By Francisco Salazar
It may not have been pretty, but Carlos Carlson made more believers in one fight then he had in his previous fights as a professional. Beating a seasoned veteran and going through a gut-check at the same time may prove dividends as he grows as a prospect.
Carlson won a hard-fought eight round unanimous decision over Javier Gallo at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA on Friday night. The bout headlined a six-bout “New Blood” card, presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions.
Carlson racked up win and after win in his young career, but had done it against mediocre opposition. Prior to his bout against Gallo, three of his 12 victories were against fighters with winning records.
Gallo was a significant step up in competition for Carlson, despite the fact he had lost four out of his last seven bouts. In his last bout on October 5th, Gallo lost a fifth round technical decision to Felipe Orocuta in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
Gallo started out well from the opening bell, landing through the guard of Carlson with straight right hands and counter left hooks to the head. By the end of the second round, the shorter Gallo was able to land repeatedly to Carlson’s left eye, which began to sustain a noticeable cut and bruise.
Carlson momentarily stunned Gallo in the second round with a counter right hand to the head. Moments later, Gallo backed up Carlson with a two-punch combination.
Both fighters had their moment in the next two rounds, but it was Carlson who seemed to land the more telling blows. He was able to rain down a number of punches to Gallo’s head.
Undaunted, Gallo began to throw and land to Carlson’s body during the middle rounds. It was a tactic that he probably should have down earlier in the fight, as those punches could have had an impact on Carlson.
Instead, Carlson went on the offensive during the sixth and seventh rounds, landing a number of punches flush to Gallo’s head. Gallo was in retreat mode, but was able to land a punch to keep Carlson honest or he would tie up.
Gallo went for broke in the final round, but Carlson seemed to be one step ahead of Gallo, who looked broken down as the final bell sounded.
All three judges scored the bout in favor of Carlson, 78-74, 78-74, and 77-75. Boxingscene.com scored the bout 78-74.
Carlson goes to 13-0, 9 KOs, while Gallo drops to 21-9-1, 12 KOs. Both fighters reside in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
Bantamweight Isaac Zarate won a hard-fought six round unanimous decision over Christian Torres. The southpaw Torres (7-1) started out strong, beating Torres to the punch during the first two rounds. In the third round, Torres (3-5) was able to land repeated with lead or counter right hands to the head. Zarate was able to utilize his ring generalship to outland Torres. Undaunted, Torres was successful when he kept applying the pressure in the last couple of rounds. It was not enough as Zarate was declared the victor, winning by scores of 59-55, 59-55, and 58-56. Boxingscene.com scored the bout 58-56 for Zarate.
Heavyweights Justin Davenport and Jonnie Rice fought to a sloppy four round majority decision draw. Both threw wild punches at one another with few connecting. Davenport (1-0-2, 1 KO) threw more, putting Rice on the defensive. Davenport was tired by the fourth round, prompting Rice to go on the offensive until the final bell. One judge scored the bout 39-37 for Davenport, while the other two judges scored the bout 38-38. Rice was making his professional debut.
Lightweight Cesar Villarraga won a workmanlike four round unanimous decision over Osman Rivera. Villarraga (2-0, 1 KO) landed the more telling blows, even though Rivera (2-6) was able to land a counter to the head or body. All three judges scored the bout in favor of Villarraga, 40-36, 40-36, and 39-37.
Featherweight Joet Gonzalez won a hard-fought six round unanimous decision over Cesar Martinez. Gonzalez (6-0, 1 KO) landed the harder and more effective combinations to the head of Martinez, whose face began to redden during the second round. Martinez (4-2-1, 1 KO) mounted a rally in the fourth round, landing hooks to Gonzalez's body. He was not as active as he should have been, throwing punches in spurts, which allowed Gonzalez to mount more of an attack in the final two rounds. All three judges scored the bout in favor of Gonzalez, 59-55, 59-55, and 58-56. Boxingscene.com scored the bout 59-55 in favor of Gonzalez.
In the opening bout of the Thompson Boxing Promotions card, super welterweight Neeco Morales won a four round decision over Victor Altamirano. The southpaw Morales (3-0, 1 KO) was one step ahead over the slower-footed Altamirano. Morales landed a steady stream of straight lefts to the head or right hooks to the head. Morales slowed down considerably in the final round, but Altamirano (0-2) was not able to capitalize. All three judges, including Boxingscene.com, scored the bout 40-36 in favor of Morales.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. He also covers boxing for the Ventura County (CA) Star newspaper, RingTV, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing
