The War Grounds in Carson, California lived up to the moniker once as Jose “Chon” Zepeda (35-3, 27 KOs) of La Puente, California, and number two contender Regis Prograis (28-1, 23 KOs) of New Orleans, Louisiana battled it out Saturday night for the vacant WBC super lightweight title at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Neither wasted no time Prograis and Zepeda landed the stiff jab later in the round, Zepeda connected with a solid left. Prograis stuck the jab as Zepeda countered to start the second, as the fight appeared to be a fast paced chess match. Swinging wildly to begin the third, Prograis connected as Zepeda exchanged, the round got better with Prograis and Zepeda trading heavy leather. Jabbing away, Zepeda and Prograis retreated as both worked patiently off the jab but shortly after got into a heated exchange, Zepeda suffered a cut on right eye.
Prograis attacked and targeted Zepeda's cut in round five, later in the round Zepeda connected with a huge left hook to the liver and shortly after followed up with a big left hook upstairs. At the halfway point in the sixth, Prograis nose was busted as Zepeda boxed and popped the jab. Halfway through, in the seventh Prograis and Zepeda stuck the jab but neither shied away towards the end of the round letting their hands go. Working off the jab, Zepeda and Prograis appeared to be waiting to unload as they patiently waited for the right moment, in the final seconds of the round they unloaded.
On the offensive in the ninth, Prograis appeared poised and busy letting the jab go, popping Zepeda and following up with power shots as he backed and pinned up Zepeda but Zepeda did not hold back in closing the round. Late in the tenth, Prograis attacked and went right at a fading Zepeda but that did not keep Zepeda from fighting as he stood in and exchanged with Prograis drawing everyone in attendance to their feet. However, Prograis closed the show as he attacked and backed Zepeda to the ropes, chopping him down as referee Ray Corona stepped in to stop the fight at 59 seconds of the eleventh.
Prograis wins the vacant WBC super lightweight title and now becomes a two-time world champion.
Unified IBF minimum weight world champion Yokasta ‘Yoka’ Valle (27-2, 9 KO’s) of Costa Rica won a majority decision over WBO world champion Evelyn ‘La Princesita’ Bermudez (17-1-1, 6 KO’s) from Argentina in the co-feature bout. Coming out aggressive from the opening bell, Valle didn't hesitate, taking it to Bermudez. Valle attacked on the inside in the second as Bermudez boxed from a distance outside, Connecting with combinations in round three Valle took it to Bermudez as she kept coming. In the fourth, Valle and Bermudez traded away to close the round as the crowd was on their feet.
Landing crisp and getting extension, Valle controlled in the fifth as she outworked Bermudez who continued to fight back. Valle was non-stop continuing to go at Bermudez in the sixth, fighting smart and aggressive. In the seventh, Valle connected solidly and continued to dictate the pace. Yoka continued to box effectively through eight rounds as Bermudez stood her ground. Late in the ninth round, Valle cornered Bermudez and kept working. The tenth, and final round Valle appeared to be in control timing Bermudez and connecting with good punches as she was well on her way to the decision.
The judges scored the fight 99-91, 97-93, and 95-95o as Yoka Valle wins a majority decision with the win Valle captures the WBO title
2021 super heavyweight gold medalist Bakhodir ‘The Big Uzbek’ Jalolov (12-0, 12 KO’s) of Uzkbekistan continued to build his record in scoring a fourth round stoppage over Curtis Harper (14-9, 9 KO’s). Jalolov started slow and pumped the jab as he kept Harper at bay in the opening round. The jab continued to land for Jalolov, things got rough as Harper was hitting on the break and attempted to hit Jalolov behind the head but referee Thomas Taylor stopped and issued a warning to Harper. In the third Jalolov appeared to let loose as he unloaded the left, a huge straight left in the closing seconds of the third sent Harper to the canvas as he was up to finish the round. The straight left continued to find its mark for Jalolov as he tagged Harper early on in the fourth, Jalolov dropped Harper with a series of punches as he was up on his feet but referee Thomas Taylor waived the contest. (Note sound was not on as there was a malfunction during the official time/announcement).
Undefeated junior middleweight Charles ‘Bad News’ Conwell (18-0, 13 KO’s) of Cleveland won a majority decision over the Dominican Republic’s Juan Carlos Abreu (25-7-1, KOs) in a WBC title eliminator. Conwell suffered a nasty gash on his left eye as he bled profusely. The blood continued to flow from Conwell's cut in round two as his vision appeared to be affected, Abreu landed some hard right hands in targeting the cut. Abreu stood close to Conwell in round three, leading with his head and making difficult as Conwell's cut got worse with the bleeding. In the fourth, Conwell pressed but continued to bleed from the cut on his eye, Abreu stayed inside leading with his head. Conwell had a good moment in the fifth connecting with a solid combination but the cut continued to open up as Conwell finished the round bleeding from the cut on his left eye.
Trickling blood from the left eye once again in the sixth, Conwell connected with a solid right that stopped Abreu's momentum. In the seventh, the blood continued to flow but Conwell connected with a shot to the body that appeared to bother Abreu, stopping his momentum to close the round. Fighting on despite the cut and blood, Conwell stood in the pocket mixing it up with the hard hitting Abreu that brought everything he had. Late in the fight in the ninth, the momentum appeared to be shifting in Conwell's favor as Abreu looked tired but the blood continued to flow from Conwell's nasty cut on his left eye. The tenth and final round, Abreu pressed and stood inside as Conwell countered despite the blood flowing from the cut suffered early on in the fight.
After completing ten rounds in going the distance the judges scored the fight 98-92, 96-94, and 95-95 as Charles Conwell pulls off the decision.
Living legend Fernando Vargas’s other son was also in action as junior middleweight Fernando ‘EL Feroz’ Vargas Jr.(7-0, 7 KO's) scored spectacular knockout over Alejandro Martinez, (3-3-1, 2 KOs). Vargas picked his shots early on in the opening round, connecting Martinez. In the second, Vargas drilled Martinez sending him to the canvas twice and forcing referee Ray Corona to immediately waive the bout at 2:40 of the second.
Super bantamweight Nathan Rodriguez, (10-0, 7 KOs) of nearby Pico Rivera, California won a hard fought unanimous decision over a tough and durable Jerson Ortiz (17-6, 8 KO’s) from Nicaragua in going the distance eight rounds. Off to a slow start in the first, Ortiz made it a rough fight in the second as Rodriguez showed composure and boxed. After a vicious exchange, Rodriguez dropped Ortiz in the third as he was up but Rodriguez dropped him a second time. Continuing to fight, a barrage of punches by Rodriguez appeared to have Ortiz finished but the Nicaraguan fought on. Ortiz urged Rodriguez to fight on in the fourth as the two had a brief exchange.
Past the halfway mark in the fifth, Rodriguez boxed with Ortiz wanting to make it a street fight. Rodriguez continued to show the superior skill in the sixth but that did not keep the tough Ortiz from fighting, landing a solid right backing Rodriguez. Ortiz landed a low blow in the seventh as referee Jack Reiss warned him, Rodriguez kept boxing. The eighth and final round, Ortiz pressed as Rodriguez stuck to the plan boxing away and working his way to the decision win.
In the end after completing eight rounds the judges scored the bout 80-70, 79-71, & 79-71.
Lightweight Eduardo Estela (14-1, 9 KO’s) of Uruguay handed South Central LA’s Ruben ‘Ace’ Torres, (19-1, 16 KOs) his first defeat in winning a unanimous decision. Estela got things started roughing up backing Torres to the ropes and scoring a knockdown as Torres’s was staggered forcing his glove to touch the ropes. Torres boxed away sticking the jab as Estela stalked early in the fight. Continuing to fight from a distance and box, Torres peppered away with the jab as Estela pressured.
In the sixth, Estela kept the pressure on as he backed Torres to the ropes. There was no doubt, Torres was in for a big test as Estela continued to bring it. Estela attacked and backed Torres in the seventh with a series of punches, but the hometown fighter kept boxing holding his own against the aggressor. The eighth and final round Estela kept coming, with Torres sticking the jab and staying in the pocket in what was a highly competitive bout from the opening to final bell.
After completing eight rounds the judges scored the bout 78-73 for Estela, 76-75 for Torres, 76-75 for Estela as the knockdown in the opening round made the difference.
Son of legend, Fernando Vargas was in action Amado ‘EL Malvado’ Vargas (5-0, 2 KO’s) of Las Vegas, going four rounds with Osmar Olmos Hernandez (1-2) in a featherweight bout. Vargas dropped Hernandez in the opening round and continued to attack. Displaying his aggression throughout the fight, Vargas fought like his father showing offense, heart, and toughness in route to a unanimous decision win. The judges scored the bout 39-35, 38-36, and 38-36.
Super featherweight Austin Brooks (9-0, 3 KO’s) of La Mesa, California stopped Jesus Roman (8-6, 3 KO’s) in three. Brooks floored Roman near the end of the third as the referee Jerry Cantu waived the bout at 2:03 of the third round.
Middleweight Eric Priest (9-0, 7 KO’s) of Los Angeles made quick work of Luis Vera from Argentina. Priest finished off Vera at 1:45 of the first round.
In the opening bout from the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California Jacob MaCalolooy (4-0, 3 KO’s) of San Diego scored a second-round knockout over Terrance Jarmon (3-2, 1 KO). MaCalolooy knocked down Jarmon as the referee reached a ten count at 1:02 of the second round.