In the modern era of 3D and HD sports package television, most sports fanatics are finding it more redeeming to enjoy their favorite sporting events from the comfort of their living rooms or their favorite local tavern. The NFL Sunday Ticket is a huge money-making success, while some NFL franchises are currently experiencing a lull in ticket sales. The superior product that satellite providers are offering the average sports viewer is giving fans a legitimate option which most are saying is comparable to or even better than live action.
While there are alternatives to attending other sporting events, there’s absolutely nothing like seeing live boxing. No amount of television coverage can ever simulate the action of live prizefighting.
On Saturday night, “Unfinished Business” was no exception.
Every fight on the card was filled with breath-taking action. In front of a packed house, all 16 fighters put on a very memorable show.
The co-main event fighters, Jr. Welterweight prospect James Cantu and Super-Flyweight prospect Joseph Rios, looked very impressive winning their fights in convincing and dramatic fashion.
In the final fight of the evening, James Cantu took on rugged opponent Robert Hill from Mississippi. From the opening bell, Cantu was in complete control of the fight throwing flurries to the body and to the head while chasing his opponent around the ring. James Cantu did a masterful job of cutting off the ring, while putting relentless pressure on Hill the entire fight. The Mississippi fighter had trouble matching the hand speed of Cantu and looked puzzled for most of the fight. In the fourth round, Cantu forced Hill against the ropes and punished him with a vicious body attack, flooring his opponent. Hill got up from the knock down but couldn’t recover. The undefeated fighter quickly jumped on his opponent and landed a perfect let hook to the jaw. Hill slumped to the floor and the referee quickly called a halt to the bout at 1:09 of the fourth round.
Cantu’s record improves to a perfect 7-0 with 4 knockouts.
“I was hitting him to the body and it was working a little bit, but I knew it would pay off at the end,” stated the undefeated fighter. “His southpaw stance didn’t bother me at all. My trainer (Jose Lopez) and I have worked hard in the gym preparing for this type of fighter.”
In the co-headliner, Jr. Bantamweight prospect Joseph Rios faced tough Rafael Casias from Arlington, TX in the most entertaining bout of the evening.
The visiting fighter began forcing the action and launched a brutal attack to the body and the head, opening a huge gash on Rios’s nose. Joseph Rios showed a lot of heart and toughness in this exciting bout, standing toe to toe with Casias in the center of the ring. From the opening round to the final bell it was non-stop action. Both men looked impressive in the first four rounds trading shots in a “phone booth”. Neither fighter was willing to give an inch. Rios and Casias were brutally banging on each other as the crowd roared with excitement. After the third round, Rios started to get the better of the exchanges and began landing his left hook and straight right hand with regularity. In the sixth and final round, the local fighter hurt Casias with beautiful combinations to the body and head, staggering the visiting pugilist. Although the Arlington fighter never went down, Rios adapted to Casias’s in-style of fighting and dominated the second half of the bout, earning a hard fought victory. All three judges ruled in favor of Joseph Rios, giving him a six round unanimous decision.
The Jr. Bantamweight prospect improves his record to 9-5-2.
“I chose to fight him (Casias) on the inside,” claimed Rios. “I wasn’t 100% coming into this fight and I didn’t want to use the entire ring for six rounds. I thought I might run out of energy if I did.”
In the opening bout of the evening, a much improved Rolando Campos knocked out Gerardo Dominguez with a perfectly timed left hook at 1:02 of the third round, improving his record to 2-3. Campos has won two straight bouts since training with Rick Morones of Morones Boxing Gym.
Lightweight Adrian Gonzales lost a split decision against DeShaun Williams from Galveston. Gonzales experiences his first loss as a professional and drops to 1-1. With the win, Williams improves his record to 2-5.
In one of the more fun bouts of the evening, Welterweight Steven Hall from England entered the ring dressed in local garb, sporting a colorful pancho and sombrero with the sound of mariachis blaring in the background. The entertaining Brit put on a show for his raucous fans by bombing out Rudy Paz with several heavy shots, including a perfect uppercut to the jaw which ended the fight at 1:28 of the second round. Hall improves his record to 3-2 with 3 KOs.
“I’m back,” exclaimed Hall. “At 140 lbs I’m unbeatable. I’m as strong as an ox at this weight…no one can beat me at 140…nobody. I’m back and I’m winning a title at 140!!”
Hall’s victory over Paz comes after a 1 year period of inactivity.
In one of the more anticipated bouts of the evening, super middleweight Eddie Tigs had trouble with southpaw Diego Mireles in an entertaining scrap which resulted in a four round draw.
“I wasn’t used to his southpaw stance,” stated Tigs. “Being a left-handed fighter myself, I didn’t realize it would give me so much trouble.”
In the fifth bout of the evening, lightweight Greg Gutierrez maintained his undefeated status by impressively knocking out Laredo based fighter Francisco Chavez with a dramatic overhand right. The ref called a halt to the bout at 28 seconds into the 2nd round. Gutierrez controlled the entire bout with brilliant ring generalship using very good footwork and superior hand speed.
“I saw him pulling back the jab kind of low, so I timed him with the right hand over the top,” stated Gutierrez.
The fighter from Robstown improves to 3-0.
In his professional debut, Ivan Najera viciously knocked out Gino Hernandez with a perfect left hook to the jaw with 15 seconds left in the second round.
The fans in attendance enjoyed the great action in the ring and were eager to show the fighters their approval on Saturday night.
Those who were unable to attend “Unfinished Business” at the San Antonio Events Center missed out on a memorable evening of live prizefighting.
For additional fight photos, please click on the link to Esteban Erik Stipnieks website of local boxing coverage: http://www.ausaboxing.com/3262011mr.html
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