By Mario Ortega Jr. –
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – Sacramento’s popular junior middleweight Ruben Torres (5-2-1, 1 KO) of Sacramento was forced to a split decision draw by Christian Seals (4-2-2, 2 KOs) of Watts, California in the closing bout of a competitively-matched card at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel on Saturday night.
Torres, 154, and Seals, 150 ½, traded on even terms for much of the four rounds. Neither fighter seemed to have the other in any serious trouble despite the many two-way flurries.
After four rounds, none of the three judges (Brian Tsukamoto, Guilherme Faria De Souza and Michael Margado) found much in agreement. One card went to Torres, 39-37, one for Seals 40-36 and one even 38-38.
In the co-main event, Jesus Haro (10-1, 1 KO) of Merced, California scored a fourth-round stoppage of Gabriel Ponce (5-4-1, 3 KOs) of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
In the first, the fast-punching Haro, 106, landed a right that had Ponce, 108, in trouble before the resulting flurry scored knockdown number one. Ponce got to his feet before Haro swooped in with another combination to force and second knockdown. After referee Michael Margado had Ponce prove his mobility, the bell sounded to end the opening round.
After Haro boxed through the second, Ponce rebounded to place some well-timed rights early in the third round. Haro stepped on the gas halfway through the round, to the point that the ringside physician wanted to take a look at Ponce before the fourth.
Haro caught Ponce in the midst of an exchange early the fourth, rocking him for a near knockdown. When Haro moved in to seal the deal with combinations, referee Michael Margado swooped in to stop the contest at the 2:22 mark of round four.
In an action-packed cruiserweight bout, Mario Hernandez (1-1) of Sparks, Nevada pounded out a four-round unanimous decision over debuting Marco Ortiz (0-1) of Redding, California.
Hernandez, 175 ¼, fought off his back foot well as Ortiz, 180, pressed forward from bell-to-bell. Despite being the aggressor, Ortiz was never really able to get inside the longer-armed Hernandez’ punches the way he would have liked.
Judge Michael Margado scored it 40-36, while judges Guilherme Faria De Souza and Brian Tsukamoto had it 39-37, all for Hernandez.
For the second time this summer, Mark Salgado (1-2-2, 1 KO) of San Jose, California and Christian Avalos (0-1-2) of Carson City, Nevada engaged in an all-out war for four rounds and for the second time they went home with a draw.
Avalos, 135, and Salgado,134, picked up right where they left off in May, effectively making round one tonight round five of their overall battle.
Each round featured exciting back-and-forth as neither fighter was willing to give up ground. Salgado landed the harder counter punches early, but Avalos finished strong with power shots in the fourth.
After four rounds, judge Guilherme Faria De Souza had the bout 39-38 for Salgado. However, he was overruled by judges
Brian Tsukamoto and Edward Collantes, scoring the bout even, 38-38 for the majority draw.
Avalos and Salgado had fought to a thrilling split decision draw in May in Oroville, California.
In a bout far more competitive than the scores would leave one to believe, Tito Carlo (2-0, 1 KO) of Carson City remained unbeaten with a hard-fought four-round decision over Pedro Angel Cruz (3-3, 2 KOs) of San Jose.
Cruz,137, seemed to edge out the first round from ringside, landing the cleaner shots in the exchanges. Carlo, 136, improved as the fight wore on, landing several clean rights in the final two rounds especially.
After four rounds, each fighter had claimed their pound of flesh from the other, with every round competitive. Still all three judges, Brian Tsukamoto, Guilherme Faria De Souza and Michael Margado, scored the shutout for Carlo, 40-36.
Terrell Glynn (2-0) of Sacramento edged out his second career decision victory over battle-tested veteran Jasper McCargo (4-5-2, 2 KOs) of Richmond.
Glynn, 185, seemed to edge a feeling out first round. McCargo, 179, effectively played the role of counter-puncher for much of the remainder of the bout. McCargo was successful in timing his overhand right to some effect in the second, before a two-way exchange closed the round. McCargo continued his effectiveness as the counter-puncher in the final two rounds, giving ground, but landing well-placed responses to Glynn’s aggression.
However, the official judges ended up swayed by Glynn’s forward movement by majority scores. Judge Edward Collantes scored the bout even, 38-38, but was overruled by judges Guilherme Faria De Souza and Brian Tsukamoto, scoring the bout 39-37 for Glynn.
Will Villa (7-0-1, 1 KO) of Sacramento scored a first-round stoppage over fellow Sacramento native Phillip Ramirez (0-2) to open the show.
Villa, 125, a natural featherweight, was simply too big for the shorter Ramirez, 126. After a series of flurries, and with the size disadvantage apparent, referee Ed Collantes stopped the bout at 2:30 of the first round.
Mario Ortega can be contacted at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com
