Mares defeats Agbeko again

Ringside by Francisco Salazar and Rocco Morales
Photos by “Big” Joe Miranda

Bantamweight Abner Mares had to endure almost five months of the same repeated rhetoric in regards to his majority decision victory against Joseph Agbeko in Las Vegas, NV. Low blow this, low blow that.

While those criticisms may have been warranted, Mares and his managerial and promotional team decided to give Agbeko another opportunity rather than face other opposition. Mares wanted to prove to the media and fight fans that he could defeat the Ghanian-born fighter without any controversies.

Based on his mostly one-sided performance on Saturday night, mission accomplished.

Mares used a strong and tactical fight plan against Agbeko, which resulted in a commanding 12 round unanimous decision before 4,098 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.

The bout headlined an eight-bout card, presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Don King Productions.

Saturday night was a far cry from that hot August night at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The fight was marred by the low blows that Mares landed on Agbeko without any point deduction(s) by referee Russell Mora. The fight was more publicized because of the low blows, taking away from the strong two-way action between the fighters. While Mares mostly controlled the action early, Agbeko was able to stun Mares in the fourth round of that fight and came on strong to make the fight close.

This time around, it was Mares who was able to beat Agbeko to the punch during most of the fight. Mares’ punches were shorter when both fighters were on the inside.

Although Agbeko fought from the center of the ring, it was Mares who used a tactical and mostly-effective plan to move in, land combinations, and move out of Agbeko’s reach.

In the second round, Mares was cut over his right eye from what was ruled as a punch by Agbeko. Although blood would eventually seep into the eye of Mares at times during the fight, it did not play a significant factor.

The fight was not without Mares landing a few punches below Agbeko’s beltline. Mares did receive at least two verbal warnings from referee Dr. Lou Moret, but was never in danger of having a point deducted from him.

Although Agbeko did score with lead right hands and the occasional left hook, Mares continued being effective on the inside. The last two rounds of the fight were the most dominant in favor of Mares. He stunned Agbeko with two right hands to the head in the 11th and stunned Agbeko again towards the end of the 12th, solidifying a dominant performance against the two-time world title holder.

All three judges, including Fightnews.com, scored the bout 118-110 in favor of Mares.

According to punch stat numbers, Mares landed 254 of 765 total punches, while Agbeko landed 180 of 727. Power punches favored Mares as well, as he landed 183 of 445 to Agbeko’s 107 of 387 power shots.

“I’m happy that the fans saw the real Abner,” said Mares, who retained his world title belt with the victory. “The last time there was controversy. I knew that I beat him the first time, but I beat him again. I won every round every round and I closed every round like a champion. The last time I fought, I was stockier. This time I had less muscle and I felt much faster.”

Asked about future plans, Mares responded, “I’m ready for anyone. Bring them on. I’ll fight them at 118 pounds or I’ll go up to 122.”

Agbeko seemed to accept more of a loss this time than in the last fight against Mares.

“I was told by journalists that if I didn’t go for the knockout here in California, I wouldn’t win. I thought I fought better this time than in the last fight. I don’t feel like I lost. I felt I did well.”

The Mexican-born Mares, from Hawaiian Gardens, CA, improves to 23-0-1, 13 KO’s. Agbeko, from the Bronx, NY by way of Accra, Ghana, falls to 28-4, 22 KO’s. – Francisco Salazar

Moreno defeats Darchinyan

Anselmo "Chemito" Moreno (32-1-1, 11KO) lived up to his promise to be a ghost in the ring as he frustrated Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan (37-4-1, 27KO) all night long en route to winning a unanimous decision victory to retain his WBA bantamweight title. Moreno, fighting for the first time in the United States, played the role of matador to the mostly clumsy lunging punches of Darchinyan, and was able to use his jab and counterpunches to rack up round after round on the judges scorecards.

Darchinyan seemed to get off to a good start in the early rounds, but once he started tiring in the middle rounds, Moreno, like a rental car with no mileage limits, was able to put plenty of miles on his fresher and younger legs to avoid Darchinyan's predictable haymaker right crosses. While this did not make for the most crowd pleasing fight, disappointing especially to the large contingent of Armenian fight fans who came out to support Darchinyan, it did keep Moreno out of harm's way as he successfully defended his WBA title for the ninth time.

Judges scored the fight 116-111, 117-110 and, inexcusably, 120-107. Darchinyan was deducted a point early in the bout for breaking a clinch by throwing Moreno to the canvas. Even so, due to Darchinyan's aggressiveness, it appeared to be a closer fight than indicated on the judges scorecards.

Following the bout, the champion, Moreno, said "He threw a lot of punches but I avoided them. This was my first time fighting in the United States, and I was a little nervous. He's a great fighter but he faced a ghost tonight and he couldn't catch me."

Darchinyan, who seemed every bit of his 35 years old, was gracious in defeat and made no excuses. "I started rushing it", said Darchinyan. "I just couldn't figure him out. I was missing the whole time. I just couldn't find him and that was the fight. He was just going for points. I knew this but, still, I lost the fight." – Rocco Morales

Morel cruises to victory

Former world titleholder Eric Morel won a somewhat lackluster 10 round unanimous decision over Jose Silveira.

Ironically, Morel fought at the Honda Center back in 2002, when it was known as the Arrowhead Pond (Arena). Morel fought in an exciting bout, eventually stopping Denkoasan Kaovichit to retain his world title.

The bout against Silveira on Saturday was a far cry from that bout eight years ago. There was very little action in the first four rounds of the fight. Surprising, Morel came on aggressively in the fifth and sixth rounds, throwing and landing combinations to the head.

However, the pace of the fight slowed down considerably, mostly returning to what it was in the first half of the fight. Silveira pressed the fight at times in the final rounds, but Morel countered him to the head and body.

All three judges scored the fight in favor of Morel by scores 98-92, 98-92, and 97-93. Fightnews.com scored the bout 98-92 in favor of Morel.

The Puerto Rican-born Morel, from Madison, WI, goes to 46-2, 23 KO’s. Silveira, from Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, drops to 12-6, 4 KO’s. – Francisco Salazar

Molina impressive over Leyva

Junior welterweight Carlos Molina won a competitive, but one-sided unanimous decision over Manuel Leyva.

From the beginning of the fight, Molina pressed the action, throwing hooks and crosses to the head of the southpaw Leyva. Although Molina did not really use a jab, his footwork offset that because he moved forward to throw combinations. The southpaw Leyva took a while to get going, throwing combinations and outlanding Molina in the fourth.

Molina stunned Leyva with a combination, followed by a left hook to the head. He continued to land those repeated left hooks to the head of Leyva.

At the end of the seventh, Molina wobbled Leyva with a combination, followed by a left hook to the head. Leyva looked like he was in trouble as he was trapped in a corner and Molina landing at will. However, he was able to weather the storm, even fighting back until the end of the round.

Leyva tried to fight back in the final rounds, but Molina was much busier and more accurate with his punches. Molina stunned Leyva again in the final moments of the last round, but Leyva was able to make it until the final bell.

All three judges scored the bout in favor of Molina by scores of 99-91, 99-91, and 100-90. Fightnews.com scored the bout 99-91 in favor of Molina.

Molina, from nearby Norwalk, improves to 15-0-1, 7 KO’s. Leyva, from nearby Downey, falls to 18-4, 10 KO’s. – Francisco Salazar

Gomez knocks out Hope

Junior welterweight Frankie Gomez remained unbeaten, scoring a highlight-reel one-punch knockout over James Hope.

Although Gomez landed the telling blows in the fight, a majority of the fight was sloppy, mainly because Hope held onto Gomez. At times, Gomez fell into the trap of boxing into Hope’s style of fighting, instead of maybe side-stepping and countering Hope.

In the third round, Gomez landed a right cross to the head of Hope, dropping him to the canvas. Hope looked as though he was out before hitting the canvas, prompting referee Tony Crebs to immediately stop the fight at 53 seconds.

Gomez was coming off a majority decision victory over Adrian Granados in late August.

Gomez, from East Los Angeles, CA, goes to 12-0, 9 KO’s. Hope, from Rock Hill, SC, drops to 6-9-1, 4 KO’s. – Francisco Salazar

Bika stops Contreras

Super middleweight contender and three time world title challenger, Sakio "The Scorpion" Bika, got back into the win column by stopping journeyman fighter, Alfredo Contreras at 3:00 of the third round. In an entertaining fight, Bika and Contreras engaged in plenty of exchanges and although Bika was getting the better of Contreras, the tough Mexican never backed down. The Australian, Bika, opened up a bad cut over the left eye of Contreras in the third round with a punch and this, ultimately, led to the referee, following the advice of the ringside physician, to call an end to the bout between the third and fourth round. Bika, coming off losses to each Jean Paul Mendy and WBA champion, Andre Ward, returns to the win column to put himself back in title contention. – Rocco Morales

Cut denies Henry victory over Gonzales

Omar Henry (11-0-1, 9KO) paid the price for allowing Lester Gonzales (12-5-3, 6KO) to escape the first round. Henry, who recently parted ways with promoter Top Rank Boxing to, instead, sign with Don King Productions, had to settle for a technical draw following an accidental headbutt that opened a deep gash over the right eye of Gonzales. Following the advice of the ringside physician, the referee called an end to the bout at the end of the second round of a scheduled eight round junior middleweight bout. – Rocco Morales

Contreras KOs Sandoval

Richard "El Terminador" Contreras (9-0, 8KO) once again lived up to his nickname with an exciting fourth round TKO victory over the game, but overmatched, Juan Sandoval (5-8-1, 3KO) in a featherweight bout. It was the sixth win of the year for the rising prospect, Contreras, all of them by knockout, including four knockouts in the first round. The 21 year old Contreras, promoted by Ken Thompson Boxing, looks like a legitimate rising young prospect with a bright future. – Rocco Morales

Ringside Notes

- Gary Shaw and Sampson Lewkowicz also were involved on Saturday’s card.

- Two-time world title holder Robert Guerrero, lightweight contender Vicente Escobedo, former lightweight title holder Michael Katsidis, cruiserweight contender Lateef Kayode, and featherweight Daulis Prescott watched the action from ringside.

- Steve Albert, Al Bernstein, and Antonio Tarver called the action from ringside for SHOWTIME network.

- Ring announcer for the televised fights was Jimmy Lennon, Jr., while Michael Vale was the ring announcer for the non-televised portion of the card.