Message To All Fighters -
Protect Yourself At All Times

By Roy Marquez
Photos: Marlene Marquez

Friday night was fight night at the Quiet Canon in Montebello, CA where jr. welterweight prospect Mookie Pendarvis stepped up in class to test his mettle against gate keeper Steve Quinonez. Pendarvis v. Quinonez headlined an action packed fight card presented by All-Star Boxing.

Cleotis “Mookie” Pendarvis stopped veteran Steve Quinonez (31-14-1) at 2:07 of the first to win their jr. welterweight contest in dramatic fashion. When Quinonez, a former title challenger, lost his balance and nearly fell through the ropes Pendarvis greeted his return to the ring with a chopping left hand. Quinonez never saw the punch and crumbled to the floor. Quinonez struggled to beat the count but did and when the fight resumed Pendarvis jumped on him. Referee Raul Caiz Jr. was forced to step between the fighters and call a halt to the bout. With the victory Pendarvis (10-1-1) won the CA State Jr. Welterweight championship.
 

In the best fight of the night, Bhakari Gates bloodied the nose and brow of Max Skayzer but couldn’t best the rugged Russian over six jr. middleweight rounds. The early rounds were close but won by Skayzer. Gates (2-6) won a spirited third round but noticeably tired as the round drew to a close. Skayzer (6-0) landed the heavier blows down the stretch to earn a hard fought six-round decision.
 

Stan Martyniouk overcame a frantic start by Jovann Jones (9-5) to dominate their six-round, lightweight bout. Jones started fast to win the first but was slowed by body blows as the fight progressed. Martyniouk (6-0-1) dropped Jones at the end of the fifth and again in the sixth with a barrage of hooks to the body and head.

All three judges awarded the fight to Martyniouk. The final scorecards read 58-54, 59-53 and 60-52.
 

MMA fighter turned boxer Toby Grear landed a looping right to KO Elliot Seymour (1-2) in round two of their middleweight contest. In making his professional debut Grear (1-0) lacked technique but made up for it with determination and power.
 

Undefeated heavyweight Joe Hanks celebrated his birthday be defeating Alvaro Morales (3-4-5) by TKO in the first. Hanks was in control of the round when Morales took a knee due to injury. On the advice of the ringside physician referee Jerry Cantu stopped the bout at 2:52 of the opening round.
 

Heavyweight Natu Visinia’s introduction to professional boxing was both spectacular and brief. Visinia stopped Mike Finney (1-5) with a left hook 55 seconds into round one to win his professional debut. Visinia trapped Finney against the ropes and rained bombs on Finney until he collapsed.
 

Lightweight Cesar Garcia is all guts and heart. With but one win in six fights entering the bout Garcia looked to be the perfect foe for a fighter making his professional debut. Anthony Wheaton (0-1) learned that records can be deceiving.

Garcia bested Wheaton over four rounds to improve to 2-4-1.