by James Slater: Boxing on the under-card of last night’s De La Hoya-Forbes fight in California, 21 year old hot prospect “Vicious” Victor Ortiz had to survive a flash knockdown to beat 34 year old Dairo Esalas of Miami. Finally getting his man out of there in devastating style at 2 minutes and 31 seconds of the 5th round, Ortiz had one of his toughest fights..
Esalas, an experienced veteran of over 40 bouts, came to fight. With noted punch power of his own (25 stoppages from his 31 wins), the 34 year old looked confident at the bout began. He was soon hurt, however. A high left hand to the head briefly wobbled Esalas in the opener, and southpaw Ortiz’s own power was evident already. There was also a good burst of shots at the end of the round, clearly one won by the stalking 21 year old.
An accidental clash of heads occurred in the 2nd, and Esalas was beginning to look a little ragged. It was another round for the prospect.
The first knockdown of a fight that turned out to be a very lively affair came in the 3rd round. Caught by a left hand but off balance also, Esalas went down as he was along the ropes. The 34 year old was not badly hurt, but, showing his experience, he took full advantage of the count. Then the fireworks really began! Up and fighting again after the messy knockdown he’d suffered, Esalas exploded with a big right hand of his own. Catching the advancing Ortiz, it was now the older man who saw his opponent on the floor. Ortiz bounced back up straight away, but the danger was now obvious and Esalas was right back into it. Another good right hand caught Ortiz near the end of the round, but this time the 21 year old took it better.
The exciting action continued in the 4th. A big left hand to the head sent Esalas down for a second knockdown, and this time he was more severely hurt. Ortiz went for the finish when his man got back up, but Esalas made it to the bell.
By the 5th, Esalas was beginning to complain to the referee, perhaps a sign he was feeling the pace. Still, a rabbit punch by Ortiz did land and Esalas turned his back and complained to the third man in the ring. No time-out occurred, however, and Ortiz continued to attack. A wicked left hand upstairs sent Esalas crumbling to the mat for a third time, and on this occasion he stayed there for the full ten. Ortiz had gotten his 16th KO win.
Improving to 21-1-1(16) (the loss coming via a DQ), Ortiz continued his march to the top. The beaten Esalas fell to 31-13(25).