By Francisco Salazar

Heavyweights Javier Torres and Enrique Lobatos fought to a hard-fought four round majority decision draw before a sellout crowd at the Doubletree Hotel in Orange, CA.

The bout headlined a Thompson Boxing Promotions “Night of Champions” dinner show, with proceeds going to local charities.

It would seem as though Torres, with his much leaner frame, would have an easy time over the pudgier Lobatos, who had not fought since September of 2011.

However, the southpaw Lobatos was able to beat Torres to the punch often in the first half of the fight, landing repeatedly with lead left hands to the head. Torres attempted to counter, finding success with right hands to the head.

Sensing he was down, Torres came on aggressively in the third round, mixing up the attack by going to the body of Lobatos, something he should have done earlier in the fight.

Both had their moments in the fourth round. Torres landed the more accurate punches in the final stanza, but Lobatos would try to counter. Great exchanges right before the bell sounded punctuated a very entertaining fight.

One judge scored the bout 39-37 for Lobatos, while the other two judges, including Boxingscene.com, scored the bout 38-38.

Torres, from Long Beach, CA, goes to 5-0-1, 3 KOs. Lobatos, from Maywood, CA, goes to 4-3-2, 2 KOs.

Rose stops McClellan

Louis Rose stopped previously-unbeaten Gino McClellan in the second round of a scheduled six round super middleweight bout.

The taller Rose was able to land the more telling blows in the opening round over McClellan, who usually fights two weight classes lower at 154 pounds. McClellan would try to land on the inside of Rose’s guard.

Moments after the second round started, Rose dropped McClellan with a right hand to the head. McClellan stood up, but was dropped again by a vicious right uppercut to the head. Referee Raul Caiz, Sr. saw enough and waved the fight over 43 seconds.

Rose, from Lynwood, CA, improves to 6-1, 2 KOs. McClellan, from Saint Petersburg, FL, falls to 9-1, 3 KOs.

Mitchell overwhelms Dennis

Heavyweight LeRon Mitchell made his professional debut a successful one, stopping Michael Dennis in the third round of a scheduled four round bout.

Mitchell, a 2012 US Olympic Trials finalist, dropped the shorter Dennis in the first round with a barrage of punches. Dennis tried to fend off Mitchell, but his punches had little effect on his opponent.

A left uppercut in the third round by Mitchell dropped Dennis to the canvas a second time in the fight. Moments later, Mitchell battered Dennis along the ropes. Referee Raul Caiz, Sr. saw enough and waved the fight over at 1:28.

Dennis, from Glendale, CA, falls to 0-2.

Notes:

- Welterweight contender Josesito Lopez, super featherweight Alejandro Perez, super bantamweights Efrain Esquivias and Christopher Martin, junior welterweight Mauricio Herrera, welterweights Artemio Reyes and Aron Martinez, lightweight Daniel Hernandez, and unbeaten brothers Matthew and Jessie Villanueva were just some of the many fighters in attendance.

- Proceeds went to the construction of children’s center in Tijuana. A presentation of a check took place before the card began.

- Ring announcer was Michael Vale.