HOLM WINS
DOMINATES COUCH & BOX OFFICE
By Andy Rivera

 

Photo By Javier Zamora

The were no more questions to who is the top draw in New Mexico, male or female as a packed house of 2500 fans cheered IBA Jr. Welterweight champion Holm to her dominating win over five-time world champion Jane Couch. Holm won every round on all three judges’ scorecards by the scores of 100-90.

The opening round was a feel out round for both, with Holm standing more flat footed then normal and trying to counter Couch, who in turn would try to counter Holm each time Holm went on the attack, Holm was able to connect with quick right-lefts, but Couch would catch Holm with counter rights.

Holm won the second round by out boxing Couch, mostly with jabs and left hands, although Holm missed with both she did win the round.

Round three was a good round for Holm as she was able to get through with more of her punches, landing to the head and body of couch, Couch would try to counter but she was missing with most of her shots.

Holm’s trainer prediction of Holm halting Couch in the fourth round didn’t come true, but his fighter did dominate the round by peppering Couch with right and left hands to both the head and body. Couch now was unable to catch Holm as Holm showed her defensive skills by picking most shots off with her gloves.

Much more of Holm dominating Couch in the fifth and sixth, as she was landing pretty much anytime she fired at Couch, Couch had no answers for Holm’s attack, Holm looked more patient and relaxed, with less movement then her previous fights.

Couch had no of answers for Holm as the fight progressed, Couch to did try to land right hand leads but Holm was too quick for her and stood her ground and fired at Couch’s body and head. Holm hurt couch on two occasions with left hands that had Couch stopped in her tracks.

Holm found pay dirt with her left hand in the eighth round, as she landed at will on couch, three times stunning Couch, Holm stayed in the middle of the ring and was accurate on most of her punches.

Couch managed to land a few good right hands to the head of Holm n round nine, but it was Holm’s fight to lose as she was in total control and had to play it smart and not get caught by Couch in the last round.

Holm would pick apart Couch in the final round, as she now was landing hard uppercuts that had Couch’s head snap back several times. Couch was now showing the effects with Holm’s battering as her nose looked to possibly be broken.

Holm has fought in front of five consecutive sellouts in raising her record to 15-1-2, while Couch falls 27-9.

MARTINEZ WINS UNPOPULAR DECISION

 

Photo By Javier Zamora

David Martinez (15-2) returned the ring following his loss to Bernard Duane in Ireland earlier this year, but Martinez didn’t win the way he might have wanted to with his hometown fans feeling his opponent Felix Flores (13-7-1)had the edge. Martinez won by majority decision by the scores of  78-74 from judges Rocky Burke & Margaret Garcia, while judge Esther Lopez had it more realistic at 76-76 even.

Martinez looked good early in the fight with his better boxing skills, while Flores used pressure trying to pin Martinez on the ropes with little success, but as the fight progressed Flores was able to get closer and closer landing hard left hands to Martinez head, which on a few occasions had Martinez holding on.

Flores who had dropped his previous six fights showed the fans that his record as Martinez had stated earlier in the week was deceiving. As he took Martinez off his game plan and turned it into a slugfest rather then a strategic fight, which Martinez would dominate if he stuck to his game plan, but Flores seemed to have control in the middle round with his constant pressure and hard shots to the head.

Martinez looked to have Flores going in the final round landing a hard right hand that had Flores sink and almost having his knee touch the ground, Flores was able to keep upright but he held on with Martinez trying to not let it go to the judges hands. Unwilling to fold Flores landed a left of his own but Martinez dominated the round.

When Martinez was awarded the decision the crowd booed him as he walked around the ring, and then as Flores raised his hands to the crowd then gave him a standing ovation. NewMexicoSportsNews.com/Boxingscene.com had it a draw at 76—76.
 

MUNOZ HALTS MARQUEZ

 

Photo By Matt Montez

Hector Munoz looked good in halting Steve Marquez in the third round. Munoz who is improving each time out but yet hasn’t been tested in his 16 wins, but to his credit he did halt an opponent whom some thought would give him a test.

In the opening round Marquez came out looking to box Munoz, sticking and moving landing jabs and right hands, Munoz shook them off and put pressure on Marquez. Munoz who is one of the better conditioned fighters in New Mexico pinned Marquez in the corner and went to Marquez head with quick- powerful punches.

Both fighters had their moments in round two, but it was Munoz who was the stronger of the two and used it to his advantage pinning Marquez on the ropes to do his damage.

Round three had Munoz land a hard right hand that sent Marquez once again to the ropes, this time Marquez who normally would fire back, was non- respondent with Munoz throwing five consecutive punches to the head of Marquez, bringing referee Rocky Burke to halt the fight at 1:42.

The fans were did show their disapproval in the stoppage, with many thinking it was stopped prematurely. It seemed like a good stoppage from Burke considering Marquez didn’t fight back.

Munoz is now 16-1 (10ko’s), while Marquez falls to 7-9-1.
 

VARGAS RETURNS WITH IMPRESSIVE WIN

 

Photo By Matt Montez

Cuautemoc Vargas rebounded from his tough loss last year to Tomas Villa with a 7^th knockout over veteran Sergio Aguila. Aguila hadn’t been the ring in five years, but has faced some of the better fighters in his division with the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera, Tim Austin and Hugo Dianzo.

Vargas who usually is a slow starter looked good early going to the body of Aguila with powerful left hooks, the baby faced Vargas kept the pressure on Aguila most of the fight finally putting Aguila down with a left hook to the liver, bringing referee Russell Mora to halt the action without counting, giving Vargas his 15^th win against one loss and one draw. Aguila falls to 26-17-1.

In picking up his win, Vargas did what he had to in his return and looked good doing it, he beat a veteran and dominated him from start to finish.



GOMEZ DOMINATES GAME TORRES

 

Photo By Javier Zamora

Joe Gomez dominated Jeremiah Torres with his size and reach, controlling the fight with his jab in route to a unanimous decision over Torres. Gomez is a threat to all welterweights in New Mexico and is getting more exposure in the Land of Enchantment by fighting under the Fresquez Banner.

Gomez would use his jab to dictate round one, as he would keep Torres at bay, Gomez would also land right hands to the head of Torres, to Torres credit, he managed to land a few hard right hands on Gomez head, but other then that it was Gomez controlling the fight.

Torres would land a big tight hand to the head of Gomez that brought the Torres fans to their feet, but from there it was Gomez going back to his bread and butter the jab followed by right hands.

More of the same from Gomez as he kept Torres away with his size and reach. Torres would land a few right hands to make a fight of it, but it was Gomez keeping the fight in his favor and pilling up the points. Gomez on a few occasions switched to left handed landing lead lefts on Torres head.

Torres would win his only round in the sixth and final round by out hustling Gomez landing right hands to the head of Gomez and going to the body while pining Gomez on the ropes, but Torres doesn’t have the fire power to halt most fighters, having only registered one knockout in his 7 wins.
All three judges Russell Mora (58-56), Esther Lopez (60-54) and Margaret Garcia (59-55) all for Gomez, who raises his record to 9-1 (3ko’s), while the game Torres falls to 7-13 (1-ko)



MADRID DEFEATS McCARTY IN ENTERTAINING BOUT

 

Photo By Matt Montez

In an entertaining bout Carlos Madrid defeated Dale McCarty with a split decision, the fight was entertaining with both fighters holding nothing back, but it was Madrid’s crisper shots and a first round knockdown that earned him the decision.
McCarty would come out moving and sticking his jab, while Madrid would stay take his time countering McCarty, McCarty would score points, but out of know where Madrid would land a double left hook, one to the head and the second to the head that put McCarty down on the seat of his pants. McCarty would get up but it was a two point round for Madrid.

McCarty would come back to win the second round with constant pressure and pinning Madrid on the ropes, McCarty wouldn’t land anything powerful but was scoring, during one exchange Madrid suffered a cut on the side of his right eye that caused some blood to trickle but not effecting his vision.

Madrid would win the third by edging out McCarty, both fighters were active but it was Madrid’s harder punches that seemed to give him the edge.

McCarty would have a strong fourth but looked to tire some as the round wore on, he landed several right hands to Madrid’s head, while going to the body with left hooks; Madrid would fire back with left hooks of his own but it was McCarty that would win the round.

Madrid would have strong fifth and sixth rounds, by landing hard left hooks to McCarty’s body and head, causing McCarty to bleed from the nose, McCarty would time try to keep to his mouth piece in his mouth from Madrid’s left hooks. McCarty would try to flurry, but Madrid would block most of his punches with his gloves.

Madrid won the fight on referee Rocky Burke’s card by the score 58-57, while Esther Lopez had it 57-56 for Madrid, judge Margaret Garcia scored it 57-56 for McCarty.


In the opening bout of the night, Jesse Ortiz seemed to have the fight under control, when he forced Willie Villenueva to take a knee from a left hand, but when referee Rocky Burke tried to halt the action to give Villenueva a standing eight, Ortiz let go one last left hand that put Villenueva out. The punch was ruled an illegal blow. Villeneuva would lie on the canvas for five minutes while the ring doctors attended to him, Burke awarded the fight to Villenueva via disqualification. With the win Villenueva raises his record to 3-0, while Ortiz falls to 3-8-2.