Jorge Zapoteco out-slugs Jorge Marron Jr. in defense of his title
On Friday evening, July 6, 2018, the expected memorable bout at the Grand Hotel Tijuana in Tijuana between orthodox boxer Jorge Luis Zapoteco of Tijuana (6–4–3, 2 KOs) and the undefeated southpaw Jorge Marron Jr. (12–0–0, 3 KOs) from Lakeside, Calif., never materialized much to the chagrin of the many boxing fans in attendance. Perhaps the high humidity discouraged these thoughts. The fierce exchanges of Marron’s left hooks with Zapoteco’s straight rights was the desire that went unmet. This was to be Zapoteco’s finest hour and Jorge Marron Jr. was not going to deny him his championship.
At the outset, both Marron and Zapoteco did put on a creditable show but that all seemed to fizzle as soon as they headed into the championship rounds.
(top left photo) Jorge Marron Jr.’s coach appears to be urging his charge to get busy. You want this championship belt? Then, you’re going to have to get out there and earn it.
On Friday night, Jorge Zapoteco removed the “0” from Marron Jr.’s ledger by keeping better track of the blows landed plus this continual, one-upmanship lasted the majority of this six rounder. As an opponent, Marron failed to throw his usual all or nothing left hooks which in the past would have almost guaranteed the victory. The end result, Zapoteco remains the champ and the many Marron backers had to head home disappointed.
So, which of the remaining eight bouts came through to claim the distinction of “Bout of the Night”? It’s a designation that usually goes to that one featured bout where the underdog, usually a smaller guy, manages to outpoint the bigger guy or the guy with the pedestrian record ends up landing that one big punch to KO the more accomplished fighter. That distinction would have to go to the Manuel “Mani” Yahuaca scrap with the shorter Alex “Koreano” Castaneda. At their weigh-in on Thursday, the undefeated Yahuaca, just 20 years of age, a Tijuana up and comer oozing with confidence, made the mistake of looking down at the shorter Castaneda and beaming from ear to ear. Yahuaca must have felt he was going to be in the driver’s seat through out or why else would he give his opponent this stimulus. The only edge he thought Castaneda could claim was his large group of supporters, all of which would be wearing Alex Castaneda’s in-your-face custom-made Koreano T-shirts.
Before the start of Bout #5, Manuel “Mani” Yahuaca (r) and the cool, casual Alex “Koreano” Castaneda along with their trainers met center ring to receive final instructions from veteran referee Fernando Renteria.
At the outset of their contest, Yahuaca (in the black trunks) maintained his distance while his longer reach and superior accuracy could prove superior as his punches rained down, hard and straight, on his much shorter opponent.
Yahuaca (dark trunks) could have been compared to a master bullfighter the way he was able to land his sharp blows and keep the hard-charging Castaneda at the proper distance.
With Castaneda’s dad in his corner, the elder “Mr. C” had his son switch tactics and from the second round on, it was Yahuaca who was in trouble. At that point, Castaneda began to crowd his opponent, staying in close to land these windmill and roundhouse punches that hit Yahuaca like clubs, the ones a caveman might use to kill a larger prey. Castaneda also began to charge at Yahuaca using the top of his head (inadvertently). 
From that second round on, the sharper boxer got clobbered from any and all angles and ultimately lost the battle by a unanimous decision.
At the conclusion of Bout #7, we see veteran referee Fernando Renteria raising the arm of the smiling Alex “Koreano” Castaneda. It was said later that Castaneda’s younger opponent Manuel “Mani” Yahuaca had to have learned a valuable lesson.
Now here’s a rundown of the complete undercard, starting with Bouts #1 thru #6 and adding Bout #9
Bout #1 featured 18-year-old debutant Alfredo Espinoza (l) Global ID 843013 facing fellow 18-year-old, hot prospect Oscar Ortega (5-0, 3 KOs) Global ID 808537 from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico who weighed-in at 123.46 lbs. for this 4-round super featherweight contest.
Even though the match went the distance, you had the feeling that Ortega (r) could have easily forced the referee’s hand and had him stop this one-sided bout earlier, before the final bell.
Bout #2 opponents, 20-year-old super welterweight Juan Carlos Rubio Terriquez (left) record 11–0, 4 KOs, 155.43 lbs., Global ID 746260 and 22-year-old Joan “Pitbull” Alcaraz (right) record 6-1, 6 KOs, 158.73 lbs., Global ID 779741, make their way to the ring.
Before the bout, the boxers received final instructions from referee Fernando Renteria.
Before long, Alcaraz’s face had been badly beaten and it appeared his left eye would soon be swollen shut. At this point, the ring doctor took one look and advised the referee to stop the bout. Your winner by TKO, Juan Carlos Rubio Terriquez.
You can’t beat supporters like these ladies who joined their hero after his 12th victory.
Bout #3, a four-round bantamweight contest, had 18-year-old Tijuana resident Luis Javier “Javi” Valdes Global ID 825216, record 2-0-1, facing Ulises “Duende” Gabriel (0-1, Global ID 825217, for a second time, ever since their Pro-debut on 9-02-17. Gabriel is also a resident of Tijuana and coincidentally weighed in at the same exact 125.66 lbs.
Before long it was clear Valdes with his height and reach advantage had this match well in hand. With the victory, Valdes improved to 3-0-1, while Gabriel lost his second straight to go to 0-2. Also, on this night, Daniela Modad, endorsed by the Tijuana Commission made history when she debuted as a professional boxing referee to become the first woman with a license to do both, ref a professional boxing match and ref a professional Mixed Martial Arts fight.
(photo, top) Before the start of Bout #4, Francisco “Franki” Cuadrado (r) a 26-year-old Venezuelan, super lightweight with a record of 4-0, 1 NC, now living in Tijuana, Global ID 802012, and his 26-year-old opponent, Sergio “Bailarin” Blanco (0-1-2) (left) Global ID 730364, receive final instructions from referee Daniela Modad. Within a short three rounds, Blanco had been coaxed over to his opponent’s corner where Cuadrado rudely landed this solid right hand directly on his chin and down went Blanco for the count.
Your knockout winner, Francisco Cuadrado improved his record to 5-0 with 4 KOs while Sergio Blanco dropped to (0-2-2).
In Bout #5 they featured two light heavyweights, 21-year-old Noe “El Gallo” Larios (right) born 4-12-97 (6-0, 4 KOs) Global ID 782409, 169 lbs. from Ramona, Calif. taking on 21-year-old Julio “Manos de Pedra” Alcantar (left) born 3-29-1997 (1-3, 1 KO), Global ID 825277, 170 lbs. from Tijuana, B. C., Mexico.
And your Bout 5 winner by unanimous decision, Noe Larios who improved his record to 6-0.
Bout #6 combatants both now reside in Tijuana. (l to r) 33-year-old Hugo “Furioso” Montoya (4-21-1, 2 KOs, a victim of 8 KOs) Global ID 463404 and 30-year-old Emmanuel “Renegade” Robles (15-3-1, 5 KOs) Global ID 546268.
Surprisingly, Montoya (in the yellow trunks) was able to last the full six rounds while being beaten and battered from pillar to post. With the win, Robles improved to 16-3-1 with 5 KOs.
Friends gathered around their hero for that memorable photo. (bottom right) Emmanuel “Renegade” Robles is joined by his support group which includes well-known trainers Ernest “Silky” Johnson and son Ernie “Too Slick” Johnson from Old School Boxing & Fitness Center.
Another gaffe on the evening was the quick departure of the many fans who were expressly there to see the Jorge Marron Jr. versus Jorge Zapoteco bout for the championship belt. The mass exodus had everyone believing that was the final bout of the evening. But Au Contraire! There was one more. Yours truly was also under that same impression. So, while waiting in the wings for their introductions, the newly arrived Martin Fidel “El Terrible” Rios who only recently arrived from Parera, La Pampa, Argentina and his opponent Francisco “Giro” Lopez Chavez from Mexicali, B. C., Mexico must have felt like Lucille Ball did when her husband Ricky Ricardo started ignoring her and she had to join the “Friends of the Friendless Club.” Hopefully, the promoter was able to explain what had happened and why he had to make these boxers fight in front of what appeared to be no more 30 to possibly 35 people.
So, what happened in that final, mystery bout? The Tijuana Boxing Commission’s report currently states the more experienced Martin Fidel Rios (photo taken at the July 5, 2018 weigh-in) Record 22-17-4, 12 KOs) Global ID 636738 from Parera, La Pampa, Argentina took out his frustrations on a debutante by the name of Francisco Javier Lopez Chavez, a 27-year-old from Mexicali, Baja, California, Mexico (who was issued a Brand New Global ID of 842957). According to the Co-Promoter Jorge Marron Jr., Martin Fidel Rios actually fought Francisco “Giro” Lopez Chavez (Global ID 456043, Record 2-12-1) from Ahome, Sinaloa, Mexico and by the end of the second round, Lopez Chavez was being advised by everyone including the fight doctor to quit and come back on another day. As a result, Lopez did just that and quit on his stool after two rounds.
There are actually multiple possibilities in regards to this Martin Fidel Rios’ bout as the name of his opponent has been altered multiple times. What we do know is that Francisco Javier Lopez had to weigh around 163 lbs. and had to live close by either in Tijuana or Mexicali, and at this point his win and loss record plus Global ID has become a joke. The boxer’s goal is obvious, he wants a good to decent record so he can get as many bouts as possible to make the most money. Whether he kneels down after just 28 seconds or goes the distance, how he loses doesn’t really matter. Hopefully and soon, we can report a resolution to this mystery.
