Morales & Gesta Battle To Draw In Los Angeles - Pound4Pound.com

Morales & Gesta Battle To Draw In Los Angeles

By William Trillo & Albert Castillo
Photos: Marlene Marquez

Lightweights Carlos Morales (19-4-3, 8 KO’s) and Mercito Gesta (32-3-2, 17 KO’s) gave the crowd the promised barn-burner in the Golden Boy promoted Main Event at Belasco Theater on Thursday night. This fight was all action from the opening bell as each man let the leather fly.

In the early going it was Morales who was doing the effective work by making Gesta miss punches and then come back with pinpoint shots of his own. But as the fight ensued Gesta began to time Morales and now it was Mercito who was controlling the action.

But after an accidental clash of heads Morales had a large cut over his eye that his corner could not stop. With blood hindering the vision of Morales the Doctor was left with no choice but to bring the proceedings to a grinding halt.

Going to the scorecards after six the judges had the tally 58-56 in favor of Morales and 57-57 twice making this one a Majority Draw. This one was just heating up at the time it was stopped. Hopefully they will want to do it again to settle the score.

“What happened is that we clashed heads while coming in," said Carlos Morales. “The ref said the cut was too deep. I had trouble seeing out of my left eye. The medicine kept getting in my eye, and I kept trying to get it out. Mercito has a lot of experience, so it was a good learning experience for me. If the fans want a rematch, we can do it."

“I wanted to keep going, and I know he wanted to keep going," said Mercito Gesta."But that's the way it is. This is boxing, and it happens. We can definitely do this again if the fans want it.”

Super featherweights Charles Huerta (21-7, 12 KO’s) and Jonathan Oquendo (31-6, 19 KO’s) took this one inside a phone booth as they stood toe to toe for the entire ten round stanza. Apparently, this is exactly the place Oquendo wanted to be. The Puerto Rican looked sharp and effective in close quarters.

For Huerta it seemed as though he was smothered by the in fighting as he was unable to land any effective punches. Neither fighter went down in the battle and the fight went to the judges’ scorecards which read 100-90 across the board all in favor of Oquendo who grabbed the vacant World Boxing Organization Latino Super Feather Title.

"It was a tough fight, and I felt I did well,” said Jonathan Oquendo.“I hadn’t fought in about six months when I fought Lamont Roach. But I did a good job. I knew he was the kind of fighter who likes to trade and I think I used that to my advantage. I also worked the body really well. God willing, we’ll get world title shot next.”

Super welterweight KO artist Travell Mazion (16-0, 12 KO’s) was stretched to the limit by an iron chinned Diego Cruz (19-8-2, 15 KO’s). Mazion who looked more like a Middleweight when he stepped in the ring found out early that he was not in there with just another Palooka. Cruz came out determined to show he deserved Mazion’s respect, by the end of the fight there is no doubt he had that.

Mazion hit Cruz with thunderous blows in every round but a determined Cruz never hit the canvas. Mazion worked behind a very impressive jabs followed by scorching punches while Cruz worked behind a chin of granite and a heart of stone. That made for a very entertaining fight. Mazion swept the scorecards with a unanimous decision victory, 98-91 and 99-90 twice.

“I think my performance was amazing,” said Travell Mazion.“I did exactly what I wanted to do. Everybody always thinks that I’m trying to go out there to get the knockout. You don’t always go out there and go for the knockout. He was really tough. I knew he was going to come in with some hell of a shots, and he did, but I knew I was going to come up top. I would change keeping my hands a little bit and go for to the body more. That’s pretty much it. I did what my coach wanted me to do. Whatever they have for me. I’m going to spend the holidays with my family, but we’re still going to be in the gym. Always in the gym.

Lightweight Oscar Acevedo (6-0) took on Darel Harris (3-18-1, 1 KO) in this four round pillow fisted affair. In an uneventful bout Acevedo remained undefeated but showed little spark throughout the fight. The 22 fight veteran Harris gave Acevedo and his fans something to think about despite Acevedo’s unanimous decision victory. Final scores read 39-37 and 40-36 twice.

“I felt good. I had to get rid of some ring rust because I hadn’t fought since March,” said Oscar Acevedo. “I’m going to go back to the gym right away and see what’s next for me.”

Welterweight Evan Anthony Sanchez (6-0, 5 KO’s) opened the show with an eye-catching KO over Hector Hernandez (2-2, 1 KO). Sanchez wasted no time as he jumped on his foe immediately with powerful blows. The shellacking took a mere 29 seconds before Sanchez dropped Hernandez forcing the ref to bring a rapid halt to the action. Boxing fans might want to keep an eye on the southpaw Sanchez, he looks to have a promising career.

“I feel honored to have been on a Golden Boy card,” said Evan Sanchez. “I appreciate every opportunity that’s been given to me. I didn’t know it would end this quick, but I knew I would get the stoppage because I have been training extra hard.”