By Andy Rivera

Holly has repeatedly said that Angelica Martinez is her toughest opponent and Saturday night, nothing had changed. Holm who defeated Martinez twice and was held to a draw, captured the WBA Welterweight championship with a unanimous decision at the Isleta Casino in front of a sold out crowd of 2800. The scores were closer than the judges had it as all three scored the fight 98-92, while Holm did win, Boxingscene.com/NewMexicoSportsnews.com had it 96-94.

Holm (14-1-2), fought with a little more aggression in the opening rounds, keeping Martinez away with her jab and quick flurries. Martinez would keep coming forward  trying to load up on her right hand but threw very little punches, in fact the one Martinez fan screamed the same phrase more than Martinez punched, as the annoying person behind would yell, “Hit her in the face Angelica, Hit her in the face!” She tried but was unsuccessful, as Holm dominated early.

Martinez suffered an abrasion under her right eye from Holm’s right hands,  seemed to get more confident as the fight progressed, taking more and more chances trying to get Holm to engage, she was able to flurry at the end of rounds five and six, but did very little in the first 1:45 of each round to win on the cards, where as Holm would punch and get out of harm's way.

Holm seemed to coast in the later rounds where Martinez was now landing her right hand with success, after countering Holm’s left hand. Martinez was able to catch Holm’s attention, but didn’t hurt her at all.

Holm who is also the IBA Jr. Welterweight Champion brought the crowd to its feet in the ninth round as she slugged it out with Martinez.  Martinez was able to land right hands, but Holm would flurry and retreat. It was one of the better completive fights for Holm, who had easier times with her last three foes, Christy Martin, Mia St. John and Shadina Pennybaker.

In round ten Martinez (4-2-1)  cornered Holm several times landing her right hand, Martinez often countered Holm’s left hand and then fired back with her right hand. Martinez who may have figured she needed a big round or a knockout to win, gave it all she had, but Holm was able to use her speed and get out of the corner and stay away from Martinez in the last stand.

In the end Holm once again showed she is New Mexico’s biggest draw, man or woman. Many have talked about her fighting out of town, but Holm would gain nothing more than exposure, she wouldn’t make the purses she is making now if she traveled out and fought on major cards. She has been marketed great in New Mexico.

One what’s next up for Holm, who knows, she says it's time for greasy food for at least tonight, but look for another big fight for her soon, in late summer or early fall.

MUNOZ PUMMELS OVERMATCHED FOE

Hector Munoz was favored to defeat Francisco Rios Gil; the only question was when the bout would end.  Munoz would put Rios down four times in route a fourth round stoppage.

Munoz put Gil down for the first time in with a left hook to the body half way through the round, only to have Gil rise and fire back, but he was down 10-8 after one.

Round two had Munoz pound Gil most of the round going mostly to the weakened Gil, who had to lose 5.5 pounds the day before the fight.

Munoz put Gil down twice in the third both with body shots, the first with a right hand, and the second with a left hook. Gil would rise on both occasions, only to have Munoz dish out more punishment on him.

The fight ended in the fourth when Munoz put Gil down with a right hand, prompting referee Rocky Burke to halt the action at 1:20.

Munoz raises his record to 15-1, but still hasn’t fought anyone of note, we may find out more about him in his next bout, as he is scheduled to fight Lamont Peterson who is 17-0 and is considered a top prospect in the welterweight division. After that bout we’ll know if Munoz is a contender or pretender.

ANDREWS COMES BACK TO HALT THE “GOOSE”

Derek Andrews came back from a second round knockdown to halt Jose “The Goose” Ramirez at the 2:51 mark of the fifth round. Ramirez seemed to have the fight in control up until the fourth round where he faded.

Ramirez who used to campaign as a jr. middleweight, but after a two year hiatus returned as a light heavyweight. He looked strong in the opening round putting pressure on Andrews landing solid right hands to the head of Andrews and left hooks to the body. Andrews would lie on the ropes looking to counter Ramirez.

In the second, Ramirez was able to land a hard right hand to the jaw of Andrews and put him on the seat of his pants. Andrews was able to get up at the count of six, Ramirez would look to finish his hurt foe, but Andrews would tie up Ramirez.

The third had Ramirez keep the pressure on Andrews, but Andrews started to show new life and started to find his range with his right hand, as Ramirez looked to tire, but he did do enough to win the round.

Andrews would capture the fourth by landing his counter right over Ramirez lazy jab, Andrews was the fresher of the two but the 10-8 round that he suffered in the second may have hurt him if the scores cards were close.

Andrews would need the judges to decide his fate as he landed a perfectly timed right hand on Ramirez jaw, putting Ramirez down, he was able to rise but was on unsteady legs prompting Referee Russell Mora to halt the contest.

Andrews from Lewisville, Texas raised his record to 5-3 (1ko), while Ramirez falls to 10-10.

MCCARTY WINS BUT LOSES

In a poorly scored fight Julio Chavez captured a unanimous decision over the more deserving Dale McCarty. The judges at ringside had Chavez winning by the scores of 58-56 and 59-55 twice, but most at ringside thought McCarty deserved the decision, having been the more aggressive and landing the more powerful shots.

McCarty would outwork Chavez who could seem to find the range with his jab, McCarty would trap Chavez on the ropes landing hard left hooks to the head and body, Chavez would try to flurry but missed a lot, expanding a lot of energy but not scoring.

Chavez did have a good second round by landing his jab then following it with right hands. McCarty would keep the pressure on Chavez, but Chavez was able to outscore.

McCarty would pick up where he left off in the first, in rounds three thru five, by keeping constant pressure on Chavez, Chavez would smile more then punching, and when he did he landed more in the air then on McCarty. Even McCarty’s trainer Mike Winkeljohn would yell to his fighter, “He’s hurt that’s why he has that smile on his face.”

The sixth round had Chavez be his most active going after McCarty, landing right hands and left hooks on McCarty. McCarty would still keep the pressure but was getting countered by Chavez, Chavez captured the round, but McCarty on most ringsider’s cards had done enough to avenge an earlier loss to Chavez.

After six rounds the judges had Chavez winning bringing displeasure from the crowd. Most on press row had McCarty winning. Boxingscene.com/NewMexicoSportsNews.com had it 58-56 for McCarty. Chavez raises his record to 6-1, while McCarty falls to 3-4.

PERCHES WINS DEBUT

Sarah Perches annihilated Lisa Whittle in the opening bout of the night, putting Whittle down twice and prompting referee Russell Mora to put a halt to the slaughter at the :40 of round . The 19 year old Perches, fighting out of the Chavez Dojo is now 1-0, while the Whittle is now 0-2.