LAURENTE, MELLIGEN AND FARENAS ALL WON 3 FOR 3
By Rod Mijares
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 02 May 2009
LAS VEGAS -- Few blocks away from the strip where there was a British invasion that outnumbered the Filipino fans and other nationalities in today?s weigh-in headed by Pacquiao and Hatton at MGM Grand Arena few hours before, there was an 8-bout boxing event promoted by Top Rank, Azteca America TV and Cerbeza Tecate at the new Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel and Casino that was characterized by knockouts, cuts and bloody exchanges, exciting and promising young boxing stars.
From the first up to the last bout, boxing fans were treated to a great boxing event that was worth every cent of their money to their utmost satisfaction. Filipino Dennis Laurente answered the bell of the first bout at 5:30 p.m. against American Marvin Cordova of Colorado. Both fighters fought toe to toe with brilliant combinations of their own from the first round till the end. However, Laurente kept on putting the pressure especially in the 8th round with his upper cuts and hooks to the body even at one point when Marvin turned his back. Cordova was deducted a point in the 7th round for muttering and complaining much to the referee. Laurente won on a unanimous decision with a score of 77-74 from all 3 judges. Johnny Elorde, former heavyweight champion Michael Moorer and Boboy Fernandez (instead of Freddie Roach) were at Laurente?s corner to assure the win.
Another Filipino sensation, Mark Jason Melligen, of the famous ALA Gym of Cebu, although, like a diesel machinery was slow to a start but fast, exciting and punishing at the end of the bout defeated the most experienced and tough Mexican boxer, Ramon Montano of Las Vegas in another unanimous decision with a score of 80-72, 79-73 and 78-74. The first four rounds were so close to call except by the judges. ?I was calculating my opponent. I seemed to follow his slow moves as he seemed also to measure me in the first few rounds. If he was fast I could be fast, as well,? Melligen said after the fight. However, from the 5th round till the 8th round when Melligen was all fired up, he obviously was more victorious as he landed more powerful punches than Montano with the crowd oozing with ooh and aahs.
On two occasions, Montano was urging Melligen to fight which to me was a sign that he was hurt and wanted to even the score. Tony Martin and Edito Villamor who were at Melligen?s corner were unanimous in saying that if Melligen followed up with more combination in the 7th round rather than stepping back, there was a possibility that Montano might go down. However, credit it also to Montano for being a great warrior with a great chin. Dr. Ed De La Vega got an easier job as Melligen?s cutman whose presence was not needed much as Melligen?s defense in avoiding punches was highly extraordinary.
The third bout was the most exciting and bloodiest as Juan Buendia and Alfonso Gomez both suffered cuts in their right eyebrows. Inspite of blood oozing out and covering their faces, their exchanges were so phenomenal left and right without stopping. It?s like last man standing. Before the end of the 8th round, a right to the head by Gomez followed with a left hook to Buendia?s right side, put Buendia on his knees favoring his right side with Gomez as the last man standing in their 10-round welterweight bout.
The fourth bout was the 6-round super featherweight bout between Diego Magdaleno (9-0, 3KO) of Las Vegas and Juan Santiago (7-2-0, 5KO) of Denver, Colorado. Magdaleno who was shorter made up this shortcoming with relentless punches and aggressiveness and won the fight on a unanimous decision with a score of 40-37, 39-36 and 39-37. Magdaleno was knockdown in the first round.
The fifth bout was between lightweights Urbano Antillon of California (26-0, 19 KO) and Tyrone Harris (23-5, 15KO) of Lansing, Michigan and lived up to its billing as the main event. Antillon was like a bully with powerful short punches controlling the tempo of the fight while Harris tried to jab and counterpunch. In the 5th round, a straight right to the stomach by Antillon sent Harris down. Harris was able to beat the count but was again back to the ropes and a left punch by Antillon finished him off.
Two young lads in super bantamweight fought the 6th bout of the night. The taller Roberto Marroquin (6-0, 5 KO) of Dallas, Texas knockout Julio Valadez (3-5).
The hunk Glen Tapia (2,0, 2KO) of Passaic, New Jersey was so aggressive in the 7th bout of the night from the onset of the first round with good combinations to the head of his opponent, Juan Carlos De Leon (1,2) of Grand Prairie, Texas. In the second round, the referee has to stop the fight to avoid further damage to De Leon.
Michael Farenas put an exclamation point to this great boxing event by putting a very short work on his opponent Walter Estrada of Colombia with a left hook that sent Estrada down to the canvas almost before the first round ends and sent the spectators to their feet and like Estrada were astounded by how fast the fight ended. As I said in my previous article, Farenas left hook is more powerful that his chinky eyes and no doubt, Estrada, unluckily today was at its receiving end.
Filipinos in the Philippines and all over the world should be pleased to know that GAB commissioner, Mr. Monju Guanzon and its Boxing Division Chief, Dr. Nasser Cruz are in Las Vegas not only to lend support to Manny Pacquiao but also to our upcoming boxing stars and witnessed personally how Laurente, Melligen and Farenas brought havoc to their respective opponents today at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. They were so pleased and all smiles of the outcome as if it?s a good start for Filipino boxers of what promised to be a great weekend for the Filipinos.
Gerry Penalosa along with his family (wife, Goody; 9-year old son, Julio Cezar; 7-year old daughter, Julian; mother, Virgie and Aunt) were also in attendance to lend their support, most especially, to his prot?g?, Michael Farenas.
Read more articles by Rod Mijares at www.fil-amboxers.com.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rod Mijares.
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