By Rick Reeno
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas - In an untelevised swing bout, which took place after the ESPN televised main event between Teon Kennedy and Chris Martin - highly regarded featherweight prospect Gabino Saenz (6-0-1, 5KOs) and rugged Gil Garcia (5-2-1, 1KO) fought to a six round draw. The scores were 58-56 for Garcia, 58-56 for Saenz and 57-57.
After dominating the first round and hurting Garcia, Saenz was stunned more than once in the second round. During the second round exchanges, Garcia suffered a cut above his left eye. They were trading leather in the third, with Saenz's nose starting to flow red. Gabino going back to the jab in the fourth, and moving around to get away from Garcia's incoming attacks.
The fifth was close. Saenz was boxing and moving, using the jab, and a game Garcia continued to come forward and attack. In the sixth and final round, Saenz stayed poised, circled and used his boxing skills, but Garcia came on strong in the final twenty seconds.