By Jake Donovan
Eloy Perez and Frankie Gomez both entered Friday evening prepared to endure the toughest tests of their respective careers. Both survived said tests, but only one left an impression on the viewers and crowd on hand.
While the crowd was displeased with the pace of the main event, Perez chalks one up to “win today, look good the next time” in fending off a late rally by Dominic Salcido to escape with a 10-round majority decision Friday evening at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.
Scores were 95-95 even, and 96-94 (x2) in favor of Perez, who weighed just shy of the super featherweight limit at 129 ½ lb; Salcido was a fraction heavier at 129 ¾ lb.
The fight certainly began stronger than it ended, which didn’t go over too well with the otherwise lively crowd on hand. Perez impressed in the early going, darting out to a sizeable lead before growing complacent, and all too willing to leave matters in the hands of the three ringside judges.
Perhaps such is life when you only boast five knockouts in a career now 22 fights deep. What was disappointing, however, was the fact that the 23-year old prospect was coming off of a highlight reel fifth round knockout of Derrick Campos in his last Telefutura appearance just two months ago.
His willingness to coast this time around gave Salcido a chance to attempt to breathe life back into a career once filled with promise, but now teetering on opponent status. The Californian was red-hot and undefeated before running into Vicente Escobedo two years ago on the previous format of Solo Boxeo Tecate series, blowing an early lead in getting blitzed in six rounds.
Things haven’t been the same for Salcido since then, though he gave it a valiant effort in the second half of Friday’s main event.
The late surge turned out to be just short of the necessary ingredient for what would’ve been a startling upset.
Instead, Salcido heads home having now lost three of his last five as he falls to 18-3 (9KO).
Perez’ record moves to 19-0-1 (5KO), though he left a lot to be desired on the entertainment side, against an opponent not very difficult against whom to look impressive from an action standpoint.
Where Perez fell way short, fellow Golden Boy prospect Frankie Gomez delivered in spades.
The highly touted 18-year old blue chipper was forced to go the distance for the first time as a pro, though the extra rounds didn’t prevent the can’t miss future star from putting on a power punching display in pounding out a well-deserved shutout win over tough veteran Ramon Montano.
Scores were 60-54 across in a bout that featured no knockdowns but plenty of action.
While the scorecards were accurate, Gomez was given a stern test for just his seventh pro fight. Montano had every intention of making things ugly for the teenager, while Gomez had every intention of ending the fight before the final bell.
Neither got their wish, but the fans went home happy and Gomez remains undefeated, which for now will certainly have to suffice.
Montano was badly rocked by combinations in the second, third and fifth rounds, the latter of the three coming after literally lifting Gomez off of the canvas in the middle of a clinch early in the fifth. Gomez responded with a series of right hands and left hooks that had Montano punch-drunk, but the veteran managed to remain upright throughout the six-round affair.
Gomez’ chin was tested at times, with Montano landing enough right hands to keep the kid honest. It wasn’t enough to take any rounds, however; Gomez’ activity rate was far too much to overcome.
That Montano made it to the finish line meant Gomez had to hear the scorecards read in a pro fight for the first time in his young career. His record now moves to 7-0 (6KO), having fought approximately every 4-6 weeks ever since turning pro in April.
Montano drops his second straight and four of his last six as he falls to 17-8-2 (2KO).
The show was presented by Golden Boy Promotions and aired live on Telefutura.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.