IBF lightweight champion Richard Commey (29-2, 26 KOs) of Ghana stopped Ray Beltran (36-9-1, 22 KOs) of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico in the ninth round Friday night in the ESPN main event at the Pechanga Casino in Temecula, California. Commey sent Beltran to the canvas early in the opening round. Beltran was down on the ropes and knockdown a second time and made it out of the first round. Standing and trading Beltran and Commey had the crowd on their feet. However in the fifth Beltran was down a third time as Commey looked well on his way to closing the veteran former world champion. The second half of the fight saw Commey closing in on the stoppage as a left by the African fighter floored Beltran for the fourth time. Beltran was up but the referee stopped the fight.
Commey:
"Beltran showed why he he was a champion. He's a great fighter who showed it against me tonight. I was happy to get the job done and defend my title for the first time."
"It looks like Teofimo Lopez is next, but he has a job to do first. That would be a great fight."
Beltran
"He caught me with a good shot in the ninth round, and the referee decided to stop the fight. Now I am going to get together with my team and figure out what's next. If I fight on, I will move up to 140 pounds."
“That was a great performance by Commey, who showed why he is a great champion. Beltran showed courage and resiliency. Teofimo Lopez has a job to do against Nakatani on July 19, and if he takes care of business, Teofimo will challenge Commey for the title in what will be a tremendous fight," Promoter Bob Arum said.
Super welterweights Dominican Republic's Carlos Adames (18-0, 14 KOs) won a unanimous decision over Patrick Day (17-3-1, 6 KOs) of New York. Off to a slow start Adames landed the bigger punches early as Day kept his distance boxing away. Adames put the pressure and continued to land the solid shots backing Day through most of the fight. Late in the fight Adames hit Day with some big power punches. Admaes finished strong as he had Day going in the final minute of the fight. Day was saved by the bell as the two made it to the distance. After ten rounds the judges scored the fight 98-91, 97-93, and 97-93.
“Tonight was about getting work in. I listened to my coach, Robert Garcia. This was my second fight with him, and it was about getting good rounds, and we did that. In the 10th round, he told me he was ready to go. If I had one more minute, I think I would’ve finished him, but in the end, I think it was a very good performance on my behalf.” Adames said after his win.
“I dedicate this fight to ‘Big Papi,’ David Ortiz. I’m Dominican. He’s Dominican. We love each other. No matter what happens, if there’s violence, we stand together. I represent the Dominican Republic with a lot of pride. Anybody who steps into the ring with this Dominican fighter is going to go out.” Adames added.
Other Bouts
Ruben Rodriguez of Indio, California (7-0, 2 KOs) won a unanimous decision over Vicente Morales (2-3-2, 1 KO) of Mexico.
Heavyweight Junior Fa (18-0, 10 KOs) of New Zealand _veteran Dominick Guinn (37-13-1, 26 KOs).
Lightweight Raymond Muratalla (8-0, 6 KOs) of Fontana, California stopped Agustine Mauras (6-6-3, 3 KOs) in one. Muratalla did not waste any time as he send Mauras to the canvas early in the first round. Mauras was up and made it through the round. However, Mauras could not continue as the referee waived the bout at the end of one.
Elvis Rodriguez (2-0-1) and Joaquin Chavez (9-18-3, 2 KOs) of Commerce fought to a technical draw as Chavez suffered a nasty cut on the head from a clash of heads in the opening round. Chavez was unable to continue as he bled profusely.
Super featherweight Miguel Angel Gonzalez (25-4, 22 KOs) of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico scored the upset knocking out Jose "Neno" Rodriguez in (23-1, 17 KOs) Gonzalez got things started as he dropped Rodriguez with a huge left hook in the opening seconds of the fight and continued to tag him with solid punches. After Rodriguez landed a solid right hand, Gonzalez returned the favor connecting with a solid left hook and knocking out Rodriguez cold as the referee immediately waived the fight at 1:23 of the third.
Long Beach's Chritopher Zavala (4-0, 2 KOs) won a unanimous decisio over Prisco Marquez (4-0-1, 1 KO) of Austin in a super featherweight bout. All three judges scored the bout 60-54.
Making his pro debut lightweight Dmitry Yun (1-0) of Azerbaijan won a unanimous decision over Jose Antonio Meza (6-4, 1 KO). Yun displayed hand speed as Meza had a point deducted. The judges scored the bout 39-36.
In the opening bout from Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California middleweight David Kaminsky (5-0, 2 KOs) of Los Angeles by way of Israel won a hard fought unanimous decision over Osbaldo Gonzalez (6-5, 4 KOs) of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Boxing patiently, Kaminsky measured Gonzalez with the jab and followed up with the straight left much of the fight. Ripping to the body, Kaminsky looked to finish off a busted up Gonzalez. Kaminsky had to work as Gonzalez gave him all he can handle in going the distance. All three judges scored the bout 40-36.
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