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Top Rank Resurrects Reno
While Showcasing Future Stars
By Simon Ruvalcaba
Photos: Mikey Williams - Top Rank
July 9, 1995 is a night Tracy Harris Patterson will
never forget. It was the night he won the title against
Eddie Hopson. For the Reno/Sparks convention center it
was the last time the arena hosted a boxing match after
being a hot bed for big fights in the 1980's and early
90's. Boxing action returned Friday night and the once
hot bead for boxing may now be resurrecting itself based
on the decent and enthusiastic crowd!
In the main event 2012 Olympian and Freddie Roach
trained Jose Ramirez improved to 20-0 (15) with a
technical 2nd round stoppage of Jake Giuriceo who fell
to 20-6-1 (5). A 4 punch combination opened up a cut on
Giuriceo and early in round 2 at the advice of the
doctor referee Vic Drakulich stopped the contest.
Ramirez used the first round to measure Giuriceo and
after feeling little power to concern himself with came
out aggressive in round 2.
Plenty of Stockton, CA's Gabriel Flores Jr.'s fans made
the few hour drive to Reno to support the city's latest
hope for boxing greatness. Flores, Top Rank promotions
youngest ever signed fighter debuted with a flashy
stoppage 1:45 of round 2 against New Orleans based
fighter Devon Jones. Flores dropped Jones about a minute
into the fight and two other times Devon hit the canvass
in ruled slips.
Flores came out and dominated the action in round 2 and
showed some Roy Jones Jr. flare as he toyed with the
lesser caliber opponent. Those in attendance felt they
got to witness the debut of a future boxing superstar
and base on the excitement and performance, the sky is
the limit for the very humble Flores. Jones is now 2-3
(1).
Flyweights Oscar Vasquez of Reno, NV and Mexico's Alex
Rangel kicked off the Unimas t.v. action in an 8 round
bout. Vasquez controlled the pace and action of the
fight from the beginning with crisp combinations to the
head and body. A head butt caused a stoppage of the bout
in the 8th and final round. The 8th round was scored and
Vasquez got the unanimous decision 79-73 twice and
80-72.
Mini Flyweights Santos Vasquez of Reno, NV and Warren,
OH's Anthony Taylor provided the audience with a high
volume offensive battle. Vasquez was the aggressor and
landed the more significant blows, an accidental head
butt caused a cut over Taylor's left eye in round 4.
Vasquez picked up the pace a notch in the final round
and stopped Taylor at 2:05 of round 6. Vasquez improves
to 3-2-1 (2), Taylor falls to 4-2 (1).
Freddie Roach new blood Angel Cordon Jr. was successful
in his pro debut as he used his sneaky fast right hand
to finish combos and drop Rio Rancho, TX's Kevin Garcia
3 times in the opening round to win the super
featherweight contest with a tko at 2:08. Prior to doing
damage and finishing the fight, Cordon was showing
impressive defense and counter ability. Garcia drops to
0-2.
In the opening bout of the night Tracy, CA's Cesar
Hernandez spoiled the pro debut of local fighter Beto
Guillen with a unanimous 39-37 four round decision in a
Middleweight bout. The bout was competitive and was
there for the taking. Guillen landed solid shots,
Hernandez put his combos a little more together and
mixed it up to the head and body. Hernandez improves to
3-1.
The evenings walkout bout was a six round lightweight
bout between Sacramento's Pedro Moreno and Grand Rapids,
MI's Vincent Jennings. The swing bout was originally set
to happen between bouts just before Unimas went on the
air but Moreno refused to leave the locker room when he
learned that they where cutting the fight to a four
rounder. So the left over crowd that stayed after the
main event got to see the undefeated prospect cruise to
a victory in a bout that was two counter punchers
waiting for each other the throw. Moreno was more
workmanlike and opened up a bit in the final rounds.
Moreno took the unanimous shutout (60-54) decision to
improve to 6-0 (4). Jennings falls to 5-4-1 (4).
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