By Jake Donovan
For the second time in a span of just over two months, former 140 lb. titlist Diosbelys Hurtado headlined a card airing live on Telemundo from the Miccousukee Resort in Miami, Florida.
For the second time in just over two months, Hurtado bored audiences to tears, looking every bit his 36 years of age as he struggled to a decision win in the evening’s main event.
His latest victim is used up Mexican journeyman Manuel Garnica, as Hurtado boxed his way to a comfortable unanimous decision in a fight devoid of entertainment value.
The 12-round distance was mandated due to a regional title being at stake, but there was nothing that happened over that stretch which couldn’t have been done in eight rounds. Hurtado outboxed Garnica all the way, taking off a couple of middle rounds in order to preserve himself for the long haul.
It proved to be a wise tactic; Garnica was competitive early, but offered next to nothing over the back six. Hurtado was able to fight at his desired pace throughout, though never pressing the action to where a knockout ever seemed imminent, despite vocal chants of “Cu-ba, Cu-ba!” from the crowd on hand, starving for action of any kind to transpire.
Final scores were 118-110 and 117-111 (twice) for Hurtado, whose record advances to 42-3-1 (25KO). To say he improves would ignore his accomplishments in the late 1990’s and earlier part of this decade. He is no longer even close to being the same fighter. All four fights in his comeback have been extended the distance, each more boring than its predecessor.
Where exactly this latest run is heading is anybody’s guess.
For Garnica, it’s a much clearer path. The Mexican is forever destined to play the role of opponent, as the losses continue to pile up. He falls to 25-11 (13KO). He has now lost two straight and is an abysmal 3-7 in his last ten.
While entertainment was sorely lacking in the advertised main event, the first televised swing bout proved to be far more emphatic in making its point.
Cuban heavyweight and former Olympic gold medalist Odlanier Solis made quick work of Dominique Alexander, dropping him twice en route to a first round knockout in their heavyweight bout.
Solis was a late addition to the card, as evidenced by his poor conditioning, even more so than normal. The one-time noted amateur was once boasted blazing hand speed, punching in rapid fire combinations as he didn’t carry around anywhere near the amount of blubber that today fills up his frame.
For this fight, he showed up at a career heaviest 262 ½ lb. While still boasting fast hands for a heavyweight, it was clear in this fight that the extra weight is more harmful than helpful.
Lucky for Solis, his opponent was your garden variety journeyman.
Alexander offered a spirited account of himself, not afraid to mix it up with his more celebrated foe. The tactic suggested that he either had upset on his mind, or didn’t quite know what he was getting himself into.
The final answer proved to be the latter.
Both fighters got in their licks in the first two minutes of the round, but it was Solis’ right hand that would eventually take over. A temple shot late in the round forced Alexander to a knee for the first of two knockdowns. The second would come moments later, when Solis let loose with a series of unanswered head shots, before a final right hand and follow up left caused Alexander to pitch forward and collapse face-first on the canvas, prompting the referee to wave off the fight without issuing a count.
The official time was never announced on television, but estimated to have occurred at 2:54 of the opening round.
Solis improves to 14-0 (10KO) with the win, racking up his fourth straight knockout in the process. Alexander falls to 18-7-1 (9KO).
Promotional issues have kept Solis out of the ring for five months, the longest layoff of a young career that has been spent at an advanced level since turning pro two years ago.
Of his fourteen pro fights, none have come against an opponent with a losing record. His opponents boast a combined record of 246-80-14 prior to facing the heavyweight prospect, though it’s clear that he’s clearly leveled off in terms of quality progression.
Simply put, the shell game needs to be replaced with more established heavyweights, even if they don’t boast records quite as glossy. Solis has talent for days, but clearly needs to be challenged in order to motivate himself in the ring and especially the gym.
In a night filled with Cuban exports, it was lesser established Lester Gonzalez who made for the best televised action of the night. The southpaw had plenty of help, as he found himself in a junior middleweight war with Colombian-born Juan Camilo Novoa.
The blood soaked battle produced no official winner, though both fighters had plenty of which to be proud in their eight-round stalemate. Gonzalez emerged victorious by a 58-56 margin on one scorecard, but the tally was overruled by matching scores of 57-57 in declaring the fight a majority draw.
Gonzalez remains unbeaten, as his record moves to 10-0-1 (6KO). Novoa is now winless in his last three, with his ledger now at 13-3-2 (11KO).
The show was presented by All Star Boxing.
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.
