17.11.03 – By Carlos Kalinchuk, ringside at the Alamodome, San Antonio: In the first bout of the evening, the fireworks began quickly when unbeaten San Antonio Super Flyweight Gabriel Elizondo 13-0 was nearly upset by Mexico’s Nelson Soto 9-5 in the first round. This occurred after a hard left sent him to the canvass flat on his back midway through the round. The punch seemed to land so unexpectedly that when Elizondo fell, it looked as if he were trying to see if the back of his neck could touch the backs of his ankles. Although he beat the 10 count he was definitely on wobbly legs and looked towards his corner for help. In spite of barely surviving the round, Elizondo rebounded in round two and was able to get his combinations working on the taller southpaw. In round 3, Soto stormed back after a slow start in round 2, and began to hurt Elizondo along the ropes. However, rounds 4,5, and 6 were all Elizondo as his head movement and combinations tore through Nelson with more frequency. The official scores were 58-54 twice and 58-55 in favor of Elizondo. Eastside had it a much closer fight with a score of 57-56 in favor of Elizondo.
Roque Cassiani Embarrasses Himself and The Sport-Loses Unanimous Decision to Huerta!
Just when you thought Derrick “Joke” Gainer cornered the market on shameful performances in the ring, along came Lightweight Roque Cassiani 21-14-2 to take Gainer’s prize for most disgraceful performance in a professional ring this year. In what should have been a pretty even bout against Mexico’s Miguel “Angel” Huerta 23-18-1, Cassiani fought like a coward. When he wasn’t running, he was complaining of non-existent low blows that he was faking and trying to milk for more time throughout the fight. Were it just once, perhaps it would have been seen as strategy, but Cassiani did it repeatedly. He himself was properly warned for purposeful low blows that he threw throughout the fight to slow down the action. Cassiani would also hold on many exchanges to avoid getting hit and he even had the nerve to stick his head outside of the ropes so Referee Rueben Carreon was forced to stop the action. The crowd booed him mercilessly and Cassiani earned NO fan base in San Antonio for his despicable performance. All judges ruled in favor of Miguel “Angel” Huerta with scores of 99-90, 97-92, and an unbelievable score of 96-93. To Huerta’s credit, he made it a fight after both fighters were booed in round one. The first round was a lesson in boredom as what appeared to amount to maybe 10 punches thrown by either fighter in the entire 3 minutes. Perhaps Huerta heard the boos and stepped up the pressure. To summarize, Huerta won this fight with a continued attack to the body. Either way, a Gatti-Ward performance this was not! Cassiani is a total disgrace and this writer hopes he never has to see this bum perform for paying fans again.
Zarate Wins Unanimous Decision On Questionable Scoring Even After Vicious Knockdown!
Julio Zarate 19-2-1 (15 KO’s) needs to go to Hallmark today to buy gifts for the 3 judges who scored this fight. Although he’s from Mexico, he knows it’s good etiquette to return the favor when you too have been given a gift. In his case he received a gift decision on Saturday night. In what appeared to be an obvious defeat, against Oscar Andrade 33-22-1, Julio Zarate walked out with the victory with unbelievable scores of 95-94 twice and 96-93 all in his favor. By Zarate’s reaction he seemed to be the most surprised of the decision. Zarate and his team quickly left the ring.
As the crowd and ringside press erupted with a chorus of boos, Andrade stayed in the ring and raised his hands in victory. The boos turned to cheers as everyone in the house let the judges know who they felt won the fight. Andrade even knocked Zarate down in the 3rd but that and the domination he had over Zarate for rounds 1-5 were still not enough for the judges to award the proper man the “W.” To Zarate’s credit, he finally listened to his corner and used his longer reach and height to establish the jab from rounds 6,7,8, and 9 but he (again) was thoroughly dominated in round 10 with Andrade’s constant pressure. After the fight Andrade said, “What can you expect? This is boxing.” Zarate said, “I thought I won the fight. I applied my jab but I think I was just overwhelmed with the promotion. This is my first time fighting in the US as a pro and on such a big night and I was just nervous but my corner settled me down. I panicked after I got knocked down.”
Americo Santos Wins Texas Title Belt!
In a showing of more bravado than skill, Lightweight Rudy Lundsford 12-26 challenged the more talented and skilled Americo Santos 13-0 to a fight on Saturday night. To bad for Rudy, this wasn’t Hollywood and he doesn’t play for Notre Dame. Santos knocked him out for good with a body shot in the 6th round of their 8 round-scheduled fight. In what amounted to more of a clinic on how to throw a body shot, Santos beat Lundsford with repeated hook after hook to the body. With the win, Americo adds his first belt of what could be many for this fun to watch power hitter; but only time will tell.
In the walk out fight of the evening, undefeated Light Heavyweight Miguel Martin improved his record to 16-0 after he thoroughly wiped the much heavier Sebastian Hill 8-6 in a scheduled 6 round fight. Martin knocked Hill down momentarily in the second round and went onto dominate hill from pillar to post. After the fight Juan Lopez (his trainer) said, “We’re going down to 163 lbs because he’s fighting guys a lot bigger than him and they’re coming in at an advantage but Martin is still beating them easily but he needs to fight guys more his size.”
Carlos “Stiff-jab” Kalinchuk
Contributing Writer & Photographer