By Alphonso Costello, at ringside
Looking to showcase their budding talent, young upstarts waged war last night at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello, California.
In the six round main event, super flyweights Jerry Pavich and Adrian Aleman fought to a majority draw. Both fighters worked at a busy rate throughout the fight wearing each down with power flurries. Pavich who weighed in at 115 pounds is building a picket fence with his record standing at 1-1-1. Rapid fire combinations by Pavich caused a small cut over Aleman’s left eye in the opening round. Not to be outdone, Aleman 3-1-2 (2 KO’s) countered Pavich’s first round onslaught by using a calculated punching attack.
Throwing wild and inaccurate power punches Aleman was unable to curtail Pavich’s scoring combos. Successfully using his jab by dancing in and out of Aleman’s range, Pavich seemed to control most of the second round with his solid punching attack.
At the start of the fourth round both fighters came out of their corners swinging for the fences. Being rocked in the previous round and fighting with a sense of urgency, Pavich came out firing only to have Aleman counter with scoring power shots.
Aleman’s bruising punches appeared to confine Pavich who aggressively pressed the action at the top of round six.
A clearly stunned Pavich put together effective combos to hold back Aleman’s high powered assault. Nevertheless damaging blows scored by Aleman stunned Pavich before the final bell.
Aleman’s harmful punches staggered Pavich throughout the fight. Yet Pavich continued to put forth a great effort. The official scorecards were 57-57 (twice) and 59-55 for Aleman.
Gearing up for post fight partying at QC’s 20/20, the sell-out crowd was dressed to impress. The highly vocal audience witnessed David Rodela’s punishing six round unanimous decision victory over “The Beach Bum” Alex Ariza. The super lightweight battle was full of exciting action and extreme punishment with Rodela pounding Ariza with ear crunching power shots.
Ariza revealing a fierce frown, continuously moved forward pressing Rodela with spirited combinations. Rodela established his jab and fired off authoritative power punches to the head and body. Fighting with fierce determination, Ariza fought in a stand still position absorbing many power punches to the head.
The cement footed Ariza was being closely watched by ringside physicians after each round. However, the accumulation of punches didn’t discourage the 36-year old Marina Del Rey resident from mounting an aggressive attack. In the end, Rodela’s assortment of damning power punches proved to be too much for the battle weary Ariza. With the win Rodela improves his record to 4-1-1 (3 KO’s), while Ariza’s record falls to 3-7 (3 KO’s).
Welterweight Christopher Rizo won his pro debut by scoring a knockout victory over Roberto Soto. Thoroughly outclassed, Soto 0-2 received a wicked right hook to the body ending the fight at 2:17 of the second round. Rizo’s performance was impressive, highlighted by his superb body attack.
Absent of any technical and tactical skills, the four round light heavyweight match between pro debuting fighters sent the sell out crowd into a wild frenzy. Much to the crowd’s displeasure, 35-year old Mitch Waters won a controversial unanimous decision over Robert Ryan. Both fighters feverishly slugged it out from the start of the opening bell. Sporting a Chris Byrd hair-do, Ryan 0-1 sent Waters reeling to the canvas with a measured straight right hand in the first round. Putting his Air Jordan’s to good use, Waters attempted to stay away from Ryan’s predictable offensive attack .Tussling his way to the victory Waters was able to avoid many of Ryan’s telegraphed punches. The absence of an effective jab and incessantly loading up on power punches proved to be Ryan’s downfall. All three judges scored the fight 38-37.
In heavyweight action, Golden Boy Gym product Victor Barragan 2-1 (1 KO) seized a unanimous decision victory over the athletically talented Leon Weathersby 1-1 (1 KO).
Middleweight Ramon Espinoza 8-5 (3 KO’s) won a split decision over Roberto Estrada 4-2 (2 KO’s). Espinoza was the more active and accurate puncher in what seemed to be a throw away fight. The announced scores were 38-37 (twice) in favor of Espinoza, with one judge scoring it 38-37 for Estrada.