Martinez, Gamboa and Angulo Victorious
Posted by Raymundo Dioses on 10.05.2008
Full ringside report from Temecula.
TEMECULA, CA - Sergio Martinez and Alex Bunema battled it out on Saturday night for the WBC interim super welterweight championship in front of a capacity crowd at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California.
After a slow start in the opening round, Martinez would end up systematically braking down Bunema.
In the second, Martinez threw a precise two punch combination, but Bunema later scored with a straight right hand.
The southpaw Martinez played well off his right hand jab in the third, setting up a knockdown at 1:17.
Bunema weathered the storm, yet was battered on the ropes in the closing seconds of the round. The storm continued from Martinez in the fourth and fifth rounds, as he kept his right hand jab in Bunema's face, which continued to set up Bunema.
Bunema had a better sixth round by going to the body, but the rout continued for Martinez.
Midway through the seventh, Martinez threw a succession of punches with no return from Bunema.
Martinez scored two big left hands in the first minute of the eighth round, and Bunema continued fighting with a bloody mouth and glazed eyes.
Referee Raul Caiz Sr., after being consulted by a ring side physician, had seen enough, and called a halt to the bout after eight rounds, with Martinez the declared winner.
Bunema seemed content with just trying to land a big right hand, which he did in spurts, but Martinez had the better game plan which was to fight off his jab.
Martinez, (44-1-1, 24 KOs) will now face Vernon "The Viper" Forrest for the official WBC super welterweight championship of the world at a date to be determined.
"El Perro" shines
Alfred "El Perro" Angulo was impressive in his TKO of the Bronx, New York's Andrey Tsurkan. Angulo would effectively move from orthodox to southpaw to land big left hands throughout the fight. Tsurkan showed little offense in the fight, and was swelled under both eyes by the third round.
Tsurkan fought unsteadily in the seventh and eighth rounds, and was unable to break through the formidable defense of Angulo, who as a sparring partner, regularly takes heavy punches from WBA welterweight champion Antonio Margarito.
Angulo came close to stopping Tsurkan at the end of the ninth, but Tsurkan held on for the tenth and final round.
After an Angulo onslaught in which referee Tony Crebs was close to halting the fight, Tsurkan's corner threw in the towel with 33 seconds to go.
The 2004 Olympian Angulo improved to 14-0 with 11 knockouts.
Angulo wants to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. next.
"I'll give him the test of his life," said Angulo.
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In a fight between two undefeated featherweight boxers, Yuriorkis Gamboa took on Marcos Ramirez.
Ramirez scored a first round knockdown, but Gamboa quickly recovered.
Gamboa used his left hand to knockdown Ramirez midway through the second round, and Ramirez chose to stand toe to toe with Gamboa once back up, which was a mistake.
Gamboa got the better end of the exchange, and was knocked down for a second time.
Referee Jerry Cantu stopped the fight at 1:41, and Gamboa kept his undefeated record, now at 12-0 with 10 knockouts.
Mayweather promotions upcoming Jesse Vargas fought his way inside the taller and long armed Trenton Titsworth with chopping hooks that earned him a 39-34 unanimous decision after four awkard rounds.
Titsworth's giaraffe-like physique forced the shorter Vargas to throw high, swinging punches, yet the tall fighter proved he could take a punch, eating multiple uppercuts and hooks.
Titsworth was deducted two points for unsportsmanlike conduct in the third round. Vargas improved to 2-0 with 1 knockout.
Welterweights Carlos Abregu and Robert Valenzuela fought a competitive six rounder that ended in a halt by referee Jose Cobian at :54 of the final round. Abregu, (24-0, 21 KOs) showed an all around offense of inside and outside punches, and wore down Valenzuela, who was bloodied and fatigued in the later rounds, and eventually declared unfit to continue.
