LOS ANGELES -- Steve Quinones, the 37 year old gallant warrior from Palm Springs, California who fought for almost a decade, announced at ring side last Saturday in Las Vegas that he will retire ?while I still have my brains. I know I said it many times before on TV and on interviews, but this time its for sure. There are a lot of younger guys out there who are stronger than me,? he said.
Quinones fought Dennis Laurente who is making his debut in the US, at Las Vegas nonetheless. Their fight was supposed to be for 8 rounds.
The fight was a see-saw from round one, with Laurente doing his damage through power body shots. In round two, there was a head clash and Laurente suffered a cut on his right eyebrow. The cut bled all through the fight.
In round four during a furious exchange, Laurente put Quinones down three times. The first one came at 55 seconds before the end of round four via a counter right cross to the chin of Quinones. When the fight resumed after an 8 count, Laurente put Quinones again on the canvas via a short left with 39 seconds to go in the round. Then, with about 3 seconds left Quinones went down again, but Bayless ruled it as a slip.
On the second knock-down, Quinones twisted his left ankle and although he got up at the count of 8, the end was inevitable. Just after the 4th round ended, Quinones hobbled to his corner and sat down on his stool. He informed his corner of his injury and the corner man told the doctor and then the referee, Kenny Bayless that ?He is done?.
With that Bayless walked across to Laurente?s corner. He informed Laurente that Quinones can not continue and that he is the winner by TKO.
Laurente was supported in his corner by Johnny Elorde, the son of the great Flash Elorde and Nonoy Neri, a co-trainer of Manny Pacquiao.
Top photo: Filipino Dennis Laurente (R) sends Steve Quinones to the canvas in this bit of action from their fight last Saturday in Las Vegas.
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