Results From Fantasy Springs: Flores & Chavez Draw

Super bantamweights Manuel “Gucci Manny” Flores (20-1-1, 16 KOs) and Jorge “El Niño Dorado” Chavez (14-0-1, 8 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico went the distance ten rounds in fighting to a majority draw Thursday night in headlining the Golden Boy Fight Night on DAZN from the Fantasy Springs Casino Events Center in Indio, California.

The local hometown favorite Flores was aggressive from the start backing Chavez in the opening round. Chavez boxed well switching stance from conventional to southpaw in round two as Gucci Flores kept boxing away the same pace staying persistent. In the third, Chavez had some momentum and connected Flores with a solid left to close the round. Flores was connecting with big punches as Chavez boxed landing in bunches and countering Gucci's aggressive punching style. Staying busy in the fifth, Flores pressured as Chavez continued to counter and stay busy.

In the sixth, Chavez stayed busy and continued with the counters, shortly after there appeared to be a slight clash of heads but the two continued to fight on. The seventh saw Flores keeping the pressure on staying on top of Chavez but the Mexican fighter stayed busy and effective with the counter shots. Late in the eighth, Flores continued to apply pressure with Chavez keeping his distance boxing effectively. Chavez continued to box and stay busy with Flores staying aggressive and landing the bigger punches in the ninth, Chavez connected with a counter uppercut snapping Flores's head but Gucci returned to the favor landing a hard right late in the round. It was anyone's fight heading into the tenth and final round Flores and Chavez traded away and shortly after clashed heads but continued. Flores applied the pressure as Chavez maintained a safe distance boxing as the two fighters finished strong with the sold out crowd on their feet.

In going the distance ten rounds the judges scored the bout 97-93 for Chavez, 95-95, and 95-95 as the bout is declared a majority draw.Super welterweight prospect Farid Ngoga (11-1, 6 KOs) of Glendale, Arizona handed Jordan Panthen (11-1, 9 KOs) of Hawaii his first defeat in the co-feature bout of the evening.

It was Panthen working away early on and taking it to Ngoga in the early rounds. However Ngoga brought it the second half of the fight outworking Panthen displaying the overall better conditioning as the undefeated fighter fighter appeared tired heading into the sixth round. Panthen had a surge in the seventh connecting with a flurry late in the round but Ngoga kept coming forcing the Patriot to retreat. 

Late in the fight in the eighth, Ngoga stalked as Panthen was on his back foot counter punching keeping his distance boxing. Ngoga kept the pace as Panthen was cut on the left eye in the ninth from a punch but that did not deter him as the Patriot continued working away in the last and final round. Despite bleeding Panthen held his own with Ngoga continuing to mix it up as the two fighters went the distance ten rounds.  

In going the distance the judges scored the bout 97-93, 96-94, and 95-95 as Ngoga pulls of the majority decision.

Grant Flores Gets Early Stoppage

Coachella Valley’s undefeated super welterweight prospect Grant Flores (11-0, 9 KOs) stopped Todd Manuel (23-24-1, 7 KO’s) of Louisiana in two. After completing one round, the fight was stopped to start the second round as Manuel could not continue due to a hand injury.

Griffiths Scores Spectacular KO

Local welterweight Cayden Griffiths (6-0, 6 KOs) from Indio scored a spectacular fourth round knockout over David Ramirez (18-6, 13 KOs) of Costa Rica. It was a study out round for Griffiths, pawing with the jab boxing away and in the closing seconds of the round Griffiths connected with a combination to close. Exchanging inside to start round two, Griffiths displayed superior hand speed and got the better of the exchanges. Continuing to rip on the inside in round three, Griffiths continued to attack to body but Ramirez kept coming despite being on the receiving end of Griffiths attack. A hard crunching left hook to the body in the fourth did it as Griffiths sent Ramirez to the canvas, referee Thomas Taylor reached a ten count at 1:54 of the fourth.

Leonardo Sanchez Stops Valdez in 4

Local featherweight, Cathedral City’s Leonardo Sanchez (9-0, 7 KOs) had solid performance scoring a fourth round stoppage over Abraham Valdez (14-2, 9 KO’s) of Tecate, Mexico. The fight started off at a fast pace and in round two Sanchez began digging downstairs with hard body shots and backing Valdez with thudding shots. Coming out strong for the third, Sanchez attacked and connected Valdez with a hard left and continued to connect solidly throughout the round. Sanchez continued his relentless attack in the fourth, the hard left found its mark once again staggering Valdez to the corner as Sanchez followed up with his attack referee Ray Corona stepped in to stop the fight at 2:16 of the fourth.

Fabian Guzman Gets the Win

Opening up the Golden Boy on DAZN stream Orange, California middleweight Fabian Guzman (8-0, 7 KOs) went the distance for the first time in his career winning a unanimous decision over Brian Arregui (11-6, 7 KO’s) of Argentina. Starting off slow, Guzman and Arregui felt each other sizing up and working off the jab early in the fight. Guzman was warned by the referee in round three for holding Arregui’s head down. Beginning to press in the fourth, Guzman picked up the pace and started to let his hands go, firing away at Arregui.

Guzman stepped up his offense the second half of the fight taking it to Arregui in the fifth working the body. Working patiently and picking his shots, Guzman was efficient in the sixth and kept the pressure as the Argentinian was cut. Sticking the plan boxing disciplined, Guzman stayed effective in the seventh keeping Arregui limited and backing him up with the offense. Fighting conservatively in the eighth and final round, Guzman boxed working the jab, keeping his distance, and staying busy in route to the decision win. Upon completing eight rounds the judges scored the bout 80-72, 79-73, and 78-74.

Other Bouts

Indio lightweight prospect Bryan Lua (10-0-1, 5 KOs) and Colombia’s Kevin Piedrahita (10-3-1, 9 KO’s) slugged it out in going the distance in an eight round brawl that was declared a draw. Lua seemed to be having a good early first half boxing away but Piedrahita stalked and kept the pressure. The Colombian began closing in the second half of the fight with consistent pressure and staying close inside.

The undefeated prospect Lua was bleeding profusely in the middle rounds but kept mixing it up with tough Piedrahita. Piedrahita stayed busy and kept bringing it in the sixth as he had Lua on his toes staying busy. Late in the fight in the seventh, Lua and Piedrahita stayed busy inside as the Colombian continued to pour it on, the undefeated prospect also held his own despite suffering a cut on his cheek. Coming out aggressive for the eighth and final round, Piedrahita kept coming as Lua kept mixing it up. The hometown fighter was cut and continued to bleed with Piedrahita still up on Lua. Fighting on, Lua and Piedrahita finished strong up to the final bell. After completing eight rounds the judges scored the bout 78-74, 76-76, and 76-76 a majority draw.

Welterweight Javier Meza (4-0, 2 KOs) of Amarillo, Texas, won a hard fought unanimous decision over Cesar Villaraga (11-13-1, 5 KO’s) of Bogota, Colombia in opening things up at the Fantasy Springs Casino Events Center in Indio, California. Meza got started early on fighting aggressively and connecting with a low blow in the second. Meza kept pressing as the savvy Colombian mixed it up with the young prospect. There appeared to be some slight swelling on Meza left eye in the fifth as Villaraga kept fighting on challenging the young fighter. The sixth and final round Meza and Villaraga traded to the final bell as the young prospect earned the victory against the experienced Villaraga. After six rounds the judges scored the bout 60-54, 60-54, and 59-55.