By Andy Rivera
The clouds provided the rain and Danny Romero Jr. provided the thunder in his comeback win, a fourth round stoppage over late minute substitute Edgar Pedraza. After the first under-card bout, rain and lightning put a halt to the card, as the fans had to run for cover from the rain, after cleaning up the ring with towels and the clouds blowing over - action resumed. When the night ended, it was Romero, who fighting at the highest weight in his career (135) put a beat down on the game Pedraza finally ending matters with a right hand to the body, Romero is seeking to win his third world title albeit at 118 pounds not 135.
Romero came out being patient in round one, landing crisp jabs and right hands, Pedraza would try to over power Romero, being he is a natural 135-140 pound fighter, but Romero would keep Pedraza honest with his power. Romero’s power was evident when he landed a left to the body and right to the head that had Pedraza though the ropes, referee Russ Mora had to grab Pedraza and bring him back into the ring.
Round two had Romero put Pedraza down with an overhand right hand to the head of Esparza, from there it was a whole different fight as Pedraza looked like a frightened man in there with Romero, as he went to survive mode.
Romero kept the pressure on Pedraza in round three, keeping him on the ropes and pounding his left side of the body pilling up points. It looked like a matter of time before Romero would end the fight.
In the fourth Romero, once again pinned Pedraza on the ropes not getting off his game plan of body work, during one exchange referee Russ Mora halted the fight and gave Romero a warning for low blows. Romero wouldn’t let that stop him as he would stop Pedraza with a hard right to the body that put Pedraza down for the count.
Although Romero did look a little flabby, he did look sharp and threw crisp punches, he knows what he has to do in getting down in weight, but as he reporter earlier this week, he won’ starve himself to make weight, he says he will stay busy and train hard to get to where he feels strong.
Romero looks to get back in the ring by September in hopes to getting down to a weight suited better for him, “I just wanted to take my time and be smart in there, now its back to work and getting back in the gym and staying active.: said Romero. In winning Romero raises his record 45-5-2 (38ko’s), Pedraza falls to 3-20
ZAOMORA HAS EASY NIGHTS WORK
Joaquin Zamora had an expectedly easy time with Julian Romero, Zamora fighting for the second time at 147, did what he was supposed to do, defeat an easy opponent.
In the opening round Zamora showed quickly it was going to be an easy nights work, putting down Romero with a right hand to the head, then ended matter in the second putting down Romero one last time putting an end to the mismatch. The time of the stoppage was 2:04, with the win Zamora raises his record to 12-2-1, while Romero falls to a dismal 7-49-2.
ABNER GAINS EXPERIENCE IN WIN
Felix Abner got some work in, taking on crafty Martin Lopez. Lopez who last fight unbeaten El Paso heavyweight David Rodriquez in 2001, in that fight Lopez extended Rodriquez until Rodriquez broke Lopez nose, but before the bout was halted, Lopez gave all Rodriquez he could handle.
When Promoter Juan Romero asked me if I knew anything about Lopez, I told Romero, he’ll give your guys rounds and he may look sloppy doing it. I may have hit it right on, Abner put Lopez down with a right hand at the end of the first, but from there it was a sloppy fight, with Abner controlling the action buy putting pressure on Lopez, not landing much as Lopez was able to make Abner miss most of his shots.
In the end Abner captured his second win in as many fights by scores of 40-35 on all three cards, Lopez falls to 3-22
UNDERCARD ACTION
In possibly the best fight of the night Julio Chavez and David Marquez fought to a six round draw, in a bout that have each fighter having its moments.
Marquez did most of his damage with body work, while the slicker Chavez did his damage while he boxed from the outside.
Chavez started off fast, but Marquez who is a slow starter started to pound left hooks to the body of Chavez, sending Chavez to the ropes and on a few occasion Chavez looked to almost go down, but to his credit he would fight back.
When all was said and done the bout ended in a draw, Chavez is now 6-1-1, while Marquez is 3-1-1. The action didn’t end when the bout ended, the flamboyant Chavez grabbed the microphone and told the crowd that he is a 135 pound fighter and he fought a 145 pound fighter, bringing someone from the Marquez camp to say his brother who won earlier in the night was close to Chavez’ weight. Chavez replied, “Let’s do it, sign the contract!”
In the opening fight of the night Stevie Marquez reached the .500 mark by halting Sergio Vella at 1:39 of the third round in a bout Marquez controlled early and often, landing hard right hands to the body and left hooks to the body. Marquez put Vella down in the third from a left hook that prompted the referee to halt the bout. In winning Marquez is now 7-7-1, while Vella falls to 14-11-3.
Daniel Gonzalez has an easy time with Jose Burgos, jumping on Burgos from the start. Gonzalez would land hard left hooks to Burgos body, causing Burgos to wince each time he felt Gonzalez shots. At the 1:44 mark Gonzalez ended his nights work as he put Burgos down for good with one last left hook to the body. Gonzales the bother –in-law of headliner Danny Romero Jr. raises his record to 2-1 (2ko’s) while Burgos falls to 0-1.
Leroy Bazan captured a unanimous decision over Tony Cano, neither fighter was dominate, both lacked stamina as they both were spent after the second round, but Bazan seemed to have outworked Cano. In the end Bazan won on all three cards 39-37twice and 40-36 on the third card. Bazan is now 1-0 after his pro-debut, Cano drops to 0-2.