On Saturday, after a 20 minute intermission the Road to Victory II USA Amateur Boxing Show resumed to serve up an additional eight bouts, Bouts 10 through 17.
Bout #10 featured 19 year-old Miguel Sanchez of the Ocean’s Boxing Club going up against 18 year-old Miguel Andrade of Barrio Station. Andrade, the more accurate puncher, refused to step even one step backwards as he kept pressuring the taller Sanchez throughout the match. Then in round #3, while backing up his opponent, Andrade hit Sanchez flush on the chin. The blow resulted in an eight count that virtually sealed the deal.
Bout #11 featured 14 year-old Brian Martinez of the National City CYAC going up against 15 year-old Tyler Herberger of Old School Boxing in San Diego’s SDSU College area.
Try as he did, Martinez could not outmuscle Herberger who stood in front of him like a tall, unmovable oak tree. An eight count was issued to Martinez early in Round #1 after Herberger came with the straight combinations to the head. Then in the second round, it was a repeat of the first and Martinez was issued a second eight count.
Then, as if he had been holding back in the first two rounds, Martinez made corrections to his offensive strategy. An eight count was issued to Herberger after Martinez landed five straight big left hooks. The chink in the armor was discovered. Right up until the final bell the two boxers battled as if it were the last round of a title fight. Ring announcer Sonny Franco was so impressed by their efforts he said the bout deserves strong consideration for bout of the day. With Herberger dominating both the first and second rounds, it was another case of too little, too late as the judges awarded the decision to the Herberger.
Bout #12 featured 9 year-old Jonathan Rodriguez of Ocean’s Boxing going up against 8 year-old David Gutterez of Golden Hands Boxing. At the start of each round, Gutterez made a point of racing across the ring to begin his non stop barrage of punches. Rodriguez was no slouch and made several comebacks but was it nearly enough to pull even? In the end, the more proficient boxer, Rodriguez, was awarded the decision over the brawler, Gutterez who appeared to be throwing the harder punches.
Bout #13 featured two super-welterweights, both 28 years-old, Terrence Edwards of Old School Boxing in San Diego and Arthur Fonseca of the Alliance Training Center in Chula Vista, CA.
From round one on, the two gentlemen were throwing knockout punches, the scary variety. After each big left hook from Edwards, Fonseca tried in earnest to answer with a flurry inside. After a while those hard left hooks started to take their toll and an eight count was delivered to Fonseca. Edwards, the busier and more accurate puncher, was awarded the unanimous decision victory
Bout #14 featured Kevin Salas of Barrio Station, a gifted boxer, making his return after a long layoff. He was up against Fernando Alvarez of Brawley, CA in Imperial County. Alvarez used, slash, abused just two punches from his arsenal, the straight jab followed by the wild uppercuts. His leveraged punches looked devastating and would have done some damage if they had ever hit their target. Salas on the other hand kept boring in while staying small. His punches were economical and so accurate that they resulted in an early knockdown and the issuance of an eight count. The boxer’s superior skills made this one easy for the judges.
Bout #15 featured 18 year-olds Salvador Alvarez of Barrio Station in San Diego and Nicholas Cortez of the Rhino’s Boxing Team in Vista. This was another brawler (Alvarez) going against the boxer (Cortez) with the intimidating bull rushes. It was boxing with a little football thrown in, the linebacker hitting the wide receiver before he could go beyond the first five yards. At times Cortez could handle the pounding, slip the punch, but then the other times he had to resort to holding which had the referee awarding a point to Alvarez’s score. Alvarez was giving Cortez a taste of what it’s like in the professional ranks - where the anything goes brawler tactics can wear an opponent down. Alvarez, who proved he’s the tougher boxer, ended up getting the decision.
Bout #16 featured 17 year-olds Russell Rivera of Rhino’s Boxing in Vista and Amador Ramirez of the Ocean’s Boxing Club in Chula Vista, CA. In Round #1, Rivera was getting hit almost at will by Ramirez’s left hand. It got so bad that the referee had to stop the action to give Rivera an eight count.
Round #2 was more of the same as Rivera began to take a beating. A second eight count was issued. As the boxers began Round #3, you could see Ramirez going straight at Rivera with the same tactics. After the third eight count, referee Will White saw Rivera was unable to defend himself and called for the early stoppage.
Bout #17 featured cruiserweights, 33 year-old Jose Hernandez of Chula Vista Boxing going up against 27 year-old Mohammad Fakhreddine of Old School Boxing in San Diego. In this one you saw a lot of power shots - the type that put a boxer’s lights out. Back and forth they went dealing out their punishment and how they lasted was a mystery. The decision went to Fakhreddine who was the more accurate of the two and at the same time the more elusive.
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