Calexico hosts final USA Amateur Boxing Show of 2015

Talk about being on your game – on Saturday, Erik West (red trunks) from the Lee Espinoza Coachella Valley Boxing Club was rarely if ever off target while battling Angel Castro from the Baja Boxing Club, Calexico. Photo: Jim Wyatt

On Saturday, December 19, 2015, the final USA Amateur LBC-44 Boxing show of the year was hosted by Raul Lau and his troops from the Baja Boxing Club, Calexico, Calif. The well-attended show took place at the William Moreno Jr. High School in Calexico, just a few blocks from Donald Trumps’ favorite hangout, Tacos de Gordo. Boxing standouts from this area include: the 26-year-old Heavyweight Andy “The Destroyer” Ruiz Jr. (26-0, 17 KOs) who lives a few miles north in Imperial, Calif. and the #23 ranked Super Bantamweight, 21-year-old Diego ‘The Golden Kid’ De La Hoya (13-0, 7 KOs) who lives just across the border in Mexicali. 

In Bout #1, they had 13-year-old Alejandro Mendoza (122.6 lbs., 1-0) from the House of Boxing, Paradise Hills, San Diego, Calif. going up against 13-year-old Martin Mota from the San Luis Youth Center (PAL Boxing Gym), San Luis, Arizona (120 lbs. with 4 bouts).

After getting out of the shoots early, the fiery Mendoza never let up. Round one ended with Mota being issued an 8-count just before the bell. The following rounds were more of the same as Mota kept backing up and kept getting issued one 8-count after another until he had himself a trifecta.

In Bout #1, it was Alejandro Mendoza (r) of the House of Boxing earning the decision victory over Martin Mota (l) of San Luis PAL. Photo: Jim Wyatt

In Bout #2, it was 10-year-old Danny Hernandez of the House of Boxing (77 lbs., 1-1) going up against 9-year-old Isaiah Bernal (79.4 pounds, 3 bouts) from Romo’s Boxing, El Centro, Calif. In this back and forth struggle, Bernal landed more of the straight shots to the face and by the third round he had Hernandez backpedaling to make the judges’ decision even easier.

Early on, Bout #2, between Danny Hernandez (red gloves) and Isaiah Bernal (blue gloves) was a battle of who could gain the momentum.

(bottom, right) In the end, it was Isaiah Bernal (l) getting the nod from the judges after besting the game Danny Hernandez. Photos: Jim Wyatt

In Bout #3, it was 15-year-old Santiago Renteria (143.8 pounds, 6 bouts) from the San Luis PAL going up against 16-year-old Cesar Castro (141 pounds, 4 bouts) from the host gym, the Baja Boxing Club. In round one, Castro proved to be more effective. However, the lead changed hands in rounds two and three after Renteria started landing the more telling blows and Castro, running low on petrol, had to resort to holding.

At the conclusion of Bout #3, we see Santiago Renteria (r) having his arm raised in victory by referee Alberto “Cookie” Ramos after his victory over Cesar Castro.

In Bout #4, it was 17-year-old David Jimenez from the Vivero Boxing Gym, Mexicali, B. C., Mexico (126.4 pounds, Open Division) going up against 16-year-old Martin Ramirez of the Bound Boxing Academy, Chula Vista, Calif. (126.6 pounds, 12 bouts).

When it comes to age and experience in the ring, that one additional year can make a big difference. While Ramirez was going through his normal progression and followed the instructions of his coach, Jimenez always seemed to be one step ahead of him and landed punches that had more power. The shiner under Ramirez’s right eye was an indicator that there is more work to be done. The same David Jimenez won “Boxer of the Show” at this year’s Lucky Invitational Tournament which was held in August at The Arena.

(photo, left) Referee Alberto “Cookie” Ramos issues Martin Ramirez an 8-count after he got clobbered several times by the menacing Mr. David Jimenez.

At the conclusion of their hard fought contest, the winner David Jimenez (l) and the runner-up Martin Ramirez (r) pose for one last photo. Photo: Jim Wyatt

In Bout #5, they had 15-year-old Jose “Twister” Ortega (117.2 pounds, 21 bouts) from the Guerrero Boxing Club, Heber, Calif. back seeking revenge for a loss in June of this year at the Ricochet Recreation Center in Imperial, Calif. against 16 year-old Ivan Guardado (122 pounds, Open Division) from Guardado’s Boxing Club, Ensenada, B. C., Mexico.

Even though there was the same one year age difference and the same five pound weight advantage, Ortega must have been working extra hard to plot his revenge because he displayed some new wrinkles in his offense. His punches came at Guardado from every angle. Check out the top left photo in the collage below. It’s likely that one, well placed, right uppercut did the most damage and surely impressed the judges enough to have Ortega out in front on the scorecards. 

(bottom photo) The eventual winner, Jose Ortega (l) and his opponent Ivan Guardado (r) await the announcement of the judges scores with veteran referee Will White.

At the conclusion of this thrilling match, we see Will White raising the arm of the victorious Jose Ortega after his defeat of rival Ivan Guardado.

In Bout #6, it was 17-year-old Lucio Hirales of La Gente Boxing, Brawley, Calif. (153.6 pounds, Open Division) taking on 19 year-old Juan Rangel of the Lee Espinoza Coachella Valley Boxing Club, Coachella, Calif. (150.8 pounds, 2-2).

With his experience, Hirales’ accuracy could not be matched. He stayed in close, worked over the body and used these shorts, brisk uppercuts, right crosses and sprinkled in an occasional left hook to dominate. With both young men going full bore in the final stanza, this was surely a classic battle.

At the conclusion of Bout #6, the victorious Lucio Hirales (r) and his defeated opponent Juan Rangel (c) hung around for one last photo.

In Bout #7, it was 19-year-old Noe Moreno from the Vivero Boxing Gym, Mexicali (125 pounds, 20 bouts) taking on 17-year-old southpaw Manuel Flores (124 pounds, 30 bouts) from the Indio Boys & Girls Club. With the boxers splitting the first two rounds, Moreno slightly ahead in round one and Flores taking round two, it all came down to who wanted it more in the final round.

In that final round, the southpaw Flores caught Moreno several times with hard lefts. The hard charging Moreno also walked right into a punch to cement the victory for Flores. 

(bottom, left) At the conclusion of Bout #7, we see referee Rick Ley reaching down for the winning trophy to present to the southpaw assassin Manuel Flores who ended up defeating the always tough Noe Moreno.

Bout #8 featured Noe Moreno’s younger brother, 15-year-old Kevin Moreno (150.8 lbs., 11 bouts) from the Vivero Boxing Gym, Mexicali, B. C., Mexico going up against the heavy hands of 16-year-old Brandon Lee (151.2 pounds, Open Division with 120+ bouts) from the Lee Espinoza Coachella Valley Boxing Club, Coachella, Calif.

In the first round, Lee went through Moreno as if he were a knife slicing warm butter. The punches in bunches landed with a thud and after calling three successive stoppages to issue an 8-count, referee Hondo Fontan finally decided to call a halt to the match. With Lee, only 16 years of age, he still has to wait at least another year before he can turn professional where it’s certain he will prosper.

At the conclusion of Bout #8, we see referee Hondo Fontan raising the arm of the victorious Brandon Lee (l) after his defeat of Kevin Moreno (r).

In Bout #9, it was 19-year-old Angel Villetran (154.2 pounds, experience unknown) from the Vivero Boxing Gym, Mexicali, going up against 17-year-old southpaw Jose Rodriguez (160.4 pounds, Open Division) from the Indio Boys & Girls Club. Committed to his strategy of boxing in close, Rodriguez smothered his opponent and won handily by landing the straighter, cleaner shots, especially to the head.

(bottom, right) At the conclusion of Bout #9, referee Hondo Fontan raises the arm of the victorious Jose Rodriquez after his defeat of Angel Villetran.

Bout #10 featured 15-year-olds, southpaw Rozana “Roxy” Ortiz, (113.8 lbs., 7 bouts) from the Calexico Boxing Club, Calexico, Calif. going up against Karla Saldana (112.8 pounds, 7-2) from the Baja Boxing Club. In this one you had the game, but wild swinging Saldana, often off target while the more polished Ortiz seemed content to systematically break her opponent down by going to the body, landing an occasional right cross and scoring big-time with her weapon of choice the overhand lefts to the side of Saldana’s head.

In Bout #10, Karla Saldana (black trunks) had no answer for the steady stream of left-hands that kept coming at her from the on-charging Roxana Ortiz.

At the conclusion of the bout with Karla Saldana (l), the joyous Roxana Ortiz (r) had her arm raised by referee Alberto “Cookie” Ramos. Photo: J. Wyatt

In Bout #11, it was 9-year-old Jesse “Chuyito” Bojorquez (63 lbs., 10 bouts) from the San Luis Youth Center (PAL Boxing Gym), San Luis, Arizona going up against 8-year-old Jahir Romo (61 lbs., 4 bouts) from Romo’s Boxing, El Centro, Calif.

In this one, both boxers utilized similar tactics, that of trying to keep their jab in their opponent’s face and then come over the top with the big left or right. In this nip and tuck battle, Bojorquez likely won out due to his experience level.

In Bout #11, it was Jesse “Chuyito” Bojorquez (black trunks) of the San Luis PAL earning the victory over Jahir Romo of Romo’s Boxing, El Centro, Calif.

Whenever you have boxers Jahir Romo, Isaiah Bernal, Rene Martinez or Sergio Lopez on your bout sheet, you know you can expect a host of supporters from the Romo Boxing clan. Photo: Jim Wyatt

Bout #12 featured 18-year-old Erik West (122 lbs., 21 bouts) from the Lee Espinoza Coachella Valley Boxing Club, Coachella, Calif. going up against 17-year-old Angel Castro (119.6 lbs., 2-6) from the Baja Boxing Club, Calexico, Calif. With the boisterous Lee Espinoza in West’s corner to pass along instructions, it was like watching and listening to a famous orchestra leader conduct his orchestra. The taller, rangier West delivered on every one of his coach’s requests which led to Castro being issued multiple 8-counts.

At the conclusion of Bout #12, the winner Erik West (l) from the Coachella Valley Boxing Club posed for one last photo with Angel Castro from the Baja Boxing Club. Photo: Jim Wyatt

In Bout #13, it was 14-year-old Isael Quirarte (126.2 lbs., 7 bouts) of Brawley’s La Gente Boxing Club winning his slugfest win 13-year-old Anthony Cortez (126.4 lbs., 7 bouts) from the Indio Boys & Girls Club, Indio, Calif. From the opening bell, the punches came in rapid fire succession. With the busier and more aggressive Quirarte paying closer attention to tracking the number of blows landed, the victory was his.

At the conclusion of Bout #13, Isael Quirarte (r) of Brawley’s La Gente Boxing Club has his arm raised in victory by referee Hondo Fontan after he earned his victory over the tough Anthony Cortez (l) from the Indio Boys & Girls Club.

Bout #14, the final bout of the show, featured 16-year-old Jesse Guillen (118.2 lbs., 3 bouts) from the Indio Boys & Girls Club going up against 15-year-old Jonathan Lau (125 lbs., 7 bouts) from the Baja Boxing Club, Calexico, Calif. This was one of those bouts won by the boxer (Guillen) who threw the straighter punches while his opponent (Lau), more of a brawler, often went wide and missed the shorter, more elusive Guillen who would often duck under the many offerings from Lau.

At the conclusion of their contest, Jesse Guillen (c) posed for a photo with his opponent Jonathan Lau (l) and well-known coach, Antonio Diaz, who when he fought held titles in two divisions, Welterweight and Light Middleweight.

Now with the holidays upon us, local USA Amateur Boxing Shows usually go on hiatus until late January or early February. Meanwhile, the 2016 Junior Open and Youth National Championships return to Reno, January 3-9, 2016. The registration dates for this event have already passed. Age determination date: Youth Athletes had to be 17 or no older than 18 in the year of 2016. Juniors: Athletes had to be 15 or no older than 16 in the year of 2016.

Contestants check-in/arrival date: January 4, 2016

General Weigh-in: January 4, 2016

Event Dates: January 5-9 Departure: January 10, 2016

Venue: Grand Sierra Resort & Casino, Reno, Nevada