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Gallardo wins UD
over Cervantes in Stockton
By
Dave Bitar
FightBeat Staff Writer
Junior welterweight
Juaquin “Killer” Gallardo earned his first victory in over a year Friday
night, impressively out-boxing Juan Yovani Cervantes to win a one-sided
10-round unanimous decision at the Civic Auditorium in Stockton,
California.
Gallardo, now 17-4-1 (5
KO’s), entered the fight with consecutive losses to Mike Arnaoutis (TKO
3) and Colin Lynes (Majority Decision 12), but got back in the win-column
by boxing well, showing good lateral movement, fighting on the outside, and
dictating the pace throughout. Occasionally, Gallardo, 142, stood and traded --
his best offense: a good body attack with both hands and ring generalship from
the outside.
Cervantes (11-16-2, 4 KO’s)
came into the bout having spent five years away from the ring since his last
match in January 2000, when he defeated Mauricio Rodriguez via
third-round technical knockout. Cervantes, 142.5, made the fight competitive
but showed rust. He was never able to sustain an attack.
Gallardo fought most of the
early rounds on his toes; never letting Cervantes set his feet to punch for
power. In the second round, the two clashed heads, leaving Gallardo with a
small cut over his left eye, while Cervantes emerged with a nasty gash on his
forehead above his right eye that bled throughout.
In the middle rounds,
Gallardo chose his moments to move and when to stand his ground, continuously
getting off first.
Gallardo was never in any
trouble, and won a relatively easy decision. Judge Mike Tate scored a
shutout for Gallardo, 100-90. Marcos Rosales and Marshall Walker
had it a little closer for Gallardo, 98-92.
In light-heavyweight action,
hometown favorite Kenny Lopez (24-19-1, 8 KO’s) avenged a first-round
knockout to James Brock (10-24-2, 4 KO’s) on the last boxing event at the
Civic Auditorium, held on February 18th, to win a five-round
decision.
In their first encounter,
three months ago, Brock ended matters just 1:48 into the fight; with a crushing
left hook that knocked Lopez out cold.
Friday night, Lopez, 189,
made sure Brock would not get the chance to repeat, dominating him from the
outset in what he announced prior would be his last bout.
Lopez was aided by Brock,
185, who threw few punches throughout, progressively less every round.
Lopez was the busier from
the opening bell, throwing his jab, followed by straight rights and left hooks,
and countering when the opportunity presented. While taking the initiative
offensively, Lopez was wary of the power that ended matters so swiftly in their
last fight, so he didn’t commit to his punches.
As the rounds wore on, Brock
was less capable of turning the fight around with a punch. Lopez loaded up more
and varied his assault.
The best weapon for Lopez
was the straight right, but he landed left hooks, uppercuts, and a steady jab to
control his opponent.
All three judges scored the
same: Lopez by UD, 50-45. After the scores were read, ring announcer Jimmy
Lennon Jr. handed the microphone to Lopez, who announced his retirement.
In a match-up of hometown
fighters, middleweight Nick Brooks (2-0, 1 KO) won a highly competitive
four-round UD over Everardo Lopez (0-1), who made his pro debut.
After two pretty even rounds
-- both fighters had their moments -- the southpaw, Brooks, 165, sent Lopez to
the canvas in the third round with a hard counter left. Brook scored a similar
knockdown in the fourth, with another left. Lopez, 159, got up and finished the
round strongly, taking the fight to Brooks, who was trapped against the ropes,
and took a series of hard punches just before the bell ended the fight. The
knockdowns were enough to secure Brook’s victory. He won 39-36, 38-36 and
38-37.
In a contest of two
middleweights making their pro debuts, Anibel Torres, 162, lost a
controversial four-round majority decision to Stockton’s Andreas Zapata,
156.5. Though lacking in technique, Torres fought hard and appeared to land the
cleaner, stronger punches in the bout. Two of the judges favored the local
fighter, who won 40-36 and 39-37. The third judge scored it even, 38-38.
In the last bout of the
evening, Stockton’s Ejardo Lopez (1-1) earned the first victory of his career
with a solid four-round UD over JC Sadee, by scores of 40-35. Lopez,
149.5, scored the only knockdown with a left hook that put Sadee, 146.5, down in
the last round.
Former two-time world
champion Tony “The Tiger” Lopez was announced in attendance, as well as
Tony Dominguez (16-0, 14 KO’s), out of nearby Manteca, originally
scheduled to be on the card, but his opponent failed to appear at the weigh-in
Thursday night.
The bout card, entitled
“Fight Night 4: Pain and Redemption” was promoted by JG Promotions.
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