Photos by Mikey Williams/Top Rank
WBO featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete (35-1, 29 KOs) scored a hard fought twelve round unanimous decision over Joet Gonzalez (24-2, 14 KOs) on Friday night at the Pechanga Arena, in San Diego, California. Brutal fight, Navarrete just had too much firepower and busted up the very game Gonzalez. Scores were 118-110, 116-112, 116-112.
The action began right away as Navarrete and Gonzalez exchanged in the opening round. Navarrete attacked connecting with a left hook as Gonzalez suffered a nasty cut underneath his right eye above the cheek in round three. The champ boxed and targeted Gonzalez’s cut in round four following up with big shots, despite the cut Gonzalez kept coming.
Gonzalez’s eye got nastier heading into the fifth, Navarrete attacked. In the sixth, Gonzalez was the one attacking as Navarrete countered. The eye kept getting worse for Gonzalez in the seventh, but he kept fighting on, momentarily staggering Navarrete but the champ’s offensive power was too much as he kept connecting Gonzalez. Navarrete tripped to start the eighth as he jabbed away, Gonzalez attacked pressuring the champ as the two finished the round trading.
The pressure continued from Gonzalez in the ninth as he kept coming, Navarrete stood in there mixing it up in a non-stop round. Off to a wild start in the tenth, Gonzalez hit Navarrete with a low blow as the referee Ray Corona issued a warning, the two continued to trade away as Gonzalez with his face grotesque kept coming. The championship rounds were all offense, Navarrete let his hands go but Gonzalez was taking not taking no for an answer kept coming. The twelfth and final round, Gonzalez stalked as Navarrete threw bombs, neither fighter took a step back as everyone was on their feet for the final bell.
Unbeaten welterweight Giovani Santillan (28-0, 15 KOs) returned with a ten round unanimous decision over Angel Ruiz (17-2, 12 KOs) in the Navarrete-Gonzalez co-feature on Friday night at the Pechanga Aren, San Diego, California. Ruiz injured his left hand early on and was a one-handed fighter for most the fight. Scores were 99-91, 100-90, 100-90.
Ruiz connected Santillan with an uppercut early in the first round. Santillan responded in round two with a flurry as he tagged Ruiz, the fight continued inside as Santillan, and Ruiz closed the round exchanging. In the third, Santillan backed Ruiz to the ropes and attacked with combinations, but Ruiz did not hold back. Ruiz began attacking the body in round four, but Santillan stood close and landed a huge uppercut, continuing to work solidly on the inside. The fight continued inside as both southpaws exchanged, Santillan pinned Ruiz up against the ropes.
Halfway through in the sixth, Santillan continued to keep Ruiz on the ropes and continued to score with the uppercut. Letting his hands go in the seventh, Santillan kept Ruiz on the ropes connecting solidly inside. Ruiz began to stay away and keep his distance late in the fight in the eighth as he circled, Santillan pressed pinning Ruiz up against the ropes. Stalking in round nine, Santillan kept backing Ruiz, but Ruiz fought well of the ropes. The tenth and final round, Santillan pressured as Ruiz popped the jab and appeared tired as the San Diego fighter finished strong for his hometown.
Puerto Rican super featherweight Henry Lebron (14-0, 9 KO’s) won a unanimous decision over Manuel Rey Rojas (21-6, 6 KO’s) of Dallas. Boxing away, Lebron kept his distance early shooting the jab as Rojas pressured. Things got a little rough in round three, as Lebron held Rojas in a headlock towards the corner, referee issued a warning. Continuing to box, Lebron connected solidly on the inside as he backed Rojas to the ropes. The right hand found its mark as Rojas had redness on his left eye. Lebron boxed throughout the fight countering effectively. It was all Lebron as Rojas was bloodied up in closing. All three judges scored the bout 80-72.
Junior welterweight Lindolfo Delgado (14-0, 12 KO’s) won a hard-earned unanimous decision over Juan Garcia Mendez (21-5-2, 13 KO’s). Delgado boxed smoothly in the early rounds, connecting with solid punches as Mendez displayed toughness. It was a tough scrap with Delgado keeping his distance. A combination by Delgado dropped Mendez in the eighth and final round as Delgado earned the decision win. All three judges scored the bout 80-71.
Milwaukee middleweight prospect Javier Martinez (5-0, 2 KO’s) dominated Darryl Jones (4-3-1, 2 KO’s) in winning a unanimous decision. Martinez began aggressively in the opening round ripping away to the body. In round two, Martinez followed upstairs with big punches. Continuing to attack, Martinez pounded away on Jones throughout the fight, credit to Jones for taking the punches. Jones had a moment in the final round, attacking and backing Martinez. It was entertaining final round as the crowd was on excited. 60-54, 60-53, and 60-53.
In a clash of unbeaten 18-year-old bantamweights, Floyd Diaz (3-0, 0 KOs) won a dominant four round unanimous decision over Jose Ramirez (1-1, 1 KO). Scores were 39-36, 40-35, 40-35. Diaz dropped Ramirez in the first round.
In the opening bout from 6’9 heavyweight Antonio Mireles won his pro debut by first round KO over 314lb Demonte Randle (2-2, 2 KOs). Randle was down three times. Time was 2:07.
Follow Miguel on Twitter @MigMaravilla
Comments