By Jake Donovan
 
Two shows into the 2009 season, and the Boxeo Telemundo series just can’t catch a break.

Less than a month removed from a telecast crippled by last-minute pullouts and an evening loaded with mismatches, the latest installment saw its main event halted eleven rounds early and without a winner produced.

Fringe lightweight contender Jose Reyes hoped to resume his winning ways, but was forced to settle for a one-round no-contest in his aborted main event with Mexican journeyman Efren Hinojosa.

(Editors note: It has since been learned that Reyes was in fact disqualified for fouling, and that the ring announcer delivered bad information).

The bout aired live on Telemundo from the Miccosukee Gaming Resort and Casino in Miami, Florida.

Reyes sought a fast pace early on, flicking his jab in efforts to set up his right hand. Hinojosa was able to offer enough movement to avoid anything damaging, at least in the form of legal blows. Just when it appeared that nothing of significance would land in the opening round, the final ten seconds would dramatically change that equation.

An errant right hand off of a clinch by Reyes landed square on the back of Hinojosa’s head. The Mexican laid flat on his back as the bell sounded, with the pro-Reyes crowd voicing their displeasure over what they believed to be acting. 

Apparently the ringside physicians were greater convinced, entering the ring during the five-minute downtime Hinojosa had to recover. The entire five minute period would come and go, ending with Hinojosa on a stool in his corner before having his neck immobilized and carried out on a gurney.

Though the punch was deemed an illegal blow, no winner was declared. The official decision was a one-round no-contest.

For Reyes, it means one more fight in which he’s forced to sit on a loss, as his record stands at 23-5 (8KO), now with one no-contest included.

The Puerto Rican entered this contest on the heels of a spirited split decision defeat last September at the hands of current red hot lightweight contender Antonio DeMarco. That fight snapped a five fight win streak, including a fourth-round knockout of Ivan Valle last March, in a Telemundo-aired bout that featured six knockdowns and earned worldwide acclaim as one of the best fight of 2008. 

Hinojosa lives to fight another day, though how much longer the 37-year old will want to continue is anyone’s guess. His record at 29-5-1-2NC (17KO), it’s been more than three years since he’s last seen the win column. He is now 0-3-1-1NC over his last five fights spanning back to December 2005.

With plenty of time to kill, an assortment of newcomers unexpectedly made their way to the telecast. Junior welterweights Karl Garcia and Stalin Lopez both put their undefeated records on the line in a lightweight swing bout. In the end, it was Lopez who prevailed with a fourth-round stoppage.
 
Garcia, born in and based out of Bayamon, Puerto Rico and trained by former three-division champion Wilfredo Vazquez Sr, started off the bout working behind a jab and a tight guard. The Cuban-born, Miami-based Lopez was patient and steady in measuring up his Puerto Rican rival, finding openings in round two, including several head-rattling right hands straight down the pipe, followed by a heavy jab that was begging to do damage.

Both fighters picked up the pace considerably in the third. Lopez exuded superior footwork, while Garcia came forward in his attack, finding a home for his own right hand. However, it was Lopez who proved to be the stronger fighter of the two as the round and fight wore on, constantly pressing the action as Garcia flipped back and forth between conventional and southpaw stance.

Lopez picked up steam in the final round, one Garcia desperately needed if he was to remain unbeaten. The only thing that slowed down the Cuban were the official rules, as he was warned midway through the round for holding and hitting behind the head. Lopez kept it clean, and eventually blasted Garcia out of there. A right-left combo left Garcia on unsteady legs; a follow up right hand left him defenseless, forcing referee Frank Santore to intervene.

The official time was 1:38 of the fourth and final round.

Having just turned pro 30 days ago, Lopez now improves to 2-0 (1KO). Garcia falls to 2-1, and with a 30-day suspension managed to fight his way off of the March 13 televised card in Kissimmee, Florida, headlined by stablemate Wilfredo Jr.

A pair of pro debaters saw action in a four-round lightweight bout, with  Daniel “Rocky” Alvarez enjoyed a successful pro debut with a over fellow punch-for-pay virgin Pablo Barbosa in their scheduled four-rounder.

Alvarez opened the bout to predictable chants of “Rocky”, though there was little action to speak of in the first round of his professional career. That dynamic changed in the second, with both fighters picking up the pace early. Barbosa looked to make the most of his considerable height and reach advantage, working behind a long jab but unable to follow up with right hands. Alvarez eventually worked his way inside, sticking his right hand in the Puerto Rican’s face and forcing a fast pace.

Action slowed considerably in the third. Alvarez was warned for holding and turning his opponent, perhaps the most notable sequence of an otherwise uneventful round marred by excessive clinching.

Both fighters must’ve been saving up for a big finish, as they flew off of their stools with fists blazing in the final round. Barbosa enjoyed a brief momentum shift, pinning Alvarez in a corner and landing right hands. Alvarez boxed his way off of the ropes, but was susceptible to body shots when the action shifted to center ring. It was a near-flawless finish for Barbosa, save for a late warning for hitting behind the head, a recurring theme throughout the card.

Two surprises came from the three ringside judges. The first was that the bout resulted in a split decision. The other surprise being that two of the three thought that Alvarez deserved to win the fight. All three judges saw the bout 39-37, two of the cards going in the direction of the hometown kid, who himself seemed stunned that he was ruled the winner.

The crowd predictably cheered the decision, but anyone with halfway decent decision easily recognized that Barbosa was robbed. Look for eye exams to be booked in the very near future for judges John Rupert and Peter Tremeterra.

The show was presented by Felix “Tuto” Zabala’s All Star Boxing.
 
Jake Donovan is a voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Comments/questions can be submitted to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com .