CARSON, California – Angel Rebollar’s gamble paid off Saturday.
The 18-year-old junior lightweight from Los Angeles upset Justin Cardona by majority decision in their non-televised, six-round fight on the Sebastian Fundora-Carlos Ocampo undercard at Dignity Health Sports Park. Judges Daniel Fitzgerald (59-55) and Tiffany Clinton (58-56) scored their fight for Rebollar (6-1, 3 KOs), but Lou Moret had it even, 57-57.
Rebollar faced Cardona (8-1, 4 KOs), of Salinas, California, just six weeks after losing a four-round unanimous decision to a highly touted prospect, Cleveland’s Abdullah Mason (4-0, 3 KOs), on August 27 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A determined Rebollar landed the flusher punches with more regularity and often got the better of the 22-year-old Cardona in exchanges to secure the most noteworthy win of his brief career.
In the fight following Rebollar’s win, Eumir Marcial fought through a nasty cut around his right eye to defeat a game Steven Pichardo by unanimous decision in their six-round super middleweight match.
The Philippines’ Marical remained unbeaten (3-0, 1 KO), but the 26-year-old southpaw was tested in a second straight bout. Pichardo (8-3-1, 2 KOs), of Gardena, California, landed his fair share of hard punches in exchanges, but all three judges scored it a shutout for Marical (60-54, 60-54, 60-54).
In his previous appearance, Marical got up from three knockdowns to stop Isiah Hart (6-3-1, 4 KOs) in controversial fashion in the fourth round April 9 at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
Earlier Saturday, Elijah Garcia dropped Edgar Valenzuela three times with body shots in the first round to earn a quick technical-knockout victory.
Referee Gerard White stopped their scheduled six-rounder 2:18 into it as soon as Valenzuela hit the canvas for the third time.
Garcia, a middleweight prospect from Phoenix, moved to 12-0 and recorded his 10th knockout. Mexico’s Valenzuela (7-2, 6 KOs) lost a second straight bout by knockout.
In the first fight Saturday, Brandyn Lynch dropped Roque Junco once in the first round and again in the third round on his way to a third-round TKO victory.
Referee Eddie Hernandez stopped their scheduled six-rounder 44 seconds into the third round, as soon as Lynch sent Junco to the canvas with a body shot.
Los Angeles’ Lynch improved to 12-1-1 and produced his ninth knockout. Argentina’s Junco (11-13-1, 6 KOs) has lost seven of his past eight fights, including four by knockout.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
