| |
|
|
Virgil Ortiz Wins In Return,
Leaves Fans Wanting For More
By Igor Frank
Photos: Cris Esqueda - Golden Boy Promotions
In the main event of the evening staged at the Theater
of Virgin Hotels undefeated Virgil Ortiz (20-0,20KO’S)
extended his knockout streak to 20 and scored a first
round KO over Frederick Lawson(30-4,22KO) from Africa.
Sharp shooting Ortiz trapped Lawson in the corner and
unleashed a furious assault on his opponent which
encouraged referee Tony Weeks to stop the fight at 2:33
of the very first round.
The stoppage seemed premature which prompted the crowd
to boo and shout: “Tony sucks, Tony sucks!!!” The fight
was televised by DAZN and featured a young Texan’s debut
as a super welterweight. When asked about the premature
ending, he explained that he felt the fight was over
when his opponent wasn’t fighting back, and referee made
a judgment call.
“I am ready for anyone,” said Ortiz Jr. at the
post-fight press conference:” there are a lot of
fighters that I want to fight, but Tim Tszyu, with all
due respect, I want him next. He is a hell of a fighter,
and it would be an honor to fight him next.”
In the co-main event of the evening veteran junior
welterweight, Ismael Barosso(25-4-2,23KO’S) from
Venezuela scored a spectacular 1st round knockout over
Ohara Davies(25-3,18KO) leaving no doubts about the
stoppage. Referee Raul Caiz Jr. stopped the contest at
1:33 of the first stanza after Davies was deposited to
the canvas for the second time and in no condition to
continue. Following Barosso getting his hand raised in
the ring he hugged his former opponent Rolly Romero who
registered a controversial win over him last year. Who
knows, maybe they will do a rematch soon.
Newly signed by Golden Boy super lightweight from El
Monte, California Arnold Barbosa(29-0,11KO’S) took on a
rugged veteran from Africa, Xolisani
Ndongeni(31-4,18KO’S) in a ten round contest. Undefeated
Barbosa won by eight round TKO after referee Raul Caiz
Jr stopped the fight between rounds eight and nine on
the advice of the corner of the African fighter.
Barbosa , who seemed to be in control of the fight from
the beginning,had a huge round five; trapping his
opponent several times and doing damage. Undefeated
fighter from El Monte, California dominated the fight
from that point on.
Ten round welterweight contest between Raul Curiel from
Mexico and Elias Diaz from National City California
started out more cautiously,but more competitive than
the first fight. Curiel connected with several
meaningful punches in the third stanza and drew blood in
the fourth. Left right combination dropped Diaz at the
tail end of the fifth and right uppercut stunned him
again in the sixth. Ttrained by renouned Freddie Roach ,
Curiel continued to stock his prey and seemed to be in
control of the fight and poured it on until referee
Ortega stopped the fight at 1;16 of the eighth stanza.
Curiel improved his record to 14-0 with 12KO’S with an
impressive performance.
In the opening bout super middleweight Emiliano Gandara
scored an impressive first round knockout over Timvonte
Carson(1-3)in his professional debut . It was guns
blazing from the opening bell. The second knock down
forced referee Raul Caiz Jr to stop the contest at 2:11
of the first stanza.
|
|
|
