Espadas, Cephallos overcome early adversity at Del Mar

This jack off all trades, Joe Lopez, was the honored guest at the latest “Ringside at Del Mar” boxing show Friday evening, February 21, 2014, inside the Mission Tower Exhibit Hall on the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, CA. Photo: J. Wyatt

On Friday evening, the Mission Tower Exhibit Hall on the Del Mar Fairgrounds became the newest and perhaps the most ideal site for the ever-evolving “Ringside at Del Mar” series comprised of six boxing shows scheduled for 2014 presented by Paco Promotions in association with Jorge Marron Productions, A&T Gym, and Barron Entertainment. And to be sure, the estimated 1,000 to 1,100 patrons were entertained to the hilt.

In the opener, Bout #1, it was Francisco “Sparky” Ramirez a 31-year-old social worker from Riverside, CA (0-1) going up against Rey “El Rayo” Mena of South Central Los Angeles, a highly touted welterweight with 30 Amateur bouts, who was making his professional debut.

In the first and second round, Mena was masterful and worked Ramirez over with hard body shots and eventually bloodied his nose. Being busier and having the quicker hands, all Ramirez could do was land an occasional counter. At the close of Round #2, you had to wonder how long before the Ramirez corner would throw in the towel.

Amazingly, Ramirez was able to turn the tide in Round #3 and then did just enough in Round #4 to win that round by the slimmest of margins. Why Mena took his foot off the peddle only he can answer. Judges Alejandro Rochin and Max DeLuca scored the bout 38-38 while Jose Cobian had Mena ahead 39-37.

After an amazing turn around in Rounds 3 and 4, Francisco Ramirez (r) pulled even with Rey Mena (l) to earn a majority decision draw. Photos: Jim Wyatt

Bout #2 featured the highly anticipated pro debut of 20-year-old, light heavyweight Manuel “El Venado” Ceballos, 174 lbs., from the A & T Gym and Boxing Club in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Like his stablemate, Elias Espadas, Ceballos forged his career in the amateur ranks and won medals in the National Olympiad.

His opponent, also making his pro debut, was 27-year-old, southpaw Jerome Buchanan, a former MMA fighter from Florida by way of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Being three pounds overweight at their weigh-in on Thursday, Buchanan had to forfeit 20% of his purse.

With things getting off to a chaotic start in round one and both boxers winding up to deliver haymakers, Ceballos suddenly got caught with a straight right that sent him to the canvas. To his credit, the surprised Ceballos was up in an instant and looking for payback. Looking more embarrassed than hurt, Ceballos finished the rest of the round strong, and at one point it appeared Ceballos had a shot at finishing off Buchanan.

In round two, Ceballos wasted no time and was right back peppering Buchanan and landing these powerful straight rights to the head in combination with solid left hooks. Before you knew it, Buchanan went down. Even though Buchanan was able to beat the referee’s count, you could see he was on shaky legs. After another barrage of punches, Buchanan went down again. For a second time, Buchanan beat the count but upon closer inspection referee Jose Cobian could see the glazed look in his eyes and immediately called for the stoppage at 2:39 of round two.

The nonstop pummeling by Manuel Ceballos (green & red trunks) happened so fast it must have been a total blur to Jerome Buchanan who was on the receiving end. Just as blurry as these photos. 

(top, left) With the victor goes the spoils. At the conclusion of Bout #2, the victorious Manuel “El Venado” Ceballos had his arm raised in victory by referee Jose Cobian and was soon joined by the lovely ring card gals for photos.

In Bout #3, it was Roque “Rocky” Ramos of Escondido by way of La Estancia De Los López, Nayarit, Mexico (3-0-1, 1 KO) gaining a majority decision win in a four round super featherweight contest with 28-year-old Thomas “The Animal” Herrera of Hollywood, Los Angeles, Calif. by way of Tucson, Arizona (3-9-1, 1 KO). 

After Ramos controlled the action in both rounds one and two, Herrera came on strong in round #3, controlling the action with his stiff in your face jabs followed by quick combinations. In the final frame, Ramos was right back dominating the action to remove any doubt about who had won the match.

The judges’ scores turned out to be a bit strange as Judge Alejandro Rochin scored the bout 38-38, a draw, while judges Max DeLuca and Jose Cobian had Ramos winning every round.

(top photo) It didn’t happen that often, but here we see Thomas Herrera (r) unloading a solid, overhand right to the chin of Roque Ramos. Photo: Paul Gallegos

(bottom) Roque Ramos has his arm raised in victory by referee Pat Russell after ring announcer Benny Ricardo announces the scores. Photos: Jim Wyatt

In Bout #4, it was Daniel“Bolillo” Covielles of Oxnard, Calif. (2-0, 1 KO) defeating local favorite Johnny Boy Quiroz (5-2-0, 1 KO) of Oceanside, CA. Once again, at the Thursday weigh-ins, there was a discrepancy in the weights and the shorter but heftier Covielles weighed in three pounds heavier than Quiroz.

So, as Friday’s four-round, super flyweight war progressed, it seemed it was only a matter of time before’s Covielles heftier punches would take their toll. Quiroz tried his best to keep Covielles at bay with the straighter punches up the middle and on occasion sprinkled in a dandy uppercut but Covielles was like a man of steel. Despite taking punch after punch, Covielles never took a step back while delivering his even harder blows.

Once again, the crowd seemed a bit miffed when hearing it was a majority decision. Judge Pat Russell scored the bout even at 38-38 while both Max DeLuca and Alejandro Rochin had Covielles winning every round.

(top) Johnny Boy Quiroz is on the receiving end of a straight left from Daniel Covielles. Then, in the photo below, Quiroz returns the favor with a solid right cross that couldn’t have been thrown any better. Photos: Paul Gallegos

(bottom) Johnny Boy Quiroz (l) congratulates the victorious Daniel Covielles who is having his arm raised in victory by referee Jose Cobian. Photos: J. Wyatt

Bout #5 was thought to be a middleweight mismatch, between Elias Espadas of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, an ex-National Amateur Champion with five pro bouts and four wins under his belt, facing the 33-year-old Omar Barefield of Mountain View, Calif. who after his first five fights had five losses. That being said, in boxing, you never know what will happen.

In round one, with the combatants looking pretty much even in their exchanges, the all or nothing Barefield suddenly pressed forward using his head as a battering ram and blood from the resulting head butt started streaming down into Espadas’ left eye. Fretful after seeing his blood, Espadas abandoned his game plan and went immediately for payback. He sent Barefield to the canvas and when he got up he was on wobbly legs.

In the opening minute of round two, it was Barefield catching a careless Espadas with an overhand right to send him to the canvas. Even though both boxers had exchanged knockdowns, with Espadas’ bad cut, it appeared Barefield might just have a shot at winning this fight.

During the break, Espadas’ corner must have put the fire in his belly because when he came out for round three you could see smoke coming out his nostrils. By the close of round three, a round in which Espadas had beaten Barefield from pillar to post, the battered Barefield had trouble seeing out of his left eye that was almost swollen shut. On the advice of the ring doctor and his corner, Barefield remained seated on his stool and did not come out for the fourth and final round.

Up top we see Omar Barefield on the canvas after taking a beating from Elias Espadas. Below Espadas receives the royal treatment from the lovely, young hostesses who gathered for some quick photos. Photos: Jim Wyatt

During intermission, ring announcer Benny Ricardo asked San Diego’s Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (26-1-1, 14 KOs) to come up to the ring. At that time, Ricardo announced that the promotion group had signed the former, IBF top 10 ranked lightweight to headline their next show on April 11th.

Gesta, who won the NABO Youth Lightweight title back in 2010, has been on hiatus from the sport after losing his first fight, a decision loss in the IBF World Title Fight with Miguel Vazquez which was featured on an HBO Pay-Per-View event back on December 8, 2012.

Ring announcer Benny Ricardo makes the announcement that lightweight Mercito Gesta will be featured in the Main Event of the next “Ringside at Del Mar” show planned for Friday, April 11, 2014, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

At the conclusion of that announcement, the names of boxers in attendance were announced. Among them were Rey Gamez and his brother Genaro “El Conde” Gamez, the USA National Lightweight Amateur Champion who recently returned from the Dominican Republic where he won a Gold Medal in the Independence Cup. They also had light welterweight Stevie “Two Pounds” Forbes, the former IBF Super Featherweight Champ, lightweight Leon “3rd Generation” Spinks, super bantamweight Pablo Cupul, super welterweight Raphael “Pride of San Diego” Ramirez, and featherweight Anecito “Dondon” Gesta, Mercito Gesta’s younger brother.

They all came up into the ring to join Jorge Marron in a special tribute to former boxer, trainer and gym owner, Joe Lopez, who at the age of 82, recently announced his retirement after 53 years in boxing. The ceremony was not as grandiose as Sunday’s closing ceremonies in Sochi, Russia but for many, it had the same, heartfelt meaning.

After the celebration, it was back to live action with Bout #6, featuring Jorge “Tito” Ruiz of Chula Vista, Calif. (4-1-0, 2 KOs) matched up against Luis Silva (0-2) from Tijuana, B. C., Mexico. After all the earlier excitement, this bout turned into a real snoozer. If someone were to tell you Silva had been competitive in this match then they are stretching the truth. After suffering his first loss last year, Ruiz was back to right the ship. To quote my colleague, Felipe Leon: “Silva had his moments but Ruiz was able to neutralize him with distance and good defense.”

From the looks of these photos, it appears Jorge “Tito” Ruiz (l) was giving his opponent Luis Silva (r) quite a beating. Photos: Paul Gallegos

(top, right) At the conclusion of Bout #6, Jorge “Tito” Ruiz had his arm raised in victory by referee Jose Cobian after his defeat of Luis Silva (top, left).

Bout #7, the Main Event of the evening, saw Tijuana’s Fernando “Cuervito” Garcia (19-6-2, 11 KOs) earn a very methodical six round, split decision victory over the  tough, ring savvy Adolfo “Tepito” Landeros (22-34-2, 10 KOs) of Calexico, Calif. by way of Mexico City, Mexico. With it being a six rounder and both boxers having a ton of experience between them (together they had been in 85 professional fights) the boxers relied on their smarts every step of the way. They knew how to lean on their opponent. They’d wait to counter off each wide punch and both knew how to hit and then tie up their opponent.

Since Garcia had the quicker hands and landed the harder blows, the outcome appeared to be a no-brainer. He did most of his damage with these fully leveraged, extremely hard left hooks to the body and occasionally he’d pierce through Landeros’ defense to land a solid uppercut. The only thing the judges needed to do was keep track of the punches landed and as long as Garcia matched or exceeded the number of punches thrown by Landeros, than the scoring should have been easy.

Most times, the fighter, who is behind, as Landeros was going into that sixth and final round, will put on a concerted effort and go for the knockout. That strategy failed miserably when Garcia, in excellent condition and knowing full well he was ahead on the scorecards, did not allow Landeros an opening and instead circled and clinched. That being said, Judge Jose Cobian scored the bout 59-55 for Garcia while both judges Max DeLuca and Alejandro Rochin scored the bout 58-56 for Garcia.

Top photographer Paul Gallegos took these great action shots of the Main Event which featured Adolfo Landeros (white trunks) and the eventual winner, Fernando Garcia (black trunks).

(bottom) At the conclusion of Bout#7 versus Adolfo Landeros of Calexico, Calif., lightweight Fernando Garcia of Tijuana, B. C., Mexico has his arm raised in victory by veteran referee Pat Russell. Photo: Jim Wyatt

The newly christened “Ringside at Del Mar” series will be comprised of six scheduled fight events per year and follow the promotional team’s successful staging of the two pilot shows held last year at the fairgrounds. This partnership envisions this inaugural series to blossom into an annual staple of regularly scheduled fight nights showcasing the fastest rising and best, local talent.