At the Pechanga Resort & Casino, in Temecula, CA, Friday night over ESPN Bob Arum’s Top Rank presented IBF World Lightweight Champion Richard Commey in his first title defense against former WBO Lightweight Champion Ray “Sugar” Beltran who couldn’t make weight.
In the Main Event IBF World Lightweight champion Richard “RC” Commey, 29-2 (26), 134.4, from Accra, Ghana, living in Bronx, NY, stopped former WBO Lightweight champion Ray “Sugar” Beltran, 36-9-1 (22), 136 3/4, of Phoenix, AZ, at 0:54 of the eighth round.
In the first round a right hand from Commey on the chin of Beltran dropped him. Commey jumped on him putting him halfway through the ropes making it a second knockdown. Commey coming forward got rocked by a Beltran left hook on the chin but had Beltran on the defense in a corner at the bell.
In the second round both fighters seemed to fight on even terms. In the third round Beltran was backing Commey up. In the fourth round there was a clash of heads with no cuts. Twice during the round both fighters landed left hooks to the head at the same time.
In the fifth round Commey dropped Beltran to a knee from a left to the chin with a little help pushing him on the back of the neck. Referee Luis Hernandez, Sr. gave him the 8 count. Commey had Beltran hurt again but he came back well.
In the sixth round a clash of heads caused a cut on the outside of the left eye of Beltran. The rest of the way was close. In the seventh round Commey noticeably had swelling round his right eye. Both fought the round on the inside. Commey’s left eye is circled with swelling.
In the eighth round during an exchange a left hook from Commey on the chin of Beltran dropped him. He was up and suddenly the referee Hernandez talking to Beltran who beat the count stopped the fight.
“First of all I would like to thank God and my team. Ray was a strong champion,” said Commey.
In the co-feature NABF Super Welterweight and WBO NABO champion Dominican Carlos Adames, 18-0 (14), 154, of Washington Heights, NY, defeated Patrick “All Day” Day, 17-3-1 (6), 153 3/4, of Freeport, New York, over 10 rounds.
In the first round showed his quick hands with jab and flurries to the body as Adames comes forward hand held high. In the second round Day continued outworking Adames who best punch was one left hook to the chin but otherwise nothing!
In the third round Adames started landing a lead overhand right to the head of Day. Body shots from Adames gives him the round. In the fourth round Day kept beating Adames to the punch with his hand speed. In the fifth round Adames comes out southpaw landing more power punches while Day continues with speed a hand and a foot.
In the sixth round in the opening minute Day decided to go inside and was rocked with an overhand right on the chin from Adames who was back to orthodox. In the seventh round Adames returned to southpaw landing power punches while day kept moving with counter punches with little power.
In the eighth round Adames returned to orthodox and got outworked by Day. In the ninth round Adames landed a solid right hand stunning Day. The landing right after right hand from the middle of the round to the bell.
In the tenth and final round Adames looking for a knockout hurt Day in the final minute of the fight rocking Day with a right to the chin.
Scores were 97-93 twice and 98-91 while this writer had it 96-94.
Lightweight Saul “El Nene” Rodriguez, 23-1-1 (17), of Riverside, CA, was upset being knocked out by Miguel Angel Gonzalez, 25-4 (22), of Sinaloa, MEX, at 1:23 of the third round.
In the first round within seconds a left hook from Gonzalez on the chin of Rodriguez dropped him for 8 count of referee Thomas Taylor. He managed to get thru the round. In the second round due to a clash of heads Gonzalez suffered a cut on the left eyebrow. In the third round Rodriguez hurt Gonzalez with a right to the chin but was countered left on the chin by Gonzalez knocked out Rodriguez.
Super Featherweight Christopher Zavala, 5-0 (2), of Long Beach, CA, defeated Prisco Marquez, 4-1-1 (1), of Austin, TX, over 6 rounds.
In the first round Zavala pressed the action. In the second round Marquez pressed the action in a pair of close rounds. In the third round the hand speed of Zavala gave him an edge.
In the fourth round Zavala outworked Marquez though landing only half of his punches while Marquez seemed to work on defense. In the sixth and final round Zavala used a chopping right as Marquez continued coming in low.
Scores were 60-54 and 59-55 by this writer.
Super Lightweight southpaw Elvis “The Dominican Kid” Rodriguez, 2-0 (2), 139 1/2, of Santo Domingo, DR, ended at 2:28 of the first round due to a technical draw and late sub Joaquin “Chico” Chavez, 9-18-3 (2), 141, of Commerce, CA.
In the first round southpaw Rodriguez hurt Chavez with a right hook body shot and in trying to follow up a clash of heads caused a nasty cut on the forehead of Chavez stopping the fight by referee Thomas Taylor.
Super Middleweight southpaw David “The Lion of Zion” Kaminsky, 5-0 (2), of Israel out of Tarzana, CA, easily defeated Osbaldo “Rocky” Camacho Gonzalez, 6-5 (4), of Tulsa, OK, over 4 rounds.
In the first round southpaw Kaminsky controlled with his jab while hurting Gonzalez with half a minute left in the round with a lead left on the chin In the third round Kaminsky drew blood from the nose of Gonzalez. In the fourth and final round Kaminsky landed numerous straight lefts to the chin of Gonzalez.
Scores were 40-36 along with this writer.
Lightweight Jose Antonio “Pepao” Meza, 6-4 (1), of Durango, MEX, lost to Dmitry Yun, 1-0 (0), of AZE out of Thousand Oaks, CA, over 4 rounds.
In the first round Yun was the aggressor though receiving several warnings for hitting behind the head from referee Ray Corona. In the second round Yun rocked Meza with a right on the chin. Seconds later once again he was warned for hitting behind the head. In the fourth and final round of a close fight Yun was warned for the third time hitting behind the head and had a point taken rightfully so by referee Corona.
Scores were 39-36 including this writer’s.