Bound Boxing Academy hosts their 8th & final “Friday Night Fights” of 2019
Bout #1 featured a classic, super featherweight matchup of 19-year-old Jorge Chavez (right) from the National City CYAC gym going up against 20-year-old Brandon Ruiz (left)(record 70 wins – five losses) who was representing the Mariscal Boxing Club located in the Obrera neighborhood of Tijuana, B. C., Mexico. This is the same Brandon Ruiz who might end up being Mexico’s representative at the 2020 Summer Olympics to be held July 24th through August 9th, 2020, in Tokyo, Japan. He is that good.
In round one, it was Ruiz (l) blasting away at Chavez’s midsection to establish a two to one advantage in punches landed. Plus, Chavez closed out the round with two strong flurries.By softening up the midsection, Ruiz had then established free range to score at will and did so with the cleaner shots. Then, entering round three and sensing he was behind on the scorecards, we saw Chavez make his valiant effort to pull out the late victory. Still, in the end, the judges felt Ruiz had done more than enough to win his unanimous decision victory. After each victory, we always see Brandon Ruiz (left) taking a moment to thank his Creator.
Before the start of Bout #2, between 16-year-old super featherweight Oscar Barrera of the Mariscal Boxing Club (left) and 17-year-old featherweight Juan Medina (of the host gym, the Bound Boxing Academy), we see veteran referee Rick Ley giving the young boxers their final instructions.
Just as in the preceding bout, the two veterans, Barrera (left), with six years in the gym, 31 fights) and Juan Medina (right, a veteran of 7 years of training and 70 plus fights) went hard and fast at each other. Medina’s edge came from his wide-ranging movement, plus his height and reach advantage. He was able to frustrate the shorter Barrera while quickly moving in and out of his opponent’s range to deliver the sharper and more plentiful blows. At the conclusion of their match, referee Rick Ley raises the arms of both boxers so the audience can applaud their sterling effort. After the announcement of Juan Medina’s win, it was clear by the look on Oscar Barrera’s face that he was upset that he hadn’t done more to earn the victory. You talk about anticipation building and fan favorites, much of the audience was waiting anxiously to see this next match between two welterweights who were making their Amateur debut: 24-year-old Jesus Hernandez (l) from the host gym, Bound Boxing Academy and 21-year-old Beau Munoz from Azteca Boxing Club of Bonita, Calif., the new gym recently opened by local favorite/newly retired Christopher “The S. D. Kid” Martin (31-11-3) a former WBC USNBC/WBO NABO/ USA plus Calif. State Super Bantamweight champion. In other words, can this former champion pass along his tricks of the trade so others can follow in his footsteps? It didn’t take long to see that Jesus Hernandez was not ready for the likes of tough guy Beau Munoz who from the opening bell came out firing as if he were the rebirth of Iron Mike Tyson. Not only was Hernandez being pummeled from pillar to post, but his mouthpiece went flying in every direction (4 times) and several standing 8-counts had to be issued. In the end, Beau Munoz (left) had that “I’ve never had so much fun in my life” expression on his face.At the conclusion of all his fun and games, we had the victorious 141-pound welterweight Beau Munoz pose for yet another photo with his proud Mom and younger brother Zachary. Next up, it was 17-year-old middleweight Christopher Lizarraga (1-0) from the Temecula Boxing Club shown here with Head Boxing Coach/Gym Owner Jesse Moreno (left) and former Pro boxer from Brooklyn, New York, now trainer Felix Nance Sr.Christopher Lizarraga’s opponent was Daniel Castellanos 19-years-old, 165 lbs. (8-2) from Chris Martin’s new gym, Aztec Boxing of Bonita, Calif. Castellanos was returning after a three-year layoff while recuperating from a hand injury suffered in an altercation at the Otay Ranch Town Center with a man wielding a knife and slashing three of Castellanos’ fingers.The boxers receive their final instructions from referee Andrew Moreno.
It didn’t take that long before Daniel Castellanos was being issued a standing 8-count.
For a first-timer watching Christopher Lizarraga’s ambidextrous approach to boxing, it can be an eye-opener. First up, it’s rare when he’s not in attack mode. Second, he’s looks to have reinvented the bob and weave which threw Castellanos off his game. And third, it’s the way Lizarraga, still, a novice, attacks his opponent from all angles. (bottom, center) We see the referee issuing Castellanos yet another standing 8-count.There were a lot of discerning eyes on this rookie phenom. The boxers await the inevitable decision.Referee Andrew Moreno raises the arm of the victorious Christopher Lizarraga. Is it way too early to predict great things for the Lizarraga brothers, Christopher and Raul? Is it possible they could have similar success as the Benavidez brothers of Phoenix, Arizona?15-year-old Jose Munoz (107 lbs.), from the Mariscal Boxing Gym, Tijuana has his gloves inspected by referee Andrew Moreno prior to his contest with 15-year-old Bryan Marin (107 lbs.) from the host gym, the Bound Boxing Academy.Prior to their match with Jose Munoz, Bryan Marin from nearby Montgomery High School and his coach Juan Medina Jr. looked extremely confident.At the outset, Referee Andrew Moreno had the boxers touch gloves, Bryan Marin (red corner) and Jose Munoz from the (blue corner). This match was so close, it must have been a nightmare to officiate.Once again, referee Andrew Moreno checks the boxers’ wrapped hands.By the look on their faces, it appeared neither boxer was 100% confident about a victory.In the end, the victory went to Bryan Marin who overall appeared to be the busier of the two and had better ring generalship by having his opponent continually backing up.Bout #6 had 26-year-old Hector Gomez (right, Red corner, record 8-4, 168 lbs.) going up against 17-year-old Carlos Garcia (left)(165 lbs., Blue corner) from Mariscal Boxing, Tijuana, B. C., Mexico, who’s credentials and record was a bit of a mystery. And then it happened. You can almost read veteran ref Rick Ley’s mind as he stands there between these muscular athletes with their big guns, “Don’t let me get in your way, I’ll be over in the farthest corner.” Here we have the first of many standing 8-counts and loss of mouthpiece by Hector Gomez.No doubt this fast and furious blow to the midsection was painful.After a while, no one seemed to know how many times Gomez’s mouthpiece went flying about the ring or how many times there was a stoppage for a standing 8-count.One person knew and started waving the white towel so the one-sided beat-down could end. To the victor goes the spoils. Hopefully, Carlos Garcia will now have one of those mouthpiece companies approach him and ask him to promote their mouthpieces…something more appealing. Ask anyone, yellow and black will never make you popular with the ladies. (left to right) Hector Gomez, and your winner by TKO, Carlos Garcia from Tijuana.Family and friends join their hero after his crushing victory of Hector Gomez. In the final bout of the evening, it was 21-year-old welterweight Jaime Ybarra (right)(146 lbs.) from The Jab Boxing Club of East Lake, Calif. (Red Corner/Red Gloves) taking on 21-year-old (147 lbs.) Rockman Somo (left, Blue Corner/Blue Gloves) from RSD Boxing, Spring Valley. It’s safe to say, that throughout this contest, Rockman Somo (left) landed more of the scoring blows and knew a lot more about hit and move to maintain the proper distance so Ybarra never had an opportunity to retaliate.
The only remaining LBC 44 CAL Border USA Amateur Boxing Show remaining in 2019 is a show scheduled for December 7, 2019, at The Arena in Point Loma. We should know more by Monday, November 25, 2019, if this show is still on the schedule.
