Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna (29-0-1, 21 KOs) used a relentless attack to stop Carlos “Twin Dream” Velasquez (19-2, 12 KOs) in the tenth-round and retain his super featherweight title on Premier Boxing Champions Toe to Toe Tuesdays from The Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort.
Fortuna blitzed Velasquez from the opening bell, using his awkward-pressure style to open up opportunities to land punches. In the second round, Fortuna landed a pair of left hooks that sent Velasquez to the canvas. In that round, Velasquez began bleeding from the nose due to a head butt and may have broken his nose.
Also in that second round, Fortuna injured his left hand and was unable to throw it for much of the rest of the fight. He still proved to be too much for Velasquez however, out-landing him 168-51 while landing almost 40 percent of his punches.
He came out strong once again in the tenth round, landing a series of unanswered shots that prompted referee Russell Mora to stop the fight thirty-five seconds into the round. At the time of the stoppage, the judges’ scores were 88-82, 87-83 and 86-84 all for Fortuna.
In the co-main event, undefeated super welterweights Domonique Dolton (17-0-1, 9 KOs) and Oscar Molina (13-0-1, 10 KOs) fought to a majority draw in an entertaining, back-and-forth scrap.
Dolton threw more punches than Molina, but Molina landed at a higher percentage and was able to land his power punches over 50 percent of the time. In round three, Molina had his best moments when he wobbled Dolton with a right hand, but Dolton regained his composure and finished the round strong. Both men continued to flurry at moments throughout the remaining rounds and were throwing punches all the way to the final bell.
The judges’ totals were 95-95 twice and 97-93 for Fortuna. In total, Dolton landed 145 out of 479 punches while Molina landed 134 out of 326.
JAVIER FORTUNA
“I was just waiting to counter punch Velasquez. The rhythm of the fight was important. I was in control of the fight because I could control the rhythm.
“I’ve had this style ever since I was an amateur. I’ve learned more about how to be aggressive and I’ve always tried to press the action throughout my career.
“I knew I got him with a good shot when I knocked him down. I hurt my left hand after that but it was just a matter of time until I got him again. I didn’t throw my left too much after that.
“I saw his shots coming. I would have taken advantage earlier but I hurt my hand. If I hadn’t hurt my hand, he wouldn’t have lasted five rounds.
“I looked at his corner as I was hurting him because I wanted them to know that I could go the full 12 rounds and I wasn’t going to stop until the final bell rings.”
CARLOS VELASQUEZ
“The head butt, I think broke my nose early in the fight, and it effected my breathing throughout the bout.
“I take nothing away from Fortuna, he’s a great fighter. I left everything in the ring and I never quit. I wanted to give it my all and that’s what I did.”
DOMONIQUE DOLTON
“I knew it was a close decision. It would have been fine either way. Close fight. He landed some shots, I landed some shots. I wouldn’t have been mad either way.
“The game plan was to make him miss with the left hand and then get him with the overhand right. I got in there and started overpowering him. I decided to just beast him. I thought I would finish stronger at the end of the fight.
“He has really good timing. We’re both technicians. I wanted to make him miss, he wanted to make me miss. He landed some more power shots but I made him work for it at the end.”
OSCAR MOLINA
“I let it get too close, so I can’t complain about the decision. I’ll go home and watch the fight but right now I can’t complain. The judges saw what they saw.
“The game plan was to stay relaxed, but I fell out of the game plan. I hurt him in the third round and it kind of messed me up. I started looking for that one shot to end it. I have to work on staying steady and relaxed.
“Dolton had real good foot work, he caught me lunging in. I’ve known him since the amateur days so I know how good he is.
“I’m motivated to get back in the gym and start going 20, 30 rounds without getting tired. I got gassed at the end but It’s a learning experience.”
