it 96-94, 96-94, 97-93 as Rene Alvarado pulls of a split decision Alvarado improves to 24-7, 16 KO's as Jayson Velez goes to 23-3-1, 16 KO's.
Undefeated welterweight prospect Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis of Boston and Puerto Rico’s Luis Hernandez squared off in the co main event. Ellis circled the ring in the opening round as Hernandez chased to start off. In round two Ellis let his hands loose unloading fast combinations as Hernandez pressed forward. Exchanging left hooks in the center of the ring in round three Ellis and Hernandez traded away. The following round Hernandez knocked down Ellis with a huge left hook as he backed Ellis up throughout the round.
Hernandez stalked Ellis in round five as Ellis punched and moved. In round six Hernandez continued to chase the slick boxer with big punches. Round seven saw Hernandez continue to be the aggressor with Ellis boxing. The eighth and final round Ellis kept Hernandez at bay with the jab but the Puerto Rican continued to be aggressor as they traded away in the final seconds of the fight.
All three judges scored the bout 78-73 as Ellis stays undefeated improving to 16-0, as Luis Hernandez goes to 12-2, 7 KO's.
Making his pro debut Cesar Diaz of Palmdale stopped Isau Duenez in three rounds in a scheduled four round super bantamweight bout opening up the Estrella TV telecast. A straight right by Diaz in the opening round starting things as he attacked Duenez connecting with right uppercuts throughout the round. Diaz continued to pummel Duenez in round two, it appeared that Duenez was done but came out to fight in round three as the debuting Diaz continued to attack, referee stopped the fight at 1:55.
Cesar Diaz wins his debut as he now stands at 1-0, 1 KO.
Armenian super bantamweight Azat Hovhannisyan stopped Mario Ayala in five rounds in a scheduled six round bout. Hovhannisyan charged Ayala in the opening round staying on top of him landing big punches. Continuing to attack in round three Hovhannisyan tagged Ayala solidly and closed the round landing a huge overhand right. The Armenian landed a huge uppercut in round three and continued to pound Ayala. The fourth round saw Hovhannisyan continue to have his way but Ayala held his own. A right hand by Hovhannisyan in round five sent Ayala to the canvas as he got up but the Armenian continued to attack as referee Ray Corona stepped in to stop the fight at 2:18.
Hovhannisyan improves to 9-2, 8 KO's as Mario Ayala goes to 4-3-1, 1 KO.
Lightweight Marco Magdaleno of Las Vegas won a unanimous decision over Hugo Padilla in a scheduled four round bout. Magdaleno was the aggressor from the opening bell as connected Padilla with body shots. Mixing it up in the second half of the fight, the southpaw Magdaleno boxed working Padilla in route to a decision win.
The judges scored the bout 40-36, 40-36, and 39-37 as Marco Magdaleno stays undefeated improving to 4-0, 2 KO's. Hugo Padilla goes to 3-7, 2 KO's.
In the opening bout from the Fantasy Springs Events Center, Jhon Leon of Bogota, Colombia won his pro debut with a stoppage over Jose Luis Huerta in a scheduled four round welterweight bout. Leon hurt Huerta with a shot to the head as Huerta was hurt and could not continue the referee waived the bout at 2:12.
Jhon Leon now stands at 1-0. 1 KO. Huerta goes to 0-1-1.
In attendance at ringside was former world champion Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard as he met with fans. Also at ringside was undefeated featherweight Joseph "Jo Jo" Diaz Jr.
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