Bloody Marquez Stops Jaca In 9
"Poor Mans" Pacquiao Makes Marquez Battle It Out

In a tougher than expected brawl, WBO Interim Featherweight  Belt holder Juan Manuel Marquez fought through a nasty gash caused by double head butts and stopped his determined foe Jimrex Jaca with a double left hook to the chin at the 2:48 mark of round nine.

For eight rounds plus Jaca proved to be a good test for Marquez and was taking everything the champ had to offer without so much as a blink. The ugly gash on Marquez forehead was from 2 obvious head butts, and as the crimson flow grew, so did Juan Manuels determination, and so did the action in the ring as the two exchanged punches at a furious rate, but in the end, Marquez’s grit and power was too much for Jaca.

This was probably one of the finest moments on HBO’s Boxing After Dark series this year. Too bad referee Laurence Cole had to taint it with a very odd statement when he took Marquez to the corner to have the doctor have a look at the bloody wound. As Cole got to the corner with Marquez he says to the cut fighter, “Habla Ingles?” To which Marquez nods in the affirmative. Cole then tells him, “You are ahead on the cards!”  Why did Cole feel the need to tell Marquez he was ahead? Better yet, how does Cole know the scores? The WBO is going to have to explain that one to me, because quite frankly, I have never seen that one before. Thank goodness Marquez is a true warrior and chose to battle on and earn his victory. And earn it he did in a pretty entertaining bout.

Judges scorecards at the time of the KO had Marquez surprisingly ahead and all three gave Marquez every round. Both HBO and Pound4Pound saw it way closer than that but agree Marquez was ahead when Jaca was counted out

Undercard Results
Demetrius Hopkins 138 decisions Rogelio Castaneda Jr in 12  
116-112 | 116-112 | 118-110
USBA Light Welterweight Title
IBF Light Welterweight Title Eliminator

Super Bantamweight Abner Mares KO's Wilmer Rodriguez in 4

Welterweight Gilbert Vera 142¼ decisions Carlos Velasquez in 6  
60-53 | 59-54 | 59-54
                                                                                                                      

The Biggest Freakin' Soboba Casino Photo Gallery You'll Ever See - Soliman W MD 10 Ornelas
Photos: Will "The Thrill" Trillo

Also in action, undefeated cruiserweight contender Vadim Tokarev will make his first ring appearance since his stunning fourth round TKO of previously undefeated Felix Cora Jr. in May when he defends his NABF championship against Shane Swartz in a 12 round contest. Click Here For More
                                                                                                                         

DiBella Entertainment has announced the currently scheduled airdates for the latest edition of its extremely popular Broadway Boxing Presented by StubHub. The November 15, 2006 edition, headlined by Spanish Harlem star Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana (19-2, 12 KO’s) against Bahamian Meacher Major (11-2-1, 10 KO’s) is schedule to air as follows: Click Here For More

Video Of Days Events To Follow
Photos: Will "The Thrill" Trillo

Ray Narh TKO 8 Ramazan Palyani Photo Gallery
Photos: "Sugar" Ray Bailey

Pacquiao TKO 3 Morales III Photo Gallery
Photos: Bret "The Threat" Newton

Click Here For Full Photo Gallery (40 Photos)

Separate Gallery Includes:
Brian Viloria DRAW Omar Nino
Ricardo Torres W SD 12 Mike Arnaoutis
                                                                                                                         

By Will "The Thrill" Trillo
Photos: Chris Farina - Top Rank

It was quick, it was vicious but most of all it was decisive and leaves no room for any second guessing. Manny Pacquiao is the man at 130 pounds and he is the barometer that everyone else must test themselves with.

Not since Hagler vs. Hearns has there been that much action and excitement in an arena, and certainly it should be a long time before we witness anything like that again.

For Erik Morales, this promotion was appropriately named, it should be his Grand Finale, although to most, his exit will be looked on as anything but grand.

From the onset, Pac was on Erik with a ferocity that can only be described as insane.

Paq took the first round that started off just as expected, nothing was being held back, it was balls to the wall for both fighters and it remained that way for the short remainder of the bout.

Round two looked to be one that Erik might be taking as the power shots were being exchanged and jabs were few and far between…if there at all. All that changed as the clock said there was 60 seconds left in the round as Manny caught Erik flush with a left that sent Morales sprawling into the ropes and downward. Erik got up to finish the round, but the writing was on the wall.

At the start of what turned out to be the final round I jotted down this little note, “ Erik looks like he may be done…forever.” He wasn’t sharp and he had no quickness and when Manny hit him Erik’s body language said, “This is all I can take, and I can take no more.”  Seconds later Morales was on the canvas and the end was near.

If we remember nothing else about Erik Morales, remember this, when he got up he gave it everything he had and for those final seconds we saw a true warrior give it one final shot, Morales went for it. The house was static electricity and the 2 foes went at it toe to toe like we have never witnessed before, a true snapshot moment.

But…..when the engaging began to wind down it was Manny who was landing the shots that counted and before the crowd could settle, Erik was on the seat of his pants again. As the referee Drakulich started his count, Erik, who was sitting on the deck looked directly at the ref and watched him as he started the ten count. One has to imagine those were the slowest ten seconds in Erik’s career and it’s no doubt all his epic moments in the ring passed before his eyes, I know they did mine.

Pacquiao was simply spectacular and there is no doubt 2007 will be a year filled with some great fights for the man from The Phillipines. 

Torres Takes A Spilt Decision Over Arnaoutis

In a true slugfest and a true battle of wills, power punching Ricardo Torres kept up his winning ways as he defeated via SD Mighty Mike Arnaoutis over the 12 round distance on his way to victory and possession of the vacant WBO Super Lightweight Crown. Torres the Columbian is one bad dude and is most certainly a man to be reckoned with. Much credit to Mighty Mike for hanging in and actually setting Torres down with nice punches in round 7 and continuing on to make this one hell of a fight, but this fight wasn’t meant to be for the rugged Philly southpaw  fighter.


Nino Retains Belt With Unpopular Majority Draw

In a rematch for the WBC Mini Fly Title Brian Viloria scored 2 knockdowns but it wasn’t as Omar Nino retained his title after a unanimous decision draw was rendered with a majority decision score of 115-112 in his favor and 2 even scores of 113-113. After the bout a distressed Viloria said, “I don’t know what the hell I gotta do to beat this guy!” Nino on the other hand was quick to point out that the first knockdown was the outcome of a push, not a punch, and he felt he controlled the fight with his jab throughout the bout. Many in the house we’re outraged by the decision, but Omar Nino remains champion at the end of the day.

Other Results From Vegas
Featherweight Juan Carlos Salgado took a UD over vet Marcos Lincona

Super bantamweight Fernando Beltran, Jr. took a DQ victory over Edel Ruiz more low blow barrage in Vegas. (see B. Pacquiao).

Unbeaten Olympian super welterweight Vanes Martirosyan forced Edgar Reyes to quit on his stoll after 4 rounds of beating.

Bernabe Concepcion took a 10 round UD over Joksan Hernandez in a WBC Youth super bantamweight title fight.