True to the card’s name “New Blood” lived up to it’s promise of excitement and action when the main event match up, welterweight contender Artemio “The King” Reyes Jr. crushed Mexico’s Victor Correa with a first round demolition. Reyes over powered the shocked Correa by dropping him 3 times and ending the fight by way of knockout in the first round.
Held at the the Doubletree Hotel Thompson Boxing Promotions’ hosted their first fight card of 2012 to a sold out crowd of Inland Empire boxing fanatics that showcased the local talent bring hotly contested encounters.
Reyes-Correa
Artemio “King” Reyes (15-1, 12 KOs) took command of the his challenger immediately and floored Victor Correa (12-5, 8 Kos) with a right-left-right combination. As the first round went on Reyes planted another left uppercut that sent Correa down just as it had moments before. Reyes attacked with a another left uppercut and followed it with a right and Correa went down for the third and final time face first. Referee Pat Russell waved the fight over at 2:51 of round one.
“It’s lovely to be at home. It’s amazing to come out of the tunnel to that kind of crowd,” said Reyes who returned to fight near his San Bernardino home. “I embrace it. I’m still the same guy. I’m humble.”
Reyes walked into the ring knowing his opponent out-weighed him by at least nine pounds but it didn’t make a difference to him. He knew he had a job to do.
“I felt strong. That’s what I need at the upper levels,” Reyes said.
Martinez-Johnson
The welterweight clash between East L.A.’s Aron “El Asesino” Martinez (16-1-1, 3 KOs) and Escondido’s Dashon “Flyboy” Johnson ended in a split decision for Martinez.
The energized Johnson, who body slammed Martinez in the first round, was deducted a point. He went into the second round and dropped Martinez only to follow it with a right hand flurry of blows. From that point on there was back and forth action with Martinez landing overhand rights and Johnson scoring with lead rights and hooks. In what was the seventh and final round which saw the fighters clash their heads, Martinez emerged with a gash along his left eye and the fight was stopped 20 seconds into the final round. Martinez got the split decision.
Judge Sergio Caiz scored it 77-75 for Johnson but Max De Luca’s 77-75 and David Denkin 78-73.
Esquivias-Landeros
Junior featherweight contender Efrain Esquivias (16-0, 9 Kos) pounded out an eight round decision over Mexico’s super tough Adolfo Landeros (20-23-2).
Esquivias slowly and effectively dissected Landeros with blows to the body and head. With quick right counters the Carson boxer proved accurate and convincing to all three judges who scored it in his favor for a unanimous decision. 80-72 | 78-74 | 78-74
Contreras-Quevedo
In the super bantamweight match Riverside’s Richard “The Terminator” Contreras (9-0-1, 8 KOs) survived first and second round knockdowns and rallied to a majority draw against Mexico’s Daniel “Cuate” Quevedo (13-12-2) on Friday.
Contreras was knocked down from a right hand after the bell in the first round and referee Jerry Cantu deducted a point from Quevedo for the illegal blow.
When the second round commenced a still stunned Contreras was floored once more with a right hand. Contreras gradually recovered and regained his senses and mounted a counter attack.
The crowd was surprised and excited by Contreras’ ability to regroup and win several rounds against Quevedo whose last fight was against former world champion Eric Morel.
Contreras and Quevedo ended in a majority draw. Judge David Denkin scored it 57-55 for Contreras but Max De Luca and Sergio Caiz had it 56-56 even.
Additional bouts
San Fernando’s Rigoberto Flores (3-1, 3 Kos) knocked out Gilroy’s Alonso Loeza (1-4-1) at 1:30 of the first round of their junior welterweight match. Flores erupted quickly with blows from all angles and never allowed Loeza to get his footing. Referee Pat Russell waited for Loeza to mount a counter attack but it never came and the contest was stopped.
Female junior flyweight Sindy Amador (7-0) remained undefeated after four rounds with Desert Springs Gloria Salas (3-7-1). Salas fought well, especially from the outside, but once Amador closed the distance she lowered her head and bore into her foe. Riverside’s Amador suffered a cut alongside her right eye after one of the many accidental butts. Salas tired in the third round after a good start and couldn’t muster enough firepower to keep Amador from rushing in. All three judges scored it 39-37 for Amador.
Young prospects Louis Rose (2-0) and Eric Prado (0-1) battled to a four round split decision of a middleweight bout. Rose of Los Angeles connected with more clean shots though Santa Maria’s Prado had his moments with several overhand rights. Two judges scored in favor of Rose. 36-40 | 37-39 | 39-37
