Pick the winners of “Path to Glory” Friday’s Boxing Show in Ontario
Boxer Rigoberto “El Asesino” Flores and his son (Center) are joined by his support staff from the Maywood Boxing Gym which includes boxer Charles Huerta (L) along with his dad Mando Huerta (second from the right). Photo: Jim Wyatt
After attending the weigh-ins on Thursday, September 20, 2012 for the Thompson Boxing Promotion “Path to Glory” to take place on Friday night at the Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, CA, I thought it might be a fun exercise to have you the reader pick the winners based on the photos taken, along with the information provided. Then you can check back on Saturday to see how well you did and discover how good you are at judging talent. On Saturday, I’ll post the winners at the bottom of this article.
After all, if you want to be the next Oscar De La Hoya or Bob Arum, this would be a good exercise to judge not only the look of a boxer, weigh his past performance, and show us you have the savvy to sign the best fighters for your stable. The better fighters you have, the bigger your purses and more money you make.
On Friday night, it will be Richard Contreras (L) of Riverside, CA facing Jonathan Alcantara (R) of Novato, CA. Photo: Jim Wyatt Overnight this bout was cancelled.
First up, they were to have a six round featherweight match-up between a 5’6” southpaw, 22 year-old Richard “El Terminador” Contreras (9-0-1, 8 KOs) of Riverside, CA facing 5’5” 24 year-old Jonathan Alcantara (6-8-2, 1 KO) of Novato, CA. Since this bout was later cancelled, we’ll have to wait until they meet later.
Contreras ended up in a draw in his last bout against Daniel Quevedo (13-12-2) and has only one win against a boxer with a winning record.
Alcantara has only won twice in his last ten bouts having faced top talent – people like Jesse Magdaleno, Efrain Esquivias, Jonathan Arrellano, Luis Rosa, and Roman Morales – all were loses. He did beat Walter Sarnoi (at the time 12-2) on May 11, 2012.
On Thursday, September 20, 2012, boxing promoter Ken Thompson (C) joined boxers Miguel Diaz (R) of Allentown, PA and Joseph Rios (L) of San Antonio, Texas at their official weigh-in for their fight on Friday evening at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Next, is an eight round flyweight matchup between 5’6” Miguel Diaz (9-0-0, 4 KOs) of Allentown, PA (ranked #4 among U.S. fighters) going up against 5’5” 30 year-old Joseph Rios (11-7-2, 4 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas. They’ll be fighting for the vacant WBC United States flyweight title.
Diaz, who trains at the Allentown International Boxing Club, told me he had 154 Amateur bouts and only learned about Friday’s bout last Tuesday and then had to crash diet to lose 10 pounds in order to make weight.
Rios is from the Knock U Out Boxing Gym in San Antonio, Texas. His dad Mike Rios, older brother Mike Rios Jr. along with Rick Morones train him. He’s fought Leo Santa Cruz, the current IBF World Champion, a loss and then had two losses and a draw versus Luis Yanez, the 2008 Olympian who hasn’t lost a fight in the U. S. in over five years, compiling a record of 89-0.
Rios went 54-10 as an amateur and proudly boasts, “I’ve never failed to finish a fight.” Since his favorite boxer is Manny Pacquiao, he likes to mimic his style and go all out to entertain his fan base.
Rigoberto Flores (R) and Rolando Campos (L) face off at their official weigh-in on Thursday, September 20, 2012 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Ca. Photo: Jim Wyatt Overnight, Campos was pulled from the fight card in favor of Joaquin Chavez of Commerce, CA.
Next, they’re featuring light welterweight 5’7” Rigoberto “El Asesino” Flores (5-1-0, 2 KOs) of Northridge in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, CA facing 28 year-old Rolando “The Kid” Campos (6-4-0, 2 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas in a six rounder.
After losing his first fight, Flores has won five straight, two by knockout. He beat Roberto Crespo of nearby Riverside, CA by an unanimous decision back on October 14, 2011. Rigo, who is married and has a son, appears to be totally focused, totally committed and trains extremely hard with Mando Huerta at the Maywood Gym.
The key here is the combined record of Campos’ past opponents which is 13-23-1. The combined record of the opponent’s he’s beaten is even worse (4-23-1). As mentioned, Campos was replaced on this fight card.
Gino Mc Clellan (R) and Mike Noriega (L) face off at their official weigh-in on Thursday, September 20, 2012 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Ca. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Next, 29 year-old light middleweight 5’7” Gino “Mr. Incredible” Mc Clellan (8-0-0, 3 KOs) of the Fourth Street Boxing Gym in St. Petersburg, Florida is set to face Mike Noriega (4-0-0, 4 KOs) of Imperial, CA by way of Mexicali, Mexico, in a six rounder. If you listen to Mc Clellan or anyone in his entourage, he’s the greatest.
Before you get too excited about “The Greatest” remember this, of the eight boxers he’s faced only two had a winning record. The three boxers that he has KO’d have a combined record of (5-19-1).
Noriega has the frame of a middle linebacker and of the four boxers he’s faced none have gotten out of the second round. They also had a rather dismal combined record of 0-15.
Derrick Murray (L) and Pedro Toledo are joined by boxing promoter Ken Thompson (C) at their official weigh-in, Thursday, September 20, 2012 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Ca. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Next, super featherweight 5’7” 24 year-old Derrick “Whoop Dat Ass” Murray (4-0-0, 3 KOs) of Huntington Beach, CA by way of St. Louis, Missouri is set to face Pedro Toledo (1-0-0) of Habana, Cuba, then Ibarra, Ecuador and now Las Vegas, Nevada.
As far as experience, Toledo has plenty. He’s had 260 amateur bouts. Murray currently trains at the Casillas Boxing Club in Southgate.
Javier Torrres (L) and Avery Gibson (R) face off at their official weigh-in on Thursday, September 20, 2012 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Ca. Photo: Jim Wyatt
And finally, in the heavyweight division, they have 6’3” 238 pound, 24 year-old Javier “Monster” Torres of Longbeach, CA (2-0-0, 1 KO) who fought his first fight in May of this year. He will be facing 29 year-old Avery Gibson (0-0-1) of Lancaster, CA who unfortunately fought his first fight on August 11, 2012 against a Russian prospect from the Goossen/Tudor Camp by the name of Sergo Pogosyan. More than a few people believe Gibson was robbed in this contest. Gibson is the pride of Monster Fitness of Lancaster, CA and as an USA amateur he did very well in his 35 amateur bouts, well enough to win in the Nationals at Colorado Springs.
The show’s promoter is Ken Thompson, who together with his Matchmaker/General Manager Alex Camponovo, have built a reputation for putting together exciting shows where the boxers are evenly matched to insure that everyone is on the edge of their seats right up until that final bell.
Friday’s results from the Doubletree :
On Friday, there were several changes to the fight card. Gone was the Richard Contreras vs. Jonathan Alcantara matchup and Rolando Campos was replaced by Joaquin Chavez. Feelers are out to discover what happened.
In the opening bout, heavyweights Javier Torres of Long Beach, CA and Lancaster, CA’s Avery Gibson went four rounds. After Torres landed a low blow in Round #1, referee Ray Corona deducted a point from Torres. All three judges scored the bout 38-37 with one judge favoring Gibson and the others favoring Torres as he walked away with the split decision. Torres remains undefeated and improves to (3-0, 1 KO) while Gibson goes to (0-1-1).
Derrick Murray (4-0, 3 KOs) and Pedro Toledo (1-0) excited the crowd by exchanging knockdowns while going the distance. In the end all three judges scored it a draw 37-37 in a most exciting bout. Derrick Murray goes to (4-0-1, 3 KOs) and Pedro Toledo is now (1-0-1).
Eugene McClellan of St. Petersburg, Florida won an unanimous decision over Mexicali’s Mike Noriega in their six round Jr. Middleweight boxer-versus-puncher bout. Noriega’s strategy of thumping McClellan’s body and occasionally landing the big overhand right failed to impress the judges who favored the flashier McClellan using his jab and occasionally landing the combinations.
Judges scored the bout 60-54, 58-56, and 58-56 all in favor of McClellan who improves to (9-0, 3 KOs) while Noriega drops to (4-1, 4 KOs).
In the co-main event junior welterweight Rigoberto Flores (6-1, 2 KOs) got the best of Joaquin Chavez of Commerce, CA who now drops to (1-4-2, 1 KO). Chavez took the fight on just 24 hour notice and fought just one week ago, September 13th, versus Jesus Gutierrez. Still, he gave Flores a tough fight.
In the Main Event, Joseph Rios (12-7-2, 4 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas got the win over Miguel Diaz Jr. (9-1, 4 KOs) of Allentown, PA. by a split decision.
Celebrities in attendance included: Riverside, CA’s Josesito Lopez, the new WBC featherweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon, former world title challenger Urbano Antillon, hall of famers Bobby Chacon and Danny “Little Red” Lopez.
Thompson Boxing returns next month on October 19 to the same Doubletree Hotel.
