If the quality of entertainment and action in the World Series of Boxing’s future events is anything like it was Sunday night at Club Nokia, I strongly suggest fans go to the next one nearest them!
Now, it may just been an L.A. thing where it felt more like a nightclub party atmosphere but I doubt it. The fighters were hungry and are trying to make a name for themselves. That makes for determined, aggressive Boxing, much to the delight of the packed house. Having entertainer Jenny McCarthy sitting ringside didn’t hurt matters much either.
The Los Angeles Matadors swept all four contested bouts on the evening. Bantamweight, Fernando “El Puma” Martinez picked up the most impressive win of the evening in the card’s opening match. The 19-year old Argentinean took a unanimous decision over 2008 Bulgarian Olympian, Detelin Dalakliev.
Houston, Texas native Eric “Fearless” Fowler overcame a nasty gash on his forehead from an accidental head butt, to TKO Yahman Phelps at 2:46 of the third round.
Middleweight Russell “The Haitian Sensation” Lamour made it 3 for 3 for the Matadors as he took a unanimous decision victory over Chris Jones in an all action slugfest.
The Force’s lone victory on the evening came when Matador Light Heavyweight Carlos Gongora was forced to forfeit his contest due to being below the minimum weight requirement. Anthony Mack picked up the victory in that weight division for Memphis.
In the final bout featuring the Heavyweight’s, David “The Dream Catcher” Imoesiri scored a unanimous decision over 2009 USA National Champion Javonta Charles.
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Fighter Quotes
“My opponent was larger then me,” Martinez said. “So the strategy was to move around, go for the body, keep my distance from his jab and, when I had the opportunity, move inside.”
“It feels good to get the knockout and pick up a win for The Matadors,” Fowler said. “We’re fighting for LA – that’s who we do this for.”
Added Fowler on his wild, go-for-broke style of punches, “I can box, but I wanted to put pressure on him and be aggressive. His style made the fight a little sloppy and wild, but a win is a win. We can always do better, always get better.”
“It feels good to pick up my second consecutive win,” Lamour said. “It puts me in perfect position for the rest of the season to help us advance to the semifinals.”
“I’m happy with the win but I’m a little bit disappointed in my performance,” Imoesiri said. “I could have been sharper and a little more prepared. I put up a good fight and had a tough guy in front of me, but I should have been able to put him away a little bit easier.”
The Matadors will compete against three other North American teams, Miami, Mexico City and Memphis, for the next four months with the winner from the North American division advancing to the semifinals to compete against teams from other continents.
The Matadors will travel to Memphis for a rematch against the Force on Thursday, Dec. 16 at Desoto Civic Center with their next home stand at Nokia Theatre Jan. 13.
The Matadors move to 2-1 on the season and travel to Memphis this Thursday to again take on the Force, who falls to 1-3.
