SCORES AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD: PINOYS ONE WIN, ONE DRAW (With Photos)
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 07 Jul 2008
Las Vegas, NV:- It was a fight card that no one, except the Bob Arum Promotions would consider to produce spectacular results. After all, the guys on the card are not big names, at least not yet.
But it did!
In the fights that mattered to Filipinos, the results were just about average. One win, one draw.
Glenn Gonzales, the warrior from Gov. Noli Pinol?s Braveheart Boxing Stable was successful in his Las Vegas debut. Gonzales faced a very tough fighter from Jacksonville, Florida named Robert Da Luz. The end result was a unanimous decision. The scores were 59-55, 59-55 and 60-54 all in favor of the Mindanao fighter.
In the second round, as a result of an accidental head butt, Gonzales suffered a cut in his left eyebrow area. Even the best trainer-cutman, Nonito Donaire Sr., had a hard time stopping the bleeding. After the fight, Donaire stated that the cut is a bit deep making it difficult to manage. The cut bled all through the fight in spite of the excellent way Donaire managed it between rounds.
But cut or no cut, Gonzales kept the game plan. He however was not able to put away the very tough Da Luz. The best he did was buckled his legs a few times. Apparently, Gonzales lost some steam as the fight progressed. However, his big heart gave him enough to dominate Da Luz and win unanimously.
Gonzales? performance and his demeanor on the ring impressed Bob Arum. Thus, Filipino fight fans will most definitely see him many more times on the Top Rank Promotions.
Ana ? Hurricane? Julaton?s fight was not how everyone expected it to end. In a way many predicated a Julaton victory. After all, being her birthday, she wanted it as a present to herself. And, she was taller and slightly heavier (2 pounds) than Mendez. But, as we previously reported, Mendez is also one tough cookie? and she, like Julaton holds an undefeated record.
Julaton fought good enough to win the fight. But, the judges thought otherwise. In fact, the split draw that they produced was booed by the audience. Everyone thought Julaton pulled it off. The scores were as follows: Judge Gonzales 59-55 for Julaton; Judge Ocasio, 58-56 for Mendez and Judge Smith, 57-57.
Julaton suffered a head butt cut on her right eyebrow area. But trainer Freddie Roach who also acted as Julaton?s cut-man managed it well. Hopefully, the cut will heal well and not damage the good looks of the Filipina warrior.
The result of the fight surely put a damper the big plans for Julaton. But, given the fact that Arum think highly of her, she would definitely get more in the near future. For all we know, she may even be a champ by the year?s end.
The main event was as dazzling as boxing can be. Ricardo Torres, the defending WBO super lightweight champ from Columbia, South America came out swinging at the first bell. With a counter right hand, he put challenger Kendall Holt on the canvas. Holt however sprung up immediately. He was given an 8 count and when the fight resumed, he was knocked down again during a furious exchange.
After that second eight count, Torres went after Holt. In his excitement, he apparently forgot that Holt can hit hard as well.
And, that is exactly what happened. While Torres was giving his all in an effort to stop Holt to end the fight, Holt threw a right that caught Torres and he started to fall backward. Torres attempted to catch the rope to break his fall but his left hand got caught with it exposing his chin.
In a flash, Holt threw a haymaker right catching Torres right on the button and he dropped to his knees. The ropes caught him and he stayed that way, almost in a kneeling position, unconscious.
Jay Nady, started to count but in the middle of the count waved his hand signaling that the fight is over.
Time: 1 minute, 1 second of round 1.
The sudden end shocked the crowd that no one moved or made an attempt to go for the doors until they saw the re-play on the big screens. But, even with that, they stayed shocked.
Such was the impact of the spectacular knocked- out by Randall Holt!
Other fights:
Joseph Judah (152 lbs) UD vs. Luis Tapia (151 lbs) 4 rounds
Omar Coffi (155 lbs) UD vs. Trinidad Marry (154 lbs) 4 rounds
Michael Franco (116 lbs) UD vs. Javier Lagos (114 ? lbs) 6 rounds
Josiah Judah (163 ? lbs) KO 1st round vs Don Mouton (164 lbs)
Carlos Vinan (130 lbs) MD vs Andrew Cancio (130 lbs)
Top photo: The bloodied Gonzales (R) keeps the pressure on DaLuz in this bit of action from their fight Saturday at the Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.
Nonito Donaire, Sr. (R) administers the cut of Gonzales.
Referee Kenny Bayless raises the hand of Glenn Gonzales after the verdict was announced.
Julaton's right hand landed flat on Mendez's pretty face.
Coach Freaddie Roach taking care of Julaton's cut.
The referee raises the hands of Mendez and Julaton after a draw verdict was announced.
All photos by Dr. Ed de la Vega.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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