Weekends most noteworthy and exciting fights

Jean Pascal, the champion, versus Bernard "the Executioner" Hopkins, the challenger.

Friday 20 May 2011

at the Hangar at the O. C. Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, CA.

Friday we were entertained by Roy Englebrecht at the O. C. Fair & Event Center where Chris Martin of Chula Vista ended up with an unanimous decision victory over Charles Huerta of nearby Paramount, CA

In the co-main event Ronny Rios of Santa Ana, CA held on to beat the tough Russian Georgi Kevlishvili.

Saturday 21 May 2011

at the Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the best fight of the weekend

What’s so special about this bout? Pascal entered the bout as The Ring Magazine’s Light Heavyweight Champion and the elder Hopkins was the underdog according to the Las Vegas line. Ticket prices were sky high.

What's with the pink sweater? Why don't you dress like a real man? Comments I'm sure were on the tip of Bernard Hopkins' tongue when the two appeared at their first press conference.

With a win, Hopkins, 46, would supplant George Foreman as the oldest world champion in boxing history.

After the tentative opening two rounds Round 3 was a big one for Hopkins who found success with the overhand rights to momentarily stun Pascal. In Round 4, the heated exchanges of power shots appeared to affect Hopkins more so than Pascal. Prior to the bell to begin Round 7, Hopkins for some unknown reason began to do pushups. The close in, heavy-handed action continued through the ninth round. In the ninth, Pascal’s glove touched the canvas after a short right cross but for some unexplained reason, the touch was ruled a slip rather than a knockdown. Midway through round ten, Hopkins landed another right hand that caused an off balanced Pascal to again touch his glove on the mat. Again,this was ruled to be a slip. In the eleventh round, Pascal appeared to be tiring.

After the bout HBO’s Jim Lampley remarked: “Unless these scores are way out of whack, he (Hopkins) has done it.”

Emanuel Steward on Hopkins, “He was spectacular tonight.”

George Foreman: “I was on the edge of my seat every round. It was such an exciting fight. Bernard was the better athlete, the smarter fighter and in better condition. Now that a 46 has done it, next a 47, 48, 49 and 50 will do it. And if somebody does it at 60, then I’ll have to get back in there.”

On the undercard light heavyweight Chad Dawson (30-1-0, 17 KOs) won a 12 round unanimous decision over Adrian Diaconu (27-2-0, 15 KOs).

at La Plaza Mayor, Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico

Martin Honorio (30-6-1-15 KOs) scored a second round TKO victory over Eugenio Lopez (20-18-1, 16 KOs).

Also, in his debut, an Adrian Vargas impersonator won an unanimous decision victory over Leonardo Bedolla (0-1-1) in a four rounder. I doubt if he’s ready to face San Diego’s Adrian Vargas who currently trains at the Undisputed Fitness and Training Center in Downtown.

at Centro de Espectáculos, Morelia, Michoacán de Ocampo, Mexico

Mariana Juarez (right) of Mexico is shown pummeling her opponent Gabriel Bouvier of Uruguay.

In her first defense of the WBC Female World Flyweight title, Mariana “Barbie” Juarez (29-5-2,14 KOs) of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico scored a seventh round TKO victory over Gabriela “La Gaby” Bouvier (6-1-1, 2 KOs) of Maldonado, Uruguay.

at San Martín Texmelucan de Labastida, Puebla, Mexico

Super flyweight Oscar Ibarra (27-4-0, 18 KOs) scored a seventh round TKO victory over Juanito Rubillar (48-17-7, 23 KOs) to win the WBC Silver super flyweight title.

Juan Palacios (r) celebrates after his victory.

Minimumweight Juan Palacios (28-3-0, 21 KOs) won an unanimous decision victory over Sammy Gutierrez (29-5-2) to win the interim WBA World Minimumweight title

On the undercard, welterweight Jorge “El Ratón” Paez Jr. of Mexicali (27-4-1, 17 KOs), son of the former WBO & IBF Featherweight Champion Jorge “Maromero” Paez lost a 10 round unanimous decision to Jose Lopez (10-0-1, 5 KOs).

at the Metropolitan Arena, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico

Tomas Rojas is shown landing a solid right on the cheek of Juan Jose Montes.

Super flyweight Tomas Rojas (36-12-1, 23 KOs) retired Juan Jose Montes (19-2-0, 12 KOs) in the eleventh round of a 12 rounder to win the WBC super flyweight title.

at the Sport Complex Krylatskoe, Moscow, Russia

After the beating he took in Russia, his third in a row, perhaps Roy Jones Jr. will stay put as a boxing color commentator for HBO.

Cruiserweight Denis Lebedev (22-1-0, 17 KOs) a 31-year-old southpaw from Chekhov, Russia knocked out the 42 year-old Roy Jones Jr. (54-8-0, 40 KOs) of Pensacola, Florida in the tenth round of their scheduled 12 rounder.

Lebedev, who is now coached by former undisputed world jr. welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu, had Jones pinned against the ropes when he landed a series of punches that caused Jones Jr. to bend over and appear to be out on his feet. Lebedev came forward and threw one last punch before the referee stepped in to wave an end to the bout. Jones then fell face first to the canvas and lay there unconscious for several minutes.

At 198 1/4 lbs., Jones Jr. was fighting at the heaviest weight of his career, 23 pounds heavier than in his previous bout. It was his third consecutive loss after losing to Danny Green and then Bernard Hopkins. Lebedev was rebounding from the first loss of his pro career, a split decision loss six months earlier to WBO Cruiserweight Champion Marco Huck.

at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, CA.

Light middleweight Alfonso Gomez (23-4-2, 12 KOs), who gained much acclaim by being a top competitor on The Contender TV program, scored a TKO victory over Calvin Green (21-6-1, 13 KOs).

Super featherweight Michael Franco (19-0-0, 12 KOs) won an unanimous decision over Rafael Lora (11-6-0, 5 KOs) in their eight rounder.

Super featherweight Michael Farenas (31-3-3) won a mixed decision victory over Daniel Attah (25-7-1, 9 KOs) in their eight rounder.

Lightweight Jose Roman (10-0-0, 8 KOs) knocked out Jose Mendoza (7-1-0, 3 KOs) in the first round of their scheduled six rounder.

at the UIC Pavilion, Chicago, Illinois

Light heavyweight Andrzej Fonfara (18-2-0, 9 KOs) ko’ed Anthony Russell (16-3-1, 5 KOs) in the seventh round of their 10 rounder for the vacant WBO NABO light heavyweight title.

at the Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey

Welterweight Joel Julio (37-4-0, 31 KOs) won an unanimous decision victory over Anges Adjaho (25-6-0, 14 KOs).

at the Palladium, Worcester, Massachusetts

Middleweight Jose Antonio Rivera (40-6-1, 24 KOs) won by unanimous decision over Luis Maysonet (32-11-0, 25 KOs).