UNDERCARD RESULTS FROM NEW YORK: VERDEJO REMAINS UNDEFEATED
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 08 Jun 2014
New York - The world's most famous arena welcomed the protagonists on this huge boxing night in June, featuring the highly anticipated Middleweight war between WBC champ, Sergio Martinez and Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.
Doors of the arena opened at 6 pm and the first bell for the evening was tolled at 6:11 local time. Here are the results of the undercard bouts straight from the Mecca of Boxing - Madison Square Garden.
ORTIZ KO RUIZ
Janthony Ortiz of Humacao Puerto Rico scored the first win for his native Puerto Rico by disposing Elio Ruiz (1-4,) of Plainview Texas in the first round of their 4 round Flyweight bout. A flurry of punches hurt from the debuting Ortiz hurt and floored Ruiz early and he was unable to get up for the count.
Referee Ricky Gonzales called the Knock Out at the 1:51 mark of the 1st.
NELSON TKO CUNNINGHAM
Willie Nelson (21-1-1, 12 KOs) of Cleveland, OH accomplished a quick stoppage of Darryl Cunningham (29-6, 11 KOs) of Detroit, MI in the 2nd bout of the evening.
Nelson floored Cunningham twice in the opener of their scheduled 6 round Middleweight contest and Cunningham was slow to get up after the second knockdown. Referee Eddie Claudio consulted with the ringside physicians and upon their advice, stopped the fight in favor of Nelson.
Time of TKO was 2:43 seconds.
PEDRAZA TKO URUZQUIETA
Jose Pedraza (16-0, 10 KOs) of Cidra, Puerto Rico maintained his unbeaten record with another quick stoppage by pummeling Arturo Uruzquieta (15-5, 6 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico to submission in Round 1 of their Lightweight match.
Pedraza was aggressive from the opening bell and hurled hard head and body hooks against his Mexican opponent. An accumulation of unanswered punches from Pedraza forced referee Arthur Mercante to stop the fight at the 2:19 mark of the opening round.
LOPEZ DECISIONS HIDALGO
Jose Lopez (12-0, 10 KOs) of Carolina, Puerto Rico improved his unbeaten record and earned another win for his country by scoring a Unanimous Decision triumph against Raul Hidalgo (21-10-0-1, 16 KOs) of Casas Grandes, Mexico.
Puerto Rican Jose Lopez connects with a left on Raul Hidalgo.
In the first bout of the night that lasted more than one round, Lopez and Hidalgo fought for Lopez's WBC Super Bantam FECARBOX belt within 8 rounds which the Puerto Rican defended successfully with scores of 80-72, 80-72 and 79-73.
VERDEJO TKO VALENZUELA
Felix Verdejo (12-0, 9 KOs) of San Juan, Puerto Rico scored another stoppage win in the 1st round by thrashing Engelberto Valenzuela (9-1, 3 KOs) of Agua Prieta, Mexico.
The promising Verdejo, a 2012 Olympian for Puerto Rico, rained hard and unanswered punches against his Mexican counterpart, dropping him early in their scheduled 6 round Lightweight bout.
Another salvo of combinations forced referee Arthur Mercante to halt the fight to prevent Valenzuela from absorbing more punishment from Verdejo who remained unbeaten in 13 bouts, with 10 of them by KO's.
Time of the TKO was 1:17 of Round 1.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and on Twitter @Freemazon910.
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