By Robert Soucy ringside
Jose Lopez UD8 Raul Hidalgo 79-73, 80-72 (twice)
Undefeated super bantamweight prospect Jose “Wonder Boy” Lopez won a clear decision over Raul Hidalgo who has been relegated to a gatekeeper in the division. Lopez’ advantage in hand speed and length showed as he beat Hidalgo to the punch all night. Lopez improved to 13-0, 10 ko’s, and retained his WBC Super Bantamweight FECARBOX title while Hidalgo dropped to 21-11, 16 ko’s.
Willie Nelson TKO1 Darryl Cunningham
In a complete mismatch junior middleweight contender Willie Nelson scored an explosive knockout of 39 year old Darryl Cunningham. About halfway through the first round, Nelson landed a straight right hand that dropped Cunningham hard. Then with under a minute left he landed several unanswered blows that dropped Cunningham for a second time. He was able to beat the count of referee Eddie Claudio but the fight was stopped by the ringside physician. Nelson improved to 22-1-1, 13KO’s and should now look to challenge the elite in the division. Cunningham dropped to 29-7, 11KO’s and should probably consider hanging up the gloves.
Jose Pedraza KO1 Arturo Uruzquieta
IBO super featherweight champion Jose “Sniper” Pedraza improved to 17-0, 11 KO’s with a first round knockout over Arturo Uruzquieta in a non-title fight. From the opening bell Pedraza ripped Uruzquieta with body shots. Two minutes into the round Uruzquieta wilted under the punishment and fell to the canvas in his corner. Uruzquieta was able to beat the count issued by Arthur Mercante but was unable to continue and dropped to 15-6, 6 ko’s. Felix Verdejo TKO1 Engelberto Valenzuela In another complete mismatch, former Puerto Rican Olympian lightweight Felix Verdejo blitzed Engelberto Valenzuela with a barrage of unanswered power shots in the first round. Verdejo scored a knockdown before ending the fight as he landed another series of hard shots. Verdejo improved to 13-0, 10KO’s and is a star in the making.
Andy Lee KO5 John Jackson
John Jackson landed a huge overhand right that dropped Andy Lee against the ropes in the first round of a 10 round junior middleweight fight but it was Lee who’s power won out. In a competitive fight Jackson was landing the harder shots and seemed to be in control through four rounds. Jackson hurt Lee in the fifth round but got careless as Lee stumbled toward the ropes. As Jackson threw a lazy left hand he got countered by Lee with a picture perfect right hook that dropped him face first. The fight was immediately stopped as Jackson was out and didn’t get up until a few minutes later. With the vicious one punch knockout, Lee, who is improved to 33-2, 23KO’s while Jackson dropped to 18-2, 15 KO’s.
Javier Maciel MD Jorge Melendez 94-94, 96-92, 97-91
In a back and forth war, Javier Maciel improved to 29-3, 20KO’s, by out-toughing Jorge Melendez in a better than expected scrap. Maciel was a late sub when Yuri Foreman abruptly retired but went on to win a ten round majority decision over Jorge “The Destroyer” Melendez who is now 28-4, 26 KO’s. Both fighters had their moments in an exciting back and forth slugfest. In the fourth round, Melendez was deducted a point by referee Harvey Dock for a low blow and was later dropped with a looping overhand right by Maciel.
Marvin Sonsona SD Wilfredo Vasquez 96-92, 92-96, 96-92
Featherweight Marvin “Marvelous” Sonsona improved to 19-1 15 KO’s as he defeated Wilfredo “WV2” Vazquez Jr. 23-3, 19 KO’s by 10-round split decision. Sonsona dropped Vazquez early in the fight and seemed to be in control for most of the bout.
