Riverside’s Mauricio Herrera (19-3, 7KOs) scored a unanimous decision victory against Ji-Hoon Kim (24-9, 18KOs) in the main event of a special edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights at the Omega Products Outdoor Event Center in Corona, CA. Thompson Boxing Promotions and Banner Promotions hosted the night’s action.

Mauricio Herrera fought an incredibly intelligent fight in front of a partisan crowd. After all, the point of boxing is to hit and not get hit. Herrera controlled the fight from the opening bell with his jab. His stick allowed him to set up some blistering combos in the first half of the bout. He also used the ring masterfully.

Korea’s Ji-Hoon Kim came to fight. He forced the action throughout the ten round main event and was vividly the stronger puncher. Although, what Mauricio Herrera lacked in power, he made up in Boxing IQ. Herrera fought well along the ropes, especially as the fight progressed. He landed a left uppercut in round seven that snapped back Kim’s head. He then peppered Kim with left and right hooks with his back against the ropes in the following round.

All three judges scored the 10 round Junior Welterweight fight for Mauricio Herrera. Max De Luca and Pat Connolly both tabulated the bout 99-91, while Marty Denkin scored the fight 98-92.


Miguel Gonzales Out Slugs Miguel Acosta

Miguel Gonzales (21-3, 15KOs) scored a unanimous decision victory against Miguel Acosta (29-7-2, 23KOs) in a hard fought 10 round Lightweight scrap. Judge Marty Denkin scored the bout 96-92, Max De Luca had it 97-91, and Pat Connolly saw it 95-93.

The fighter’s had more in common than their mutually shared first name. Both Miguel’s fought like true warriors. They both tasted the canvas tonight and both where also hurt on several occasions. They gave the fight fans in Corona an exceptional battle in the co-featured bout of the night.

Miguel Gonzales was first to taste the canvas in round number two. Venezuela’s Acosta landed a crisp right hook that sent Gonzales to the canvas. Gonzales got up and made a huge adjustment, he began to fight from a southpaw stance rather than the conventional stance. He then proceeded to land his straight left, Acosta had no defense for the Gonzales change in strategy. The Cleveland, Ohio native went on to score a knockdown of his own in round five with a left hook.

Venezuela’s Miguel Acosta fought valiantly throughout, even after being floored. Acosta definitely focused his attack to Miguel Gonzales’ torso, but that would not be enough to ward off Gonzales’ aggression who swept the last four rounds on this writers scored card.


Richard Contreras KO’s Jose Ineguez

Riverside’s Richard Contreras (10-1, 9KOs) knocked out Jose Ineguez (6-15, 1KO) in round number two of their scheduled six round Bantamweight fight. Contreras chopped wood on his way to victory. Jose Ineguez torso was not equipped to handle the body attack that Contreras unleashed. The fight was stopped 57 seconds into round number two after Contreras landed two consecutive left hooks to the body.


Fernando Fuentes Decisions Christian Lorenzo

Fernando Fuentes (2-0-1) scored a unanimous decision victory against Christian Lorenzo (2-1, 1KO) to kick off the night’s action. All three judges ringside saw the fight for Fuentes with scores 40-36, 39-37, and 38-38


Taras Shelestyuk Stops Brandon Adams

2012 Ukrainian Olympian Taras Shelestyuk (2-0, 2KO) stopped debutant Brandon Adams (0-1) at the 48-second mark of round number four. Shelestyuk survived an early knockdown to pummel Adams on his way to a stoppage victory.