This past weekend was a busy one if you were a fan of the sweet science. While the networks were noticeably void of any big fights, a number of enticing fights that heavily featured up-and-coming prospects and contenders was served up nice and hot for the boxing hungry denizen. So while my DVR worked overtime trying to capture all the action, I bring to you a brief wrap up of the weekend that was.
Vacant WBO Junior Featherweight Title Fight – Saturday at Bayamon, PR
Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. (18-0-1, 15 KOS) KO 4 Marvin Sonsona (14-1-1, 12 KOs)
Vazquez Jr., son of former Puerto Rican star Wilfredo Vasquez, gave the partisan crowd what they came to see in stopping Sonsona of the Philippines in four rounds to claim the vacant WBO junior featherweight title Saturday night in Puerto Rico.
Sonsona took the lead early as Vaszquez came out cautious in the early rounds. However, by the second round Vasquez began to get comfortable in there as he quickly realized he was the bigger and stronger fighter. A clean right hand fired by Vasquez in the fourth round stunned Sonsona, who then ate a left to the body that floored the young Filipino for the ten-count.
With his title winning effort Vasquez, and his father, enter the history books as one of the few father-son combinations to capture world titles, joining the likes of fighters such as Leon and Cory Spinks, and Floyd and Tracy Patterson.
Next For Vasquez: Vasquez is talented, no doubt about that, and it will be interesting to see how his brain trust move him. Junior featherweight has some name fighters in it, but is Vasquez ready for the likes of a Bernard Dunn, or Celestino Caballero?
WBC Light Flyweight Title – Saturday Night at Guadalajara, MX
Rodel Mayol (26-4-2, 20 KOs) Technical Draw Omar Nino (28-3-2, 11 KOs) – Mayol Retains Title
Mayol has got to be the unluckiest fighter in the game today. Four fight, four very abrupt, and quirky endings. Two fights with Ivan Calderon ended prematurely due to cuts over Calderon’s eyes, and in Mayol’s last fight, a knockout of Edgar Sosa, it appeared that Mayol’s head was the cause of Sosa’s demise. Saturday night, Mayol continued his newfound tradition of odd fight endings when he retained his title by technical draw after being knocked out by Nino. Yes, you read that right.
For the first two rounds, Mayol and Nino engaged in a spirited slugfest, but then, weirdness would spring up in the third. With the third round closing, Nino hits Mayol with a low blow that caused Mayol to wince, and then drop his hand. As referee Vic Drakulich moved to intervene, Nino unleashed a left hook from hell that knocked Mayol out cold. As Mayol was carted from the ring in a stretcher, the decision by the ref and the ringside officials was that the fight would be declared a technical draw (this would have been a no-contest had the fight taken place in the United States).
Next for Both Fighters: A rematch, ASAP.
Welterweight Fight – Saturday, Atlantic City, NJ
Mike Jones (20-0, 16 KOs) 10 Round Unanimous Decision Over Henry Bruseles (28-4-1, 15 KOs)
Scores: 98-92, 98-92, and 97-93
Undefeated prospect Mike Jones (Who!) hails from a long line of talented, hard-nosed Philly fighters, but to date, little attention has been paid to the young fighter. Though largely unknown to all but the most die-hard boxing head, Jones has quietly toiled off-television due in large part to not having the luxury of being under contract with a big time promoter. However, Jones obscurity may now be in jeopardy after his thorough domination of grizzled veteran Henry Bruseles Saturday night. Jones ability to box, and utilize his great jab and long right hands kept Bruseles in fits all night long.
It was a solid win for a fighter most fans had yet to see perform, and with it, Jones stock seems to be on the rise.
Next for Jones: Hopefully a fight on HBO or Showtime. Jones is a fighter that fight fans can appreciate. Seeing as he fights in the talent rich welterweight division, there should be no excuse for Jones to not become a household name.
Featherweight Fight – Friday, El Paso, TX
Antonio Escalante (22-2, 14 KOs) 10 Round Unanimous Decision Over Miguel Roman (28-7, 20 KOs)
Scores: 97-92, 97-92, and 96-93
It is damn near impossible to not get excited watching El Paso’s Antonio Escalante fight. The kid can flat out bang, and his all-action, come-forward approach to boxing has quickly made him a fun, TV-friendly fighter. Friday night was no exception as he and childhood rival Miguel Roman engaged in a spirited war in front of Escalnate’s hometown fans. The fight was a fun, brtutal back-and forth battle that saw ebbs and flows, and bloodied noses. In the end, Escalante proved to be too much for the very game Roman, and after dropping Roman in the eight, closed out the fight in strong fashion.
It was a fun fight to watch, and one that will place Escalante in the hearts of action seekers for years to come.
Next for Escalante: Golden Boy has been moving Escalante deftly, but you get the feeling that it’s time for him to step up his competition. Tell me, would you love to see Escalante duke it out with a Bernard Dunne, or Steve Molitor? I know I would.
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