Indio, CA December 13th, 2019- Vergil Ortiz 15-0 15KOs showed why he’s mentioned as a future champion in the welterweight division, after starching once beaten Brad Solomon 28-2 9KOs inside five rounds.
Solomon came in as an underdog that could make Ortiz box with his slick style. Working a hard jab that found its range early, Ortiz set the table for hard right hands to breakdown Solomon.
A straight left hand down the pipe sent Solomon straight back to the seat of his pants early in a preview of the pending outcome.
Solomon didn’t have the firepower to dissuade the power puncher from Grand Prairie.
Ortiz landed a right hand in the fifth dropping Solomon again. Beating the count was merely a consolation prize as Solomon hit the deck again from a right-hand left to the body combination sending him down a third time prompting referee Raul Caiz to call a halt to the fight at 2:22 of the fifth.
“I knew he was going to be a tough cookie to break. Luckily I have a good team behind me, and all my smarts. I felt like I was very patient. I knew I had to pick it up somehow, I can’t lay low. I feel like I did a good job. I would say, high B or A on this one.” Ortiz said during his post-fight interview.
MACHADO WINS LIGHTWEIGHT DEBUT BY KO2
After failing to regain his title at 130 pounds Puerto Rican puncher Alberto Machado 22-2 18KOs moved up to lightweight for a second run. Luis Porozo 14-2 7KOs came in to derail a potential Machado comeback and landed a solid right hand in the first to a roaring crowd.
A hard-left hook to the body from Machado put Porozo down in the second to end any momentum gained in the first. Porozo would go down two more times from body shots to be counted out after the third knockdown. Machado returns to the win column and shows the power he once held over the 130-pound division.
BOHACHUK STAYS UNBEATEN
Ukranian Junior Middleweight puncher Serhii Bohachuk 17-0 17KOs stopped Carlos Galvan in the fifth round. After dominating the fight and knocking Galvan down three times referee Ray Corona called an end to the action.
MELIKUZIEV SCORES SHUTOUT OVER ALEXANDER
Bektemir Melikuziev 4-0 3KOs rolled to a unanimous decision victory over Vaughn Alexander 15-4. Melikuziev jabbed and moved his way around a befuddled Alexander over an uneventful bout that ended with scores of 100-90 on all three cards.
ROCHA MAKES VALENZUELA QUIT AFTER FIVE
Welterweight prospect Alexis Rocha 15-0 10KOs survived the first scare of his career after getting rocked by a right hand from Roberto Valenzuela 17-2 16KOs.
Rocha came in off a knockout win over Berlin Abreu in July and was looking to cash in early against Valenzuela. Firing big shots to the body, Rocha stayed in the line of Valenzuela’s right hand and ate a big one to send his knees buckling.
Valenzuela threw everything he had but it wasn’t enough to put the young fighter from Santa Ana down, by the end of the second Rocha had righted the ship and was firing back on a tired Valenzuela. Rocha finished the rest of the fight with hard body work on a withering Valenzuela until at the end of the fifth Valenzuela shook his head in the corner indicating to his trainer he’s had enough.
Rocha walked away with a KO5 to bump himself up a notch and show he can deal with adversity when needed. “He caught me in the second round. I got lazy. It’s my fault. I started letting my hands go after the third, and then I kept hurting him. It was important that I finished the fight. It’s a learning experience.” Rocha said after the fight.
FELICIANO STAYS UNBEATEN IN DOMINANT DECISION
Luis Feliciano 14-0 8KOs kept the ball rolling with a dominant unanimous decision win over Herbert Acevedo 16-3-1 6KOs. Feliciano was too sharp and too fast for Acevedo out-boxing him over the distance with an educated jab and counters.
Acevedo showed grit after being dropped in the third round from a body shot to last the distance. On scores of 100-89, 99-90, and 97-92 Feliciano remains unbeaten.
“I give props to Herbert Acevedo. He’s a tough and rugged fighter. I thought he was out when I dropped him in the third round. I tried to get the finish, but he weathered the storm. I’m happy to finish the year with a win, and we are on to the next.” Feliciano said after the fight.
BAZINYAN WINS KO2
Opening the night’s action Canadian Super Middleweight Erik Bazinyan 24-0 18KOs stopped Saul Roman 45-14 37KOs at :46 of the second round.
