Results from Houston, Texas at the Grand Plaza Ballroom: Rock Solid Promotions Thursday Night Fights

By Michael J. Campbell

The ballroom at Grand Plaza Hotel was packed with fight fans who witnessed an evening of exciting action in the latest installment of Rock Solid Promotion’s Thursday Night Fights.  Promoter Cameron Park has cultivated a loyal fan base which was rewarded with bouts that didn’t disappoint.

Heavyweight Steve “Freight Train” Collins headlined the card and dominated his opponent Octavius Smith with superior boxing and huge power punching.  Both men tipped the scales at over 250 pounds and referee Bobby Gonzales had trouble at times keeping both men in line.  “His belt was so high that the ref kept saying my body punches were low,” complained the winner about his rotund opponent’s game tactic.

Collins strength and conditioning won the fight for him.  Smith proved too slow for the well trained Collins who’s shown great improvement with trainer Bobby Benton.  “He was really strong,” Collins said, “I just needed to step back and not smother my punches.”

The boxing match between Alfonso “El Tigre” Lopez and Raheem Gordon resembled something more out of the UFC at times with roughhousing tactics and both fighters spilling onto the canvas and pressed against the ropes on multiple occasions.  Lopez proved to be the far better boxer and outclassed his opponent with better footwork and solid punches.  “He was strong, but seemed out of shape,” Lopez remarked.  “He was holding me a lot and when I would step back he’d fall down on the matt.”  Gordon was deducted a point in the 3rd round for holding.

Despite Gordon’s antics seeming to remove Lopez from his gameplan, he was still able to assert himself with power punch combinations.  Gordon’s multiple falls eventually were scored a knockdown in the final round.  After getting up and being dropped again, referee Ronnie Ralston deemed the contest was over and Lopez received the TKO victory.

Dickinson’s Eugene “Mean Gene” Hill came with something to prove this time.  In his previous outing, he was taken to a decision for the first time of his career in a sluggish closely scored victory.  Tonight he utilized his peek-a-boo style to land dozens of solid power shots which took their toll on his opponent, a veteran of over 75 fights, who crumbled in the 3rd round and was counted out.

“I give it to him, he had heart, he took a lot of my good shots,” summarized Hill.  “I couldn’t find my rhythm last fight, but tonight my timing was on and I felt strong.”  Hill credits this to his apt preparation in the gym sparring with Steve Collins.
 
Cruz “lil Tone” Valdivia pleased his fans with a decision victory over Jerron Lockette.  When Lockette utilized his big height and reach advantage, he was able to control the action, as Valdivia tried to find his range and break inside of Lockette’s distance.  But the San Antonio native too easily was lured into fighting inside where Lil Tone was able to dominate with his superior power punching earning himself a near shutout on the scorecards.

For his first fight ever in Texas, Vardan Gasparyan received a warm reception from the local Armenian community but the hospitality from his opponent, Houston’s Darryl Nolan, wasn’t as forthcoming and a very unwelcoming draw on the scorecards was the result.  After almost a year and half of inactivity, Nolan returned to the ring and gave the visitor all he could handle.

The bout began with both fighters showing each that they’d come to fight and neither was backing down.  Vardan, aka Vito, stalked Nolan, landing counter punches and controlling the 2nd and 3rd rounds.  Nolan began to find the right distance and elude Vito midway thru the fight as both fighters showed signs of tiring in the 5th.  Gaining their second winds, they finished the bout strong.  One judge favored the Armenian national, but the other two agreed that the bout was a draw.

Fellow countryman, Junior Middleweight Vanes “Nightmare” Martirosyan (18-0, 12 KOs) was in attendance, as was NABF Light Heavyweight Champion Chris “Hard Hittin” Henry (21-0, 17 KOs).  Both fighters are currently being trained by Ronnie Shields.

Park will return in late March to satiate the fans’ rabid desire for fights in Houston.

Results

Heavyweights
Steve Collins of Houston, TX (17-1, 13 KOs) over Octavius Smith of Indianapolis, IN (4-4, 3 KOs) by by Unanimous Decision with scores of 40-36 on all of the judges’ scorecards.

Light Heavyweights
Alfonso Lopez of Cut N’ Shoot, TX (6-0, 5 KOs) over Raheem Gordon of Killeen, TX (4-3, 2 KOs) by TKO at 1:15 of the 6th round.
 
Heavyweights
Eugene Hill of Dickinson, TX (9-0, 8 KOs) over David Robinson of Oklahoma City, OK (25-55-4, 13 KOs) by KO at 2:43 of the 3rd round.

Lightweights 
Cruz Valdivia of Houston, TX (4-0, 2 KOs) over Jerron Lockette of San Antonio, TX (2-10-2) by Unanimous Decision with scores of 40-36, 39-37, & 40-36.

Super Welterweights
Vardan Gasparyan of Armenia (9-1-4, 4 KOs) drew with Darryl Nolan of Houston, TX (3-2-1, 2 KO’s) with scores of 57-57, 58-56 for Gasparyan, & 57-57.