By Sean Reed
Luis “The Latin Legend” Yanez claimed the first title of his professional boxing career, winning a unanimous decision over Jose Manuel Garcia (3-6, 1 KO) last Saturday in Dallas, Texas.
With the win, Yanez (3-0) added the Texas State super flyweight title to his dossier that already includes a storied amateur career, complete with a gold medal at the 2007 Pan American Games and a spot on the 2008 US Olympic boxing squad.
The fight appeared on the Mid-Cities Links' (in association with Black Gloves Promotions) 17th annual black-tie gala, "A Knockout Affair", from the Fairmount Hotel in downtown Dallas.
Wearing his ever present Venom cape, Yanez made his ringwalk to "There Goes My Baby,” by former lead singer of the Gap Band, Charlie Wilson. Yanez bobbed his head, dapped up patrons as he passed their tables, posed, gyrated and shook his little 115 lb ass, much to the delight of the predominantly female audience.
As he stood on the ring apron, the "Latin Legend" continued to dance and mouth the lyrics as jaws dropped, camera phones flashed and women swooned. At one point, Yanez pointed to a lucky lady who waved back and openly blushed. The entire scene was so over-the-top, I jokingly expected panties to be thrown into the ring.
Somewhere in the party, a fight took place.
Yanez came out with measuring, southpaw jabs and thudding straight lefts to Garcia's body to begin the opening round. A right hook-straight left combo snapped Garcia's head back and the noticeably smaller former Olympian began stalking him. In the first round alone, Luis landed double digit shots to the body, all of which were loud, thudding and audible.
Garcia was game, yet completely outclassed as a two fisted assault (punctuated by a left hook) staggered him to the ropes in round two. Yanez continued to stalk the larger man, picking off his attempted shots and hurting him with left hooks as utterances of "Let's go Luis" and "Yanez" sprinkled about.
By the third round, Yanez was looking to counter a bit more, while always remaining in punching range. A double left hook badly wobbled Garcia and Luis dropped his hands and did a shimmy to add insult to the injury. More body work and hooks buckled Garcia as he took a pounding just before the bell.
Yanez blatantly played to the crowd in the fourth, shaking his groove thang, then spinning Garcia and patting him on his own posterior. The ballroom filled with more laughter than a comedy club. Yanez then landed two right hooks, buckled Garcia with a big left hook and made him clinch after eating a left uppercut.
In round five, Luis looked over and waved at the lady he'd previously made blush, then fired off a flurry of bombs, double left hooks and a right to the body. He whipped out his notorious superhero pose in the sixth, held both hands behind his back and walked Garcia down in the seventh and repeatedly landed flush lefts down the pike, hooks and crosses for the remainder of the eight-rounder.
Final scores were 80-72, 79-73 and a surprisingly close 77-75.
All in all, Yanez's speed, accuracy, athleticisim, showmanship and punch rate made for an entertaining experience, for which he was unanimously awarded the fight and his first title.
