Friday night fights in TJ, sound effects, crowd noise and excitement
After an outstanding amateur career, Reynaldo “El Rey” Russell (C) made a big splash Friday evening in his professional debut at the Auditorio de Municipal in Tijuana with a TKO victory over Francisco Hernandez. After the bout, Russell was flanked by his support staff, most notable Kid Melo (L) and Monica Abedith Rico (R) his trainer. Photo: J. Wyatt
After the crowd was warmed up by a half dozen amateur bouts, along came the big boys, some of Tijuana’s top pros.
After the referee stopped the bout, Diego Rivera (C) is shown awaiting the official announcement. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In Bout#1, Antonio Villa G. was no match for the more polished fighter Diego Rivera and it was only a matter of time before his corner and the referee realize this and somebody threw in the towel.
Prior to his bout against Diego Rivera, Antonio Villa G. (C) posed for a photo with his support group, Jorge Juarez (R) and Antonio Garcia (L). Photo: J. Wyatt
In Bout #2 the elusive Jose Ramon Vidalez (R) is shown ducking under a Jose Luis Ramirez punch.
In his dressing room Jose Luis Ramirez is seen getting help with his gloves from his trainer and confidant Monica Abedith Rico. Photo: Jim Wyatt
The judges polled said the bout was dead even going into the final round. In that final round Jose Luis Ramirez pulled out all the stops to eek out the victory. Photo: Jim Wyatt
“It was a good win,” said Jesse Isais of Bout #3. After his last bout, a draw versus the elusive Jesus Hernandez at the Pala Casino in Pala, CA, Isais needed an opponent like Eduardo Iniguez who wasn’t as mobile, someone willing to stand mano a mano, toe to toe. Photo: J. Wyatt
Prior to his bout with Jesse Isais, Eduardo Iniguez (R) is shown inside the dressing room receiving last minute instructions from his coach.
At the start of Bout #4, Walter Sarnoi (8-1, 4 KOs) had a difficult time landing a punch on Jose Iniguez, so he went downstairs and started working over his midsection. Before long the left hook power-drivers were taking their toll and before you know it, Iniguez was forced to take a knee. After he went down a second time, he didn’t get up.
After going down for the second time, Jose Iniguez was hurting and couldn’t recover in time to beat the referee’s 10 count. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #5 featured two special fighters, Reynaldo Russell (L) and Francisco Hernandez (R), two guys who threw punches from every conceivable angle. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In the end, it was Russell’s power that got him an early stoppage. Just before unloading on Hernandez, he’d use a deceptive tick-tock, side to side motion and then pow. Photo: J. Wyatt
From the outset of Bout #6, German Perez was a nasty, tough guy, a Nick Diaz clone. You land a punch on me and I’ll give you (Hector Rivera) three in return. He even refused to touch gloves as a sign of sportsmanship.
Realizing he was behind on the scorecards, Hecto Rivera employed his own rough-housing tactics when he grabbed German Perez, lifted him off his feet and threw him down. Photo: J. Wyatt
Prior to his Bout #7 appearance, Javier “The Cobra” Mendoza posed for this photo with his longtime coach Victor Godoy. Photo: Jim Wyatt
With the fierceness of the punches thrown, it was inevitable one or the other would go down. However, no one thought it would be Mendoza with his quick hands.
When Jorge Guerrero caught Javier Mendoza a second time, the punch landed flush and Mendoza wasn’t just hurt he was on freaky street. Photo: Jim Wyatt
After the referee stopped the bout, Javier Mendoza had to receive immediate medical attention.
The victorious Jorge Guerrero has his arms raised by the referee and one of the lovely hostesses.
Bout #8 won by Sergio Nunez over Oswaldo Ibarra was expected to be the biggest fight of the night but it had no shot of coming anywhere near the previous bouts.
Oswaldo Ibarra, who came up short in Bout #8, has that dejected look on his face. ‘What can I say, I gave it my best shot.’
