On Friday night Thompson Boxing Promotions presented Locked N’ Loaded at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA. The event played to a full house of enthusiastic fans.

In an exciting main event, Aron Martinez (19-2-1, 4 KOs) was paired up with Alberto Herrera (8-9-1, 5 KOs). This fight was in the welterweight division and was to be fought for a scheduled eight rounds. As was the order for the entire night, there was a lot of action in here from the outset. Both men took turns landing punches and fighting on the ropes in the opener.

In the second round, after Herrera spent three quarters of the bout fighting in close and being in charge, in the last seconds Martinez got free and just pounded Alberto. Herrera managed to stay off the canvas, came back in to punch again, and the round ended. The third started the same as the second, with the pugilists fighting in close, which was an advantage for Herrera. Every time he backed up, Aron landed solid shots.

The fourth was no different than the third. This was turning into an all-out war. At the midway point the fighters looked a bit tired, and it was no wonder. They had been dishing out and receiving punishment as well as pushing and shoving each other around. It had to take a toll.

In round six the pace was still a little bit slower, but the men seemed less tired and more into strategy. In the seventh they fought in close again. As had been the case throughout most to the fight, both of them scored some points during exchanges.

We came upon the eighth and final round. A great round to finish with. Yes, overall Herrera ate more punches and was out boxed by the craftier Martinez, but on this night both men showed grit, determination, and toughness. Once again, we went to the scorecards. Two judges saw the fight 77-75 and 78-74 for Martinez, while one judge had it an even 76-76. Martinez gets the win by majority decision.

But no shame for Herrera here. He made a good showing in this closely scored match. He is a tough customer whose record belies his toughness and talent.
 

In a fight scheduled for six rounds in the welterweight division, Giovanni Santillan (7-0, 5 KOs) faced off against the much overmatched Yair Agular (12-19, 5 KOs). Santillan showed his speed and accuracy in the opening round, as he was able to get the best of Agular. In the second, a barrage of left hands to the body put Agular down, but he was up at eight. Several seconds later however, Giovanni caught him again with an uppercut and then another body shot. Yair went down and the referee called the fight at 2:20 of the second round. Santillan added another victory to his unblemished record, while Agular looked as if he couldn’t wait to get to the back.
 

The women took to the ring as the undefeated Sindy Amador (10-0, 1 KO) remained that way when she took on Adrienne Alegria (2-2-1). This was a junior flyweight bout and was scheduled for six two minute rounds. In true Amador style, she came out swinging and never stopped. Both women landed, but it was Sindy who made the most contact. They came out the same way in round two. Alegria landed a well-placed hand on Sindy and staggered her back – something that doesn’t happen very often to Amador.

A head butt in the third paused the action when Adrienne needed a few seconds, and another one followed shortly thereafter. But the fight continued on to the bell. In the fourth the women continued to punish each other. While Amador had taken some good punches, it was the face of Alegria that was showing the punishment.

There was not much different to report about the fifth round. These two were giving their all. In the sixth and final Amador was really getting those gloves on Algeria’s head, connecting with both lefts and rights. Adrienne would give an answer back, but Sindy would just land another punch. We went to the scorecards. All three men who mattered saw the fight 60-54, giving the unanimous decision to Amador. But kudos to Alegria, who stayed right in there with her.

When I was at Capital Punishment on Thursday, the talk around was how fit Sindy had gotten in her new training program. After the fight I asked her about that. She told me she is working with Jamie Searl, and that she has her swimming, jumping, and lifting weights.

“She’s awesome and makes it fun,” Amador said. “She’s very creative and we do an hour without stopping.”

Obviously, it is working!

It was Danny Roman (5-1-1, 2 KOs) who stood across the ring from Francisco Jose Camacho (1-2, 1 KO) in a scheduled four round fight in the super bantamweight division. In the opening round Roman was able to pepper Camacho with shots to both the head and body, and controlled the round.

We saw the second round full of action, with Daniel showing the way. In the third, Roman was easily landing the harder shots of the two. In the fourth and final Roman was in charge all the way, hitting Camacho at will. To the scorecards we went. They judges saw it 40-36, 40-36, and 39-37, a unanimous decision for Roman.

Aaron Acevedo (2-1-2, 2 KOs) faced off with Oscar Santana (3-1-1, 1 KO). This fight was scheduled for four rounds in the super featherweight division. The first round saw Santana take it to Acevedo, and definitely scored more points. Same thing for the second, although Aaron was able to land a few more. But Oscar still had the upper hand, even though the tide was turning.

It was a much closer third round, and hard to score. This was the same in the fourth and final. We had to go to the scorecards to see how it would go. The judges saw it 39-37 for Santana, 39-37 for Acevedo, and 38-38, making the fight a draw.

Ken Alvarez (4-1, 3 KOs) was pitted against Joaquin Chavez (3-7-2, 2 KOs) in a junior welterweight fight that was scheduled for four rounds. Both men were going for the knockout the entire round, and right at the bell a hard right dropped Chavez, but he made it out of the round.

It was much of the same in rounds two and three. Alvarez showed some skill and Chavez was a loose cannon, who threw some very wild punches. If they landed they could be devastating, which forced Ken to fight Joaquin’s fight.

The two men finished the fight the way they started, trying to knock each other out. But in the end we went to the scorecards in a fight that had as much action and hitting power as one could ask for. We had a split decision. The scores were 38-37 for Chavez, and 40-35 and 39-36 for Alvarez. Ken earned another victory.

In a featherweight bout scheduled for four rounds to open up the evening, it was Stephen Young (4-0-1, 2 KOs) going up against Misael Martinez (0-8). On paper this fight was quite a mismatch, but in the first round, even though Young landed the most effective punches, Martinez was landing some of his own.

The second round was much like the first – Stephen doing more damage, but Misael desperately trying to stay in the fight. The third round was all action from both men. In the fourth and final Young hit Martinez with many solid, hard shots, but Misael refused to go down and we went to the scorecards. All of the judges saw it for Young; 40-36, 39-37, and 40-36.

This was a good night of boxing, with all but one fight showing competitiveness in attitude and a will to win. Next Thursday Thompson will have a show in Corona, headlined by Alberto Herrera’s brother, Mauricio, who will face Ji-Hoon Kim. Should be a good one!