RESULTS AND PHOTOS: TOP RANK EVENT IN LAREDO
By Dr. Allan Recto
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 14 Apr 2015
Laredo, Texas (April 11, 2015) ? On a rainy night, amid storm flash flood warnings, boxing fans from both sides of the border trooped to the Laredo Energy Arena to watch Top Rank?s ?Texas Boxing Series/ Solo Boxeo? Event televised nationally via UniMas. They were not disappointed. All the local fighters who participated in the event won their respective bouts to the excitement of the crowd.
In the main event, the anticipated showcase featherweight match up between an undefeated, former two-time Mexican Olympian Oscar Valdez, Jr. (16-0, 14 KO) from Nograles, Mexico versus the rugged Jose Ramirez (26-6-3, 15 KO) was an action- packed fight.
In the end, Valdez connected with a body shot to the liver that dropped Ramirez to the canvas losing via 3rd Rd KO at the 2:05 mark. A visibly disappointed Ramirez was wincing in pain and unable to continue after the mandatory count.
PHOTOS BY DR ALLAN RECTO / PHILBOXING.COM.
Top photo: Jose Ramirez (Left) going toe to toe with Oscar Valdez, Jr (Right) in Laredo, Texas on April 11, 2014. At various points Valdez had Ramirez in trouble.
Jose Ramirez grimacing in pain from a body shot as referee Jon Schorle administers the count while Oscar Valdez waits in the neutral corner. The referee then waved the fight off.
Manager Frank Espinoza, Jr. proudly stands beside the winner by 3rd Rd KO Oscar Valdez, Jr after the fight.
After the fight, Valdez told this writer: ?I?m happy right now, first of all, we got the win. I feel great inside the ring. I?m learning a little bit more every time. I went up against an experienced fighter and I?m just waiting for the next one.? When asked who?s next, Valdez replied, ?I don?t know. I?m not tired. I didn?t get cut or hurt. I go back Monday and start training again.? When queried if he felt his opponents? punches, Valdez remarked, ?I feel he had a punch. I was always aware and I was cautious about it, trying not to get hit. I expected it to go to decision as he was a more experienced fighter, but lucky for us, fortunately, we got the knockout!?
Valdez wants to win a world title in the future but his manager Frank Espinoza said, ?We don?t want to rush him. It will come at the right time.? Valdez dream bout is with WBC featherweight belt/title-holder Gary Russell, Jr. (26-15-1) but he acknowledges it would be difficult because they belong to different promotional companies.
Valdez gamely remained for interviews and took photos with the crowd immediately after the event. He seemed to connect with the fans well, very charismatic and is bilingual. Valdez is boxing?s hot prospect and a rising star.
On the televised undercard, another Olympian middleweight Esquiva Falcao (9-0, 5 KO) from Brazil dominated Omar Rojas (3-3-1) of Kingsville, Texas via Unanimous Decision with all judges? scorecards reading 60-54.
Equiva Falcao connects with an overhand right on the face of Texan Omar Rojas in Top Rank?s Event ?Solo Boxeo? at the Laredo Energy Arena on April 11, 2015.
Texas referee Rafael Ramos raises the hand of the victor Esquiva Falcao as Omar Rojas walks away.
Surprisingly, the more impressive bout that stole the evening?s show was between two female fighters Cristina Fuentes (3-7-4, 0 KO) and Mayela Perez (6-18-2, 3 KO) of Coahuila, Mexico in the undercard who went after each other at the start of the first bell. Local hometown Laredoan Fuentes won via decision but it could have gone either way or possibly a draw. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered the most during this fight.
Ring announcer Lupe Contreras declared the winner local Laredoan Cristina Fuentes (Right) to the delight of the crowd, as Mayela Perez moves away.
Other hometown fighters who won were Leopoldo Martinez (2-0) and Eddie Ramirez (8-14-1, 3 KO) in the Super Flyweight and Super Welterweight divisions, each one fighting for 4 rounds. It was another tremendous night of boxing in this border city of South Texas.
Filipino boxer John Mark Apolinario (whose fight got cancelled) was in attendance. He posed with Filipino boxing fans from Laredo that came to support him. From Left to Right ? Dr. Rizza Lao, Dr. Monette Regalado, Michelle Flores, Apolinario, Ceasar Lao, Rogie Amuan and Christy Amuan.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dr. Allan Recto.
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