Junior welterweights Carlos Molina and Glenn Gonzales battled over five, back-and-forth rounds before an appreciative crowd Friday night at the Pico Rivera Sports Arena in Pico Rivera, CA. Molina v. Gonzales headlined the Golden Boy fight card televised on TeleFutura’s popular Solo Boxeo fight series.

In the first Molina (13-0) repeatedly raked Gonzales with straight right hands. Following the round Gonzales was greeted by his corner with instructions to “watch out for that right hand”. Gonzales (7-2) followed orders and had a better second round. Part way through the third Gonzales suffered a cut near his right eye when the boxers butted heads. Gonzales responded by pushing the pace and pressuring Molina to the bell. Molina answered with equal aggression to open the fourth.

 In a test of wills the fighters traded leather for 30 seconds to open the round. Molina seized control of the fourth with left and right hooks that took the steam out of Gonzales. Following the round the ringside doctor took a look at the cut and determined Gonzales could continue. Gonzales started strongly firing combinations to the head and body. Molina countered by targeting the cut with a steady jab.

Following the fifth the doctor climbed into the ring to take a second look at the cut. The Gonzales corner complained their man couldn’t see. “If you can’t see, you can’t fight”, responded the doctor and with that the fight was over. Referee Lou Moret waived off the fight making Molina the winner by knockout following the fifth. When Gonzales protested the decision Moret explained the fight did not go to the scorecards because the doctor did not stop the fight due to the cut.
 

At 2:02 of the fifth round referee Jose Cobian sheltered Derrick Campos from further punishment and declared Eloy Perez the winner of their scheduled eight round lightweight bout. Perez (18-0-2) dictated the fight from start to finish with a sharp jab and tight defense.

With superior hand speed Perez also ruled the exchanges when the fighters tangled inside. Campos (20-9) did little offensively and paid the price as the fight wore on. In the second Perez added a right cross he fired behind the jab. Campos suffered a cut in the third and was battered in the fourth.

Early in the fifth Perez tagged Campos with a right-left combination that staggered Perez and caught Cobian’s attention. Perez went on the attack and winged hooks to the body. When Campos retreated to a corner Cobian stepped in and stopped the contest.
 

Anthony Martinez scored an unpopular split decision victory against journeyman Cristian Favela over four welterweight rounds. Martinez (5-0) stalked Favela in the opener confident his size and strength would break Favela down. A skilled veteran, Favela (18-28-6) made an adjustment in the second. By lowering his head and surging forward Favela was able to throw, and land, overhand rights and lefts.

Favela pressed ahead and took the fight to Martinez over the first half of the third. Martinez slowed Favela with a thunderous hook to the body to gain control of the round. In the fourth Martinez shot uppercuts through Favela’s guard. Favela continued to land overhand rights; one punch at a time.

 Judges Gwen Adair and Raul Caiz Jr. scored the bout 39-37 for Martinez. Judge David Denkin favored Favela by the same score.
 

Lightweight David Morales recovered from a shaky first round to defeat Juan Sandoval by identical scores of 39-37.

Sandoval (1-5) stunned Morales with a left hand one minute into the opening round and went on the attack to dominate the round. Morales (2-0-1) rebounded in the second behind a scoring 1-2.

In the third, Morales landed hooks to the body when he switched to the southpaw stance. Morales continued the body attack in the fourth and drove Sandoval to the ropes where he flurried.

Michael Finney stopped Chris Russell with a right hand 22 seconds into the start of round two to win their welterweight contest by knockout. Finney (5-0) pounded Russell with rights in the first and nearly ended the fight when he dropped Russell moments before the bell. Russell (2-2) rose at the count of nine to briefly extend the contest into the second.
 

Faces in the crowd: Sugar Shane Mosley, Joe Calzaghe, Abner Mares, Alfredo Angulo, Enrique Ornelas and Charles Huerta. Between contests we asked Calzaghe when he’s fighting next. Calzaghe smiled coyly and mouthed, “I’m not fighting” before quickly retreating.