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Arizona Boxing News & Notes with Don Smith: Night of Glory, Benavidez vs. Paez & PPV By Don Smith PhilBoxing.com Thu, 26 Mar 2015 Boxing Fans, The Media Center Ballroom in the Renaissance Hotel in Glendale, Arizona proved to be a hospitable venue for championship boxing on Friday, March 20, as a strong crowd gathered to watch Phoenix boxer Alexis Santiago?s 3rd round knockout victory over Mexico?s Antonio Tostado Garcia (15-5) to win the vacant WBO NABO Featherweight Title. I was never able to establish the paid number of paid watchers, but Fight Hard Promotions was pleased with the turnout. The titled victory pushed Santiago?s record to 18-3 -1 w/7 knockouts. The Event (Night of Glory) was promoted and produced by Fight Hard Promotions and props to Sonny Gutierrez and his unflappable partner Rigoberto Ledezma for their inaugural show which included a two television set giveaway. The ballroom was set-up to seat 2,700 and that number was almost attained. Sorry, I didn?t catch the two winner?s name but one of the lucky recipients was wearing a staff member shirt, congratulations. Santiago?s boxing KO victory should be listed in BoxRec with a highly visible qualifying asterisk because of the controversy surrounding the fitness of Garcia whose knockout defeat means the Mexican fighter has lost 4 out of his last bouts via stoppage. To add to his woe, Garcia, who was competitive in the first round, may have suffered a hairline fracture to his left hand that will put him on the taboo list to fight in the U.S.A. for a while; injuries and knockouts always warrant a boxing suspension. The possible hairline fracture diagnosis was passed onto me by the official ring physician, the honorable Dr. Robin MacDougal. I asked presiding referee Chris Flores if he knew of Garcia?s knockout past and he replied that he didn?t. The veteran judge/referee was very wise in stopping the bout when he did especially in light of Garcia?s knockout history and hand injury suffered in the contest. Furthermore, I talked to Arizona Boxing/MMA Commission Executive Director Matthew Valenzuela about Garcia prior to the event and he agreed with my interpretation of the rule that since Garcia didn?t suffer three consecutive knockout losses, he was officially allowed to fight Santiago. The Arizona Boxing/MMA Commission may want to address the issue at their next scheduled meeting, Monday April 13. Ironically, Alexis Santiago was within earshot distance when I was discussing the matter with Mr. Valenzuela. We concluded our dialogue after I noticed the presence of the napping fighter lying down less than 3.7 feet from me; he said nothing. The title fight was a major disappointment, but the first three fights on the pro/am card were action packed and worth the price of admission; sorry the late arriving fans missed the action. The first bout started at 6:44 (according to my trusty Timex) which was 44 minutes later than advertised. Tardy fans missed out on the Zeus Pinder (Siege MMA & Fitness) vs. Erick Munguia (Hard Knocks Boxing) battle which was won by Pinder via unanimous decision; but both 9 year old fighters fought their hearts out and put on quite the show for a small but appreciative audience, respectful enough to arrive on time. Pinder appeared to be the bigger fighter, but Munguia was eager to rumble regardless of the tale of the tape. Sonny Gutierrez (co-promoter) told me the next Fight Hard card on June 13 would be a Pro/am event also and the June show will held at the Renaissance, again. The only complaints I heard about the venue came from fans seated in the last 4-5 rows who said their view was obstructed. Andrea, a hotel spokesperson, said the problem could be resolved with strategically placed video screens. Also, one or two journalists asked if the dressing room distance from the ring could be shortened so reporters wouldn?t have to sprint to conduct an interview and then sprint back to the fights. Most of the bloggers and some reporters stayed near the ring and conducted their business at ringside which at times, created a chaotic scene; especially when a Mariachi Troupe, in celebrating the entrance of a local fighter, converged on the stage and log jammed the pathway. Back to Boxing: Heavyweight Bernardo ?Tarzan? Marquez (1-0), from Elcentro, California, wore down Mexico?s Oswald ?The Power? Ortega quickly on his way to a 4th round TKO victory. Ortega was wailing away in the first round, but his suspect conditioning betrayed him and the better prepared Marquez was able to knock down the defused Ortega and punished him with a barrage of punches that led to the end at 2:14 into the 4th and final round. Ortega re turned to Mexico with a 1-1 record while a jubilant Marquez was all smiles after his successful debut. Marquez is scheduled to fight on the Iron Boy April 25 Celebrity Theater card and return to Glendale, Arizona, if all goes well, on June 13th to fight on the Fight Hard Show. Marquez trains out of Solos Gym in El Centro, California. Super Featherweight Vincente Cano (1-0), Avondale Arizona, displayed the power of Seattle Mariner slugger Robinson Cano (no relation) in knocking out over matched Christian Cartier at the 2:09 mark of the first round. The knockout defeat was the third consecutive KO loss for Cartier who may want to talk to a Jesuit priest before he continues his ring career. Mario Esparza out boxed former MMA fighter Jordan Espinoza to capture a UD decision in their 4 round bout. Esparza was warned several times by Referee Wes Melton for allegedly holding onto the ropes. I did see his out stretched hovering over the ropes, but I didn?t seem him holding the ropes. Esparza, an expectant father, blew his cool at times, but he was the superior warrior on Friday 3/20 at the Renaissance Hotel. I talked to him briefly in his dressing room and he was still mad at the officiating and his run-in at the weigh-in, held at the popular El Tataki Mexican & Traditional Sushi Bar & Grill located on 95 Avenue in Glendale. Mario weighed in at .2 of a pound over the contracted limit and Espinoza?s Management insisted the Phoenix fighter drop the extra and Esparza did, but he entered the ring with a chip on his shoulder. It was an entertaining fight; not a great fight. Mario, under contract with Fight Hard Promotions, is expected to fight on their June 13 show. After the 9 pm main event, super featherweight Keenan Scott Carbajal (aka Bedo), a slight favorite, discovered records can be deceiving when he took on Jair Quintero, AZ Fitness prot?g? from Tucson Arizona. Quintero entered the ring with a 1-3-1 record, but some of his previous foes were recognized prospects. Carbajal, on the other hand, polished off a couple pigeons on his way to registering a 5-1-1 record. I was told before their introduction to look for an upset; sometimes, predictions ring true. Quintero stunned Carbajal in the first round but couldn?t finish the task because ?Bedo? was hanging on him like a cheap suit. After six rounds, the contest went to the scorecards and Quintero was declared the winner via unanimous decision. Carbajal, trained by his grandfather (Danny Carbajal) left the ring area before reporter could question him. I did speak to three female fans that came to watch Carbajal (5-2-1) and they were wearing long faces and one of them said she was very disappointed in the verdict. According to chatter reported from the social media grapevine, Carbajal fans were telling the super featherweight that he was robbed by the judges; friends, family members and fans don?t always tell the truth-he lost! The mood was pure unadulterated jubilation in the Quintero dressing room. I went through an interpreter to talk to Jair who upped his ring record to 2-3-1. His team agreed that their boxer could have knocked out his foe, but they accused referee Wes Melton of not warning or penalizing Carbajal for what they described as ?excessive? holding. One member of the dressing room entourage claimed ?poor officiating? saved Carbajal?s bacon. I asked if the Carbajal name intimidated Quintero and a member of his team swiftly replied: we weren?t fighting Michael (5 time world champion) and then he asserted that his fighter would fight anybody in his weight class. Ironically, Keenan was wearing white trunks similar to what Michael wore back in the day. Quintero is fun to watch and I suspect Phoenix fight fans will be able to watch him soon with 4 local cards in the planning: April 11, April 25 and May 15 & May 25; boxing in Arizona is starting to pick up momentum. Mr. Melton is welcome to respond to Team Quintero?s charges. He is a well-respected referee and being critical of referees is human nature in any sport. Paul ?Ziggy? Romero promised a knockout over Alberto Mora and the opportunities were there, but his power didn?t have the amps to execute the promise. Romero is a good boxer and he deserved his UD win over Mora. Overall, I thought it was a good first show for Fight Hard Promotions and I am eager to see what they come up with for June 13. The hotel was ecstatic over the success of the show and management is looking forward to the June 13 performance. It was the first boxing show at the Renaissance, but the facility has hosted other sporting events and their past sporting event experience showed in handling Night of Glory. Fight 2 Win: To become a recipient or donor, go online to their website and simply follow instructions. According to Al Maag, Marketing Director, 99 % of all donations are made electronically; including tickets and 95 cents out of every dollar collected goes back to the non-profit organization; there is a $14.00 delivery fee for four tickets. If prospective donors would prefer mailing a donation, send it to 555 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85281, suite 200. Michael Focareto, a military veteran, is the organization?s CEO and he was motivated to start Vet-Tix when he saw members of a military honor guard leaving Phoenix Stadium as Super Bowl XLII action was about to kick off. Focareto thought their inexcusable exit was an unfortunate snub, so he went to work on creating Vet-Tix and so the history of his non-profit venture began. Since 2008, Vet-Tix has given more than 1,000,000 tickets to veterans and their families. A series of investigative phone calls revealed endorsements from the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Rattlers and other notable contributors for the non-profit organization. It is the editorial policy of Arizona Boxing News & Notes to remain neutral on making endorsements. If readers have more questions about Vet-Tix call 480-272-7671, 62-363-6038 or Arizona Secretary of the State Michele Reagan at 602-542-4285. BMBP is working on 9 bouts for its April 11 show (Fight 2 Win) and here are the names and bouts released for the event: Walter Santibanes, Prince Smalls, Tim Riddell, Jazzman Hogue, Ray Lampkin Jr., David Damore, Cesar Barraza vs. Billy Schmidt, Ryan Riddell, James Stewart vs. Johnny Rivera, Jesse Ruiz vs. Mulapi Enjani and there are rumors BMBP is reaching out to undefeated Able Ramos, Casa Grande, Arizona, to be on the card, but no confirmation. Ramos was supposed to fight on the Night of Glory card in Glendale but his opponent was on suspension and forced to withdraw. All bouts mentioned in this column are subject to change and we will monitor event(s) and report any changes. Boxing Chatter: 25 year old Ruben Navarette, full time phlebotomist, has resumed his amateur boxing career and will try to chip off the proverbial ring rust in Tucson, March 28. Rube draws his paycheck from Sonora Lab in Phoenix. ?.Luis Oliveras, after a year?s absence from the ring was scheduled to fight in Florida on March 27?.Undefeated light Heavyweight Trevor McCumby is looking for fight action and may find it in April or May. He is mentioned as a possibility for 2 or 3 cards in Phoenix?special shout out to Manny Herrera his mother Cecelia for their hospitality at the Night of Glory weigh-in. I am not a sushi eater, but their bar & grill oozes with ambiance. Yes, I paid my tab and tipped?.reminder; catch Stevenson vs. Bika, Saturday April 4 on CBS Television at 3 pm EST. Home Grown Gossip: I rarely say hi to or mention ring girls in my all-encompassing boxing column, but Fight Hard Promotions deserves a high five for finding and hiring Sara, Karla & Brooke to hold round cards and mingle with the fans at the Night of Glory event; they were classy and very popular with the fans and a notch or two above most ring girls; they will be back on June 13 at the same venue.?Boxer Ray ?Lightning? Lampkin Jr. no longer trains at Central Gym in Phoenix?.Abel Ramos sold at least 120 tickets to the Night of Glory boxing show, but returned the tickets and money after being notified that he wouldn?t fight on the show because his proposed opponent was on suspension and the Arizona Boxing Commission didn?t catch wind until a day or two before the show. Female amateur boxing star Sulem Urbina Soto also failed to appear on the show due to 2016 Olympic boxing considerations; she is vying to make Team Mexico. More Ammo: Ralph Velez Jr. came to me at the Night of Glory show and sarcastically, in his best loud announcer?s voice, thanked me for mentioning some of his travels and experiences in my column from time to time. He left rather abruptly before I could assure him, that he and other newsmakers are quite welcome..... Phoenix fighter Jose Maruffo earned a UD win over Alberto Herrera in California, congratulations! Marrufo is expected to fight on one of the three upcoming Iron Boy cards. Good Question: A member of USA Boxing Arizona asked the hierarchy if the organization would provide a stipend amount for travel, meals and lodging for advancing athletes such as participants in Golden Gloves. The answer is no, AZ USA funding is utilized for athletes and coaches in the advancing tournaments of youth, junior and elite nationals and junior Olympic Regionals and Nationals for 13-14 and 15-16 year olds. PPV Noise: Local bar and restaurant owners are telling me they will carry the May 2 mega PPV fight at a cost of $25.00 per head while Andy Bayless (Twin Peaks on Camelback in Phoenix) will offer the event at a much kinder and gentler $15.00 per head; there is a $10.00 food or drink tab minimum. So far, betting odds favor Mayweather and rapper 50 cent (Curtis Jackson) is reportedly betting a bundle on his former friend Floyd Mayweather. There is no confirmation on the rumor that Jackson has tired of boxing will shut down his SMS operation. Oh Canada: Canadian lightweight Kyle Oliveira (0-1) returns to the ring on April 30 in Winnipeg, Manitoba at the Club Regent Casino and Event Center. He is a fine young man and he can fight and will if they find an opponent for the 25 year old MMA/Boxer. I watched Kyle launch his professional career in Calgary, Alberta on July 6, 2014. He lost, but he has obvious skills and will win many fights if he continues with the sport; boxing is tough, but so is he! Iron Boy: As reported, Jose Benavidez Jr.(22-0-15 knockouts) will defend his Interim WBA World Super Lightweight title against Jorge Paez Jr. (38-5-2 w/ 27 knockouts on Saturday, May 15, coincidentally on the day, Jose will celebrate his 23 birthday. Benavidez friends and supporters are confident that Paez Jr. won?t spoil the birthday celebration or put a blemish on Jose?s perfect record. True Television has been mentioned as a possible Television coverage provider; nothing official! The title bout will take place at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona which can hold 20,000 fans depending on the configuration of venue. It will be the first World Boxing Championship staged in Phoenix since Julio Cesar Chavez?s less than memorable farewell fight against used car salesman Gordon Wiley in 2005. It pains me to inform fans that Wiley won after Chavez hurt his hand and quit at the end of 5 painful to watch rounds. Iron Boy and Top Rank will co-produce the show and it will be interested to see how the event will be advertised and how many fans will pay to see a local fighter defend his title. Jose Jr. was born in California, but Arizona has adopted him and he and his brother David are respected for their boxing prowess and work in the community. I hear that there is a movement to honor both young men before their respective fights with some sort of ceremony. 18 year old David (7-0) fights for a Light heavyweight youth title at the Celebrity Theater on 4/25 while Jose prepares his title defense on 5/15 at US Airways. It is a dream Jose Sr. envisioned when he chauffeured the boys around to boxing smokers when they were very young. I remember those years and Sr. is very proud of his two sons whom have grown up to be responsible adults and contributors to community needs. The Benavidez Brothers continuously volunteer their time helping the less fortunate members of our society by working at soup kitchens, homeless shelter, etc. They?re positive role models and the city of Phoenix would be wise to highlight their image and commendable deeds with a modest, but open tribute. Some armchair boxing pundits think Iron Boy Promotions is too ambitious in trying to promote three shows simultaneously (4/25, 5/15, 5/25) and it will definitely be a challenge for Matchmaker Mike Sanchez, Iron Boy Promotions and Top Rank who avoided the Arizona Market for years after the 2005 Chavez fight resulted in a financial fiasco. If successful, Arizona can possibly begin to stage mega fights like its neighbor state, Nevada? Until Next Time! Click here to view a list of other articles written by Don Smith.  |
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