By Christopher P. Cook / FLBOXING.com
In thunderous conditions in South Florida, “Thunder Storm at the Creek” presented by Warriors Boxing Productions in association with Golden Boy Promotions LLC lived up to its name. Live from the Coconut Creek Casino, Javier Jauregui (49-12-2, 34 KOs), 135 lbs, squared off with Ricky Quiles (38-6-3, 8 KOs), 135 lbs, in an IBF Lightweight title eliminator. Quiles was last seen in action in a very close contest against Wauchula’s Edner “Cherry Bomb” Cherry. Quiles was able to pound out a split decision victory to earn an IBF#2 ranking. Jauregui, a former world champion, was looking at this fight as his way to springboard back into the elite of the lightweight division.
Opening stanza of the twelve-round eliminator saw both fighters scout each other. Quiles showed his superior speed in the round, as Jauregui’s power landed half-dozen clean shots to the body of Quiles. Quiles was able to back Jauregui against the ropes in the second and do some bodywork. At the inception of the third round, Quiles flew out his lightning-quick jab to keep his opponent at bay. Speed can kill, and Quiles began to show why, keeping Jauregui away from himself and landing clean, quick shots all around the ring. Action heated up against the ropes as the former world champion began landing with more efficiency against the quick Quiles (Fifth Round).
The sixth round was dominated by Quiles’ ring generalship, pacing it at his leisure and landing just enough to keep the former champ back. A pure game of cat and mouse, Jauregui was forced to run around chasing the speedy Quiles. The game came to an end when Jauregui finally caught him at the end of the round and rattling him hard. In the next chase, Quiles was able to back Javier into the ropes once again and went to work on the body. An excellent combination to the body would push him through the ropes some. A warning was issued at the beginning of the eighth, when Jauregui landed a kidney punch. It was soon followed by a push through the ropes by Quiles, which also received a warning. A jab-cross combination would push the ex-champ on his heels in the ninth, as Quiles continues to outbox him. Quiles is clearly taking control of the action, catching his opponent against the ropes several times and blasting in his punches with near-perfect effectiveness.
Ricky Quiles’ speed and thunderous combinations against the ropes on Jauregui would prove to be too much for the former world champion. Judges scored the bout 115-113 (Mark Steisand), 116-112 (Alex Levin), and 117-111 (Bill Ray) all for the top IBF contender, Ricky Quiles. FLBOXING.com scored the bout 117-111 also for Quiles.
Quiles seems more than ready to take on IBF champion, whether it is Leavander Johnson or Stefano Zoff.
In ten rounds of heavyweight action, IBU Heavyweight titlist Robert Hawkins (20-3-0, 7 KOs), 246 lbs, met WBO Latino titlist Kendrick Releford (13-5-1, 5 KOs), 228.25 lbs. Hawkins began the opening round the aggressor, setting the pace of the action and the initiate of most. Hawkins trapped Releford against the ropes continuously in the first. The second began with Releford catching Hawkins with a clean shot to the head, which ignited Hawkins into a frenzy, pushing Releford clear across the rings with his wild punches. Releford was able to land the cleaner shots of the round, wobbling Hawkins a couple of times.
Releford is able to land the cleaner, more effective punches, while Hawkins is outworking him in the third and fourth rounds. The middle rounds of the contest would see much of the same, as both fighters fought close rounds. Excitement showed up again at the close of the ninth round, when Hawkins seemingly was knocked down, however, it was ruled a slippage as water poured off both boxers. Hawkins came out strong in the tenth, landing clear shots on Releford in the corner. Hawkins would maintain pressure for the round and scored a split decision victory. Judges scored the bout 97-32 (Peter Trematerra), 96-94 (Alex Levin), and 94-96 (Michael Pernick).
In the second contest of the evening, Jose Varela (17-2-0, 12 KOs), 157 lbs, faced undefeated Edison Miranda (23-0-0, 21 KOs), 158.5 lbs, for the WBO Latino Middleweight titlist. With 15 first-round knockouts, Miranda is one fastest rising stars of the middleweight division.
Miranda started early, establishing his jab to the head right away. Miranda would continue to pepper Varela’s face throughout. Varela would prove to be feisty, surviving the first round, which is rare among Miranda’s opponents. Varela would capture Miranda in the ropes in the second, and land several sharp combinations, bringing several members of the crowd to their feet. Miranda came back in the third round, but was caught with a strong right that made Miranda drop his hands. The startled Miranda would fight off the ropes after, tagging Valera with a series of hard shots and a hard right that dropped him to his knees. Miranda, sensing the kill, landed a powerful left hook to end the round. Miranda would continue his offensive, almost knocking him down at the onset of the round (his gloves seemingly touched the canvas, but the referee did not call it a knockdown). Power punching would be the tale of the round, as Valera’s head continued to rock back and forth from hooks and crosses. Both fighters sustained the same pace throughout the next few rounds, landing hard shots on each other, with neither fighter being able to take complete control.
A flash knockdown was seemingly scored when Miranda landed an overhand right which sent Valera to the mat in the eighth, but it was ruled a slip. In another match where rain flowed as well as the punches, even the referee had seen enough and called a halt to the action to dry the ring floor. A left uppercut almost tore Valera’s head off at the end of the ninth and would leave both fighters brawling even after the bell. The tenth round would be showcased with a beautiful counter-right thrown by Miranda, catching Valera off guard. Miranda would follow with a series of perfectly-placed punches, rocking Valera back. Surprisingly Valera survived the round and fought back towards the end.
The final two rounds of this exciting contest would prove much of the same: effective power punching by Miranda, the heart of a lion on Valera, and a slip per round. In this hard fought and lack-of-defense bout, Miranda won a unanimous decision victory, with judges scoring it: 119-108 (Michael Pernick) and 120-107 twice (Peter Trematerra and Rocky Young).
Miranda looked much more impressive than he did in his last fight, but for a brighter future and world titles, he will have to learn to take less punches and utilize a more active defensive scheme. Valera landed freely throughout the bout.
Overall, Warriors Boxing, along with the Coconut Creek Casino and Golden Boy put on a very good show. All three of the fights and the one exhibition bout provided the thunder storm the attendees anticipated. For the main event victor, Ricky Quiles, a bright future lies in front of him.
Questions? Comments? Contact Christopher at Chris@flboxing.com
