12.02.06 – By Eric Duran: After the ‘downer’, for Colorado fight fans, of the disappointing showing by Denver’s Donald Camarena on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, another of Colorado’s prospects was on display Saturday night in Pueblo, Colorado and had much better results. Zeferino Ramirez and JewBoy Promotions presented “Night of The Knockouts”. A crowd of about 350-400 people showed up to show their support for the local prospect Marvin Cordova..
In the Main-Event, Jr. Welterweight Marvin “Much 2 Much” Cordova (8-0, 5KOs) defended his GBU Youth Title against the undefeated Scott Ball (7-1, 6KOs) of Minnesota. From the opening ’til the final bell of the night, Cordova proved to be “Much-2-Much” for the very game Ball, as Cordova out-hustled and out-boxed Ball over eight rounds.
Cordova would land his trade mark left hook countless times throughout out the fight, rocking Ball on several occasions, but a rugged Ball took ’em, survived and continued to fire back, never giving up hope. In the third round, Cordova began working behind a double jab from both stances, enabling him to drop straight right and lefts onto Ball. In round 6 Cordova landed a huge left hook that opened up a nasty gash under the left eye of ball.
All Three judges saw the fight the same way, 80-72 for Cordova. Cordova improves to 8-0 5ko, while Ball drops his first fight, 7-1 6ko.
In the Co-Main Event, Ronald “The American Dream” Johnson of Cleveland, Ohio battled Nelson Zepeda of Los Angeles, California. Johnson controlled the first four rounds with his exceptional boxing skills, beating Zepeda to the punch. In round 4, Johnson landed a loaded uppercut that floored Zepeda, lucky for Zepeda it came right at the end of the round. Zepeda then put on a Julio Gonzales type performance in the final two rounds, grinding and gutting it out with an ever tiring Johnson.
It went to the scorecards, 57-56 and 58-55 x2, all for the winner, Ronald Johnson. Johnson may have won the bout, but he looked like the beaten fighter, as Zepeda left to a round of cheers.
Johnson improves to 8-1 2ko, while Zepeda falls to 4-1 2ko. After the fight, Ronald Johnson took the mic and thanked his opponent for giving all he could, I guess that made up for all taunting he did throughout the fight. Honestly, If this fight were an 8 or 10 round fight, I believe Zepeda would have stopped the ‘gassed-out’ Johnson as he was coming on very strong at the end.
In the opening bout of the night, amateur standout Maurice Louishomme took on debuter Ben Whitther. From the outset you could tell Louishomme was head and shoulders above Whitther and Louishomme pounded away at Whitther’s head and shoulders but mainly his body. After a stiff jab placed Whitther on the canvas, a steady dose of body shots finished him off. The stoppage came at 2:25 of the 1st round. Louishomme improves to 2-0, 2ko.
In the second bout of the night, the fans were treated to an exciting bout, as David Lee Marquez faced off with Jason Chacon. Marquez and Chacon battled over four grueling rounds, exchanging power shots and combinations at every turn of the fight. In round 1, Marquez came with relentless aggressive, loading up on left hooks to the body and head. Chacon rebounded in round 2, working behind a crisp jab. Marquez still had his way in round 2 though, attacking the body with powerful hooks. Marquez battered Chacon in round three, sending blood splatters across press row with each thunderous left hook. Chacon was able to take home the fourth round which saw Marquez on tired legs. The judges saw it 40-36, 39-37×2, all for the winner, David Lee Marquez. Marquez improves to 2-1, while Chacon stumbles to 1-9.
In heavyweight action, 2004 National Golden Gloves winner Raphael Butler returned to action after his disappointing loss to John Clark in November. Butler demolished 40 fight veteran Ronnie Smith, all 321 pounds of him, with a crushing overhand right in the second round flooring Smith. Smith wouldn’t continue. Butler quickly went to the body, landing straight rights and slapping hooks to gut of Smith.
In round 2, after a slip by Smith, referee Ed Kugler asks Smith if he wants to continue. Smith shrugs off the first couple of commands, but then Kugler asks if Smith if he wants to quit, Smith quickly responds with a no. Moments later, Butler drills Smith with an overhand right that ends the fight.
Butler improves to 16-2, 11kos, while Smith falls to 6-35 6ko. It was a relentless body attack from Butler that set up the overhand rights that hurt Smith, hopefully Butler can get back on track and make a run at some sort of title.
In the final bout of the night, Ernie Marquez stopped an over matched and over aged Chris Segura :20 into the first round with a straight left. Marquez improves to 3-0 2ko.
It was a exciting night of boxing, as JewBoy Promotions continues to bring a high quality of boxing back to the Rocky Mountains. Cordova continues to impress with each fight, and his level of opposition continues to rise.
Zef Ramirez says they are looking towards a showdown with WBC Youth Champ Julio Cesar Garcia, 34-2, 27 KO in the near future. Ronald Johnson shows signs of greatness in spurts, as he has undeniable talent, but his conditioning and lack of focus hurt him at times.
JewBoy Promotions returns to Pueblo on March 24th, look for Cordova and Johnson to take another step towards the upper echelon of prospects and look for JewBoy Promotions to bring bigger and better things to Colorado fight fans.
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Rocky Mountain Boxing is a website that has been covering the boxing scene in the Rocky Mountain Region since the summer of 2002. In 2004 the site became the only local boxing publication when RMB: The Magazine went to print and later hit the newsstands.
The company was founded by former amateur boxer and state Golden Gloves Champion Chris Morris. To find out more about your local boxing scene be sure to visit RockyMountainBoxing.com