By Jake Donovan
Jonathan Oquendo began his 2015 campaign in the same manner as he did a year ago - scoring a decision win in the season premiere of Boxeo Telemundo.
This year's victim was Mexico's Gabino Cota, as Oquendo had little issues in cruising to a unanimous decision Friday evening at Kissimmee Civic Center in Kissimmee, Florida.
Fighting for the first time since a convincing loss to former three-division champ Abner Mares last summer, Oquendo came in primed and ready to return to the win column. Cota struggled to keep up, doing his best to impose his will but unable to land a game-changing shot.
Oquendo nearly hit paydirt early in round two, catching Cota with an overhand right to wobble the visiting Mexican slugger. It was the closest either fighter came to delivering a knockout ending.
Final scores were 99-91 (twice) and 98-92 in favor of Oquendo, who advances to 25-2 (16KOs). Cota suffers his third straight loss, falling to 17-4-1 (15KOs).
The win kicked off the 2015 Spring season of Boxeo Telemundo, following the series' most successful year ever in 2014. Oquendo helped launch that season in this very venue, scoring a 12-round decision over Guillermo Avila after accepting the fight on late notice when Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. bailed.
Oquendo is now 4-0 at the Kissimmee Civic Center, which also hosted his pro debut way back in 2004.
In undercard action, Emanuel Sanchez pulled off a minor upset with a unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Moises Carasquillo. Scores were 57-56, 58-55 and 58-54.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
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