At the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, CA, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions – Oscar De La Hoya, in the Main Event when the 21 year-old Welterweight sensation No. 9 ranked unbeaten Vergil Ortiz continued his knockout streak at 17 stopping former contender and once beaten 36 year-old Brad Solomon suffering his first stoppage coming off nearly 20 months of inactivity.
In the Main Event WBC No. 9 ranked welterweight knockout artist Vergil Ortiz Jr, 15-0 (15), #146 ¾, out of Dallas, TEX, stopped former contender Brad “King” Solomon 28-2 (9), #146 ¾, out of Douglasville, GA, at 2:22 of the fifth round scoring 3 knockdowns in a scheduled 12 rounds.
In the first round it was all Ortiz outworking Solomon who was coming off a long lay-off. It was a tough young opponent to come back against. In the second round Ortiz continued going right after Solomon who was moving more using his jab and trying to block the punches of Ortiz but not having much success.
In the third round Ortiz continued on the attack. Around the mid point of the round a right to the chin from Ortiz rocked Solomon. Solomon does just enough to survive moving away from the oncoming Ortiz. In the fourth round Ortiz continued coming forward and seemed to hurt Solomon with a body shot. In the final minute Ortiz dropped Solomon with a power jab on the chin. Referee Caiz gave him the 8-count. Solomon was able to survive the round.
In the fifth round with just over a minute to go in the round Ortiz hurt Solomon with a right on the chin and dropped him with the same punch. Ortiz jumped on Solomon and dropped him again with a body shot forcing Solomon to take a knee forcing referee Caiz to wave off the fight.
“He was a talented boxer and I had to use my brain to know when was the time to punch him. I tried to break him down and was very patient and did a good job. The first knockdown I think I stepped on his left foot with mine,” said Ortiz. He was very humble answering questions while his trainer Robert Garcia stood by him.
2016 Olympic Silver Medalist southpaw Bek “The Bully” Melikuziev, 4-0 (3), #167 1/2, of UZB out of Indio, CA, shut out Vaughn “The Animal” Alexander 15-4 (9), #166 1/2, out of St. Louis, MO, winning the vacant WBA Continental Americas Super Middleweight title, over 10 rounds.
In the first round both were cautious with Melikuziev using a solid jab and straight lefts to the chin of veteran Alexander. In the second round with only three pro fights but 350 amateur wins and 210 stoppages he dominated the round hurting Alexander to the head.
In the third round Melikuziev was light on his feet due to being a National Martial Arts champion in UZB. He landed punches from different angles with power. Alexander did little on the offense. In the fourth round Melikuziev continued outworking and outlanding Alexander who throws too few punches to keep his opponent from pounding him.
In the fifth round Melikuziev continued having his way into the final minute when Alexander got more aggressive until the final seconds when he was on the defense. In the sixth round after half a minute Alexander landed his best punch so far landing a right to the chin of Melikuziev. Though Alexander was having his best round so far Melikuziev was landing more until the final seconds when Alexander landed a solid right to the chin getting Melikuziev’s attention. Alexander showed swelling around his left eye at the end of the round.
In the seventh round Melikuziev continued having his way until a minute left in the round when he received a cut by his left eye due to an accidental head butt. In the eighth round near the halfway mark Alexander came in with his head into the left eye of Melikuziev forcing referee Caiz to warn Alexander he would take away a point if it happened again. Alexander’s best punch of the round was a right to the chin in the final minute.
In the ninth round Melikuziev moved around the ring landing punches on Alexander who couldn’t cut the ring off. The fans wanted Melikuziev to get back to being offensive but he won the round doing what he did.
In the tenth and final round with the crowd asking for more action Melikuziev gave it to them in the final half of the round keeping Alexander on the defense firing punches almost at will.
Prior to the fight Alexander couldn’t believe a 3-0 fighter would take him on but was in for a big surprise in losing all ten rounds.
Scores were 100-90 by judges Barragan, Cobain and Villarreal as was this writers score.
Former WBA World Super Featherweight champion now at Lightweight southpaw Alberto “Ex Explosivo” Machado, 22-2 (18), #135, of San Juan, PR, stopped 2008 Olympian Luiz Porozo, 14-2 (7), #134, out of Santo Domingo, ECU, scoring 3 knockdowns at 2:59 of the second round in a scheduled 10 rounds.
In the first round early Porozo stepped on the foot of Machado making him tumble to the canvas. Porozo threw wild punches throughout the round outworking and outpunching Machado.
In the second round within seconds Porozo rocked Machado with a left hook to the chin. Near the final minute left in the round a Machado left hook to the mid-section of Porozo dropped him for an 8-count by referee Thomas Taylor. Shortly later Machado again dropped Porozo with a left body shot to the ribs. Near the end of the round Machado for a third time dropped Porozo with a left body shot to the ribs.
“First off I want to thank God for the knockout and the Zone for the opportunity. I felt stronger moving up in weight. I was looking to land to the head but saw an opportunity to go to the body scoring the first knockdown. I think I did well being he was an Olympian but felt I did good and am looking forward to 2020. I’m happy to end the year after very difficult situations and looking forward to a championship fight,” said Machado.
Southpaw Alexis “Lex” Rocha, 15-0 (10), #146 1/2, out of Santa Anna, CA, stopped Roberto Valenzuela, Jr., 17-2 (16), #146 3/4, out of Sonora, MEX, retaining the WBC Continental Americas Welterweight title, after 5 rounds when the corner stopped the fight in a scheduled 10 rounds.
In the first round it was all Rocha starting with the body work and later to the head and body hurting Valenzuela in the final thirty seconds of the round. Valenzuela tool the fight on ten days notice but was training for another fight. In the second round Rocha continued scoring well until a minute into the round when Valenzuela hurt Rocha with a double left uppercut to the body and chin and continued beating on him. Rocha had a bloody nose and finished the last thirty seconds with a clear head driving Valenzuela into the corner up until the bell. He may have punched himself out.
In the third round Rocha came out firing as he did in the first round driving Valenzuela into the ropes then chasing him pounding him mainly to the body. It was a good comeback for Rocha who was hurt in the previous round. This round was similar to the first round that Rocha won big.
In the fourth round Valenzuela wasn’t moving round the ring but meeting Rocha head on until a little past the halfway mark when Rocha went to the body hurting him. Rocha continued beating up on Valenzuela until the mouthpiece was spit out by Valenzuela and warned by the referee Ray Corona. Smoger was brought in for a comment and felt Valenzuela may be looking for a way out.
In the fifth round Mocha kept up working over Valenzuela right into the final half a minute when the latter came fighting back. But inthe final seconds Mocha hurt Valenzuela to the body doubling him over. In between rounds the corner of Valenzuela called a halt. This writer had Mocha ahead 49-46 at the finish.
“He hurt me in the second round but I was able to come back and hurt him with body shots. Not to be arrogant but I am confident with my ability.
Super Lightweight Marquette U grad Luis Feliciano, 14-0 (8), #140, out of Milwaukee, WI, scored a knockdown and defeated tough Herbert “Ace” Acevedo, Jr., 16-3-1 (6), #139 1/4, out of Oxnard, CA, over 10 rounds for the NABF title over 10 rounds of action.
In the first round of a close fight Acevedo was throwing punches from everywhere at the start. Feliciano was countering with rights. He received an accidental head butt and came firing back. In the second round Acevedo’s forehead had a red mark from Feliciano’s jabs and right hands. Acevedo was scoring with a variety of punches.
In the third round a right cross from Feliciano on the chin of Acevedo staggering him and dropped to the canvas near the halfway mark of the round. He received an 8-count from referee Raul Caiz, Jr. Acevedo came fighting back the rest of the round.
In the fourth round after a minute Feliciano staggered Acevedo with a right on the chin. Acevedo halfway thru the round received a cut over the right eye from an accidental clash of heads. Later in the round Feliciano hurt Acevedo with a right to the body.
In the fifth round Acevedo came out with vasoline on his head that could get in the eye of Feliciano but the referee didn’t notice it. Acevedo’s cut man did a good job stopping the blood from the cut that didn’t open in the round. Feliciano continued to outwork him in the round with solid right hands on the chin.
In the sixth round Acevedo did well in the first minute of the round until he got warned for hitting behind the head. Feliciano landed good body shots with his right hand. In the seventh round Acevedo was warned about charging in with his head by referee Caiz. Feliciano continued outlanding Acevedo up until the final seconds when Acevedo landed a good combination to the chin of Feliciano who smiled acknowledging good punches.
In the eighth round once again Acevedo came in with his head causing a clash of heads that Feliciano got the worst of causing a cut over the left eye under the brow. This round it was Feliciano who finished strong. In the ninth round Acevedo had a shiner under his right eye. The cut over his right eye finally re-opened. Feliciano continued outworking Acevedo.
In the tenth and final round at the halfway point a right followed by a left hook on the chin of Acevedo from Feliciano rocking him. Inside the final minute Acevedo landed a good right to the chin. Knowing he may need a knockout he continues to come forward. Acevedo also had a mark under his left eye at the end.
Scores were 100-89, 99-90 and 97-92 with this writer 98-91.
“That was a very difficult fight especially receiving my first cut. We got the win and that is what we wanted. This is how you progress and we have to go thru thse challenges to fight those at the top. After the knockdown I went for the kill but he really fought back well being a tough guy. You live and learn. I look forward after going back to Milwaukee and starting back in the new year looking at the drawing board and seeing what the team wants,” said Feliciano.
Super Middleweight WBO No.1 ranked Erik “BZO” Bazinyan, 24-0 (18), #167 ¼, of Armenia, out of Quebec, CA, impressed knocking out veteran Raul “Fiera” Roman, 46-14 (38), #164 ¾, out of Tijuana, MEX, at 0:43 of the third round of a scheduled 8 rounds.
In the first round Bazinyan used a good jab and followed with a solid right hand to the chin of Roman. Roman showed a good jab and nice left hook to the chin. In the second round Bazinyan continued to outwork the veteran Roman. Twice they clashed heads with Duran receiving a cut over his left eye.
In the third round Roman continued to complain until a rocking short right hand heard throughout the arena from Bazinyan on the chin of Roman dropped him on his back. The referee Jerry Cantu stopped it immediately as Duran lay there not moving though hands in the air.
“I was using my jab setting up my right hand and I was patient respecting him due to the caliber fighters he has fought. God Bless. I’m No.1 contender for Billy Joe (Saunders) and am young at 24 but want to tell him I am coming,” said Bazinyan.
IBHOF Referee Steve “Double SS” Smoger was the DAZN judge commentating. It was an all action show put on by Golden Boy.