Glendale “Fight Night” Results

08/10/2014 Michael Montero

Top Rank and Bash Boxing put on another fun card from their “Fight Night” series tonight in Glendale, California; featuring ten 4-8 round bouts between up and coming prospects. The main event and co-feature were broadcast live on UniMás; with former super bantamweight champ Israel Vasquez doing guest commentary. Results below.

Joe Felix Jr. 26-1-1 (21KO) vs. Alejandro Rodriguez 21-14 (12KO)
Super Featherweights, 8 rounds

The UniMás main event between two Mexican natives was a bit of a let down after the great opener. Things started slowly as both fighters attempted to feel each other out while not taking any risks. Rodriguez moved forward and Felix Jr. tried to counter. In the third round Rodriguez was bleeding from his nose, no doubt the result from those counter shots. By the fourth round the nose was bleeding badly and appeared broken. No doubt Felix Jr. was the harder puncher, as his shots were doing more damage as the rounds progressed. Rodriguez continued to stalk but seemed late to the punch in every exchange. Felix Jr. always got off first, while moving his feet and remaining defensively responsible.

continue

Canelo vs Lara: Post Fight Press Conference

09/15/201607/14/2014 Michael Montero

Only minutes after thrilling a sellout crowd of 14.239 raucous fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Erislandy Lara and Saul Alvarez came to the media room to answer questions from the press and reflect on their highly competitive bout. Team Canelo showed up first, as Lara was getting his eye stitched up in the dressing room. Alvarez donned dark sunglasses to conceal the swelling around his own eyes, courtesy of the straight lefts Lara connected with throughout their fight.

“We knew it was going to be that type of fight (chasing Lara around the ring), I was going to be pressing him”, said Canelo. “But I didn’t think it was going to be that long of a marathon”. When asked about whether his corner ever told him he was behind at any point in the fight, he replied, “No they never told me that. They kept telling me to keep the pressure. I felt that I won, I pressured, I made the fight, I ran to him, I landed the combinations.”

continue

Canelo defeats Lara via split decision

07/13/201407/13/2014 Michael Montero

A sellout crowd of 14.239 passionate fans rocked the MGM Grand Garden Arena for tonight’s main event. It was a mostly Mexican, pro Saul “Canelo” Alvarez crowd that came to cheer their man on as he took on the highly skilled Cuban southpaw Erislandy Lara.

The scene was tense in the opening round. Lara landed the first solid blow of the night, a straight left hand right down the pike that drew an “ahh” from the crowd. The Cuban was more active and more accurate and clearly took the first.

Through the second round Alvarez dug some nice lefts hook to the body, but the jab was nonexistent from the Mexican. Both fighters had their moments, but the Mexican’s shots were much harder. You could hear the thud from Canelo’s punches ringside, while Lara did a lot of running. In the closing seconds of the third round Lara landed another flush straight left. Alvarez walked through it, but the speed difference was telling.

continue

Showtime PPV Results: Vargas blasts out JuanMa Lopez!

07/13/201407/12/2014 Michael Montero

Fight number two of Showtime’s PPV broadcast was a classic boxing adage of youth versus experience. Even though the two combatants were close in age, Juan Manuel Lopez turned 31 last month and Francisco Vargas is 29 years old, the former champion Lopez has been in numerous ring wars over the years and the undefeated Vargas hasn’t taken much punishment in his 20 pro bouts. Would championship experience reign victorious, or would the fresher, stronger fighter have his way?

These two wasted no time and immediately went to work in the opening round. The crowd was into it right away as both men threw haymakers; yet it was the Mexican Vargas who got the better of it. The same scenario played out in the second round as Lopez was caught clean several times. Although the veteran never stopped punching, it was clear that the shots he was taking were affecting him.

continue

Showtime PPV Results: Mares beats Oquendo

07/13/201407/12/2014 Michael Montero

The crowd had filled in by the start of the third bout of Showtime’s PPV broadcast, as Mexican Abner Mares made his return to the ring after almost a year off against Puerto Rican Jonathan Oquendo. The last time we saw Mares in the right was last August at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, were he was stopped in the first round by veteran Johnny Gonzalez.

The “Mexico, Mexico” chants started seconds after the opening bell, as both fighters met in the center of the ring. Both men looked sharp and focused on their strategies, trying to set the pace. It was a close first round that could’ve went either way. It was more of the same through the early rounds, with Mares staying disciplined, keeping his hands up and working behind his jab. As the rounds progressed, Mares took advantage of Oquendo’s high guard and began to rip shots to the body.

continue

Showtime PPV Results: Herrera-Perez

09/15/201607/12/2014 Michael Montero

Tonight’s Showtime pay per view broadcast opened with a terrific matchup, as American Mauricio Herrera took on Johan Perez, of Caracas, Venezuela. The last time we saw Herrera was in Puerto Rico against 140 pound kingpin Danny Garcia, where many fans feel he was the victim of home cooking in favor of the champ. This time he felt more at home in Las Vegas, which is only about a four hour drive from his residence in Riverside, California. Perez held training camp for this bout in America for the first time in his career, where he benefited from great sparring at Daniel Ponce De Leon’s gym in California.

The opening rounds started with Herrera moving forward and Perez backing up, circling to his left, and attempting to counterpunch. Neither man could get land anything flush, causing a lot of tie ups as they slipped punches and jockeyed for position. Things were a bit messy and Herrera wasn’t cutting off the ring but rather following his opponent. It felt as though the Venezuelan fighter was doing the better work early on.

continue

Canelo-Lara Fight Week Coverage – Weigh In

09/15/201607/12/2014 Michael Montero

A loud, proud and passionate crowd filled into the MGM Grand Garden Arena for today’s weigh in. Numerous boxing personalities like Floyd Mayweather Senior were in the house as well as several fighters, including newly crowned WBC heavyweight titlist Bermane Stiverne. Showtime’s Jimmy Lennon emceed the festivities and the partisan Mexican-American crowd showed their love for their fighters throughout. If the atmosphere today was an indication of what to expect come fight night, it’s appears that we’re in for a special event.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (155 Lbs.) vs. Erislandy Lara (155 Lbs.)
The crowd was deafening as both fighters stepped onto the stage; jeers for Lara and cheers for Alvarez. Lara looked cool and calm, smiling as he stepped to the scale and hit the contracted weight of 155 pounds. Canelo was all business for the most part, letting out only a small grin as the crowd erupted when he hit the scale. The Mexican superstar also measured 155 pounds.

continue

Canelo-Lara Fight Week Coverage – Presser

09/15/201607/11/2014 Michael Montero

The final press conference before Saturday night’s PPV card kicked off around 1pm this afternoon at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. An eager crowd of international press gathered as Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya introduced the fighters. The conference was streamed live on Showtime’s site.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez 43-1-1 (31KO) vs. Erislandy Lara 19-1-2 (12KO), light middleweights Only four months ago Canelo had a dominant performance at the MGM Grand against rugged brawler Alfredo Angulo. Slick boxing southpaw Lara figures to bring a much tougher challenge Saturday night.

continue

Showtime Tripleheader Recap & Video Highlights

06/22/2014 Michael Montero

The StubHub Center in Carson, California has become one of the favorite venues for west coast fight fans. Tonight thousands came out for another stacked card from Golden Boy Promotions, with the three signature bouts featured on a Showtime Championship Boxing triple header. Let’s get into the fights.

Devon Alexander UD Jesus Soto Karass

Both of these welterweights entered the ring coming off loses and in desperate need of a win. Saint Louis native Alexander lost his IBF title via decision last December to Shawn Porter, while Soto Karass was stopped by power punching Keith Thurman later that same month.

continue

Showtime Tripleheader Weigh In Coverage

09/15/201606/20/2014 Michael Montero

Carson, California, USA – Showtime boxing presents another great tripleheader Saturday June 21st from the Stub Hub Center in Carson, California, which has become one of the premiere west coast boxing venues. The fights start live at 10pm eastern and 7pm pacific. Below are the weigh in results and a quick breakdown of the fights (including notable untelevised bouts) for tomorrow’s stacked card.

continue