By Andy Rivera

It wasn’t a good night for New Mexico fighters Vicente Garcia & Tony Valdez, both co-main event fighters suffered minor setbacks on Saturday night in Espanola New Mexico. Garcia was halted in the third round, when the ring doctor felt Garcia was unable to continue after his right had was swollen shut in the first round, giving his opponent Roberto Valenzuela a third round tko. As for Valdez he came up on the short end of the stick in a bout that he seemed to have the edge. The judges didn’t feel that way, awarding Jose Luis Cardenas a six round majority decision.

GARCIA SUFFERS MINOR SETBACK IN LOSS TO VALENZUELA

Vicente Garcia was looking to gain valuable experience in his bout with 52 fight veteran Roberto Valenzuela, although not the experience he was looking for, Garcia suffered a closed eye in the opening round, in which he was unable to see punches coming. Not having the adversity presented before, Garcia was taken off his game plan and tried to go after Valenzuela in the second before the bout could be possibly stopped for him not being able to see. It was to be as after the second round the ring doctor halted the action and awarding Valenzuela a third round stoppage win.

Garcia would start off boxing the experienced Valenzuela, sticking his jab and landing a quick right to the head of Valenzuela, but midway through the round Valenzuela would get a little closer to Garcia and land a hard left hooks to the body of Garcia, then landing a hard right hand to causing Garcia’s eye to shut immediately, while Garcia would hold on to gain his senses’, referee Rocky Burke would break the two apart and give Garcia a warning for holding, as the two came to the center, Garcia would head butt Valenzuela, bring Burke to halt the action and take a point away from Garcia.

More drama would ensue in between rounds as the ring doctor would take a look a Garcia’s eye in which Garcia’s corner asked the NMAC if it was ruled a punch or head butt. Burke called it a punch, bringing a win to Valenzuela if the fight was stopped.

Garcia was able to come out in the second, but it was obvious that he couldn’t see Valenzeula’s punches coming, to his credit Garcia was a warrior trying to fight back, but seemed more content trying to protect the eye although he won the round on our card.

The ring doctor halted the fight after the second; bring Garcia to yell out in agony for the fight being stopped, and then he pounded the floor in disgust with tears streaming down.

The ring doctor informed NewMexicoSportsNews.com/BoxingScene.com that Garcia was unable to see at all. “I would put both hands up with two sets of numbers, four in my right hand and two in left and Garcia was only able to see the four; he just couldn’t see.”

In winning Valenzuela brings his record to 37-23-2, while Garcia goes back to the drawing board falls to 12-5.

CARDENAS EDGES VALDEZ

Jose Luis Cardenas captured a majority decision over hometown fighter Tony Valdez in winning the six round super-flyweights bout. Valdez started the fight by boxing and seemed to start off good, before Cardenas was able to finally get on track. Cardenas seemed to be the stronger of the two, but Valdez looked to have done enough to win the fight with his quickness. The judges felt it was that Cardenas who had done enough in capturing the win by scores of 58-56 twice and even on the third 58-58.

Valdez boxed beautifully in round one as he kept the fight in the center of the ring; picking Cárdenas with his left jab and quick right hands, being patient in not letting Cardenas getting him into a war. Cardenas would try to pin Valdez on the ropes, but once his back touched he was off and back in the center.

Cardenas looked to be more aggressive in the second round landing left hooks to the body of Valdez, but Valdez wouldn’t let Cardenas land more then one shot at a time, going to the center and going right back to his jab and boxing. Valdez brought his home crowd to its feet with a three punch flurry that sent Cardenas back to the ropes, but in past fights, where Valdez would go wild and try to finish his foe, he would take his time and win the round.

Round three saw Cardenas now trying to taunt Valdez and luring him into a brawl, which Valdez would not engage as he went back to using his jab and quick flurries to win the round. Cardenas was getting closer to Valdez and started to land a little more frequently to Valdez’s body as Valdez would lye on the ropes.

In round four, Valdez would let Cardenas back into the fight. Cardenas jab was now moving Valdez back and now taking Valdez off what he was successful early. Cardenas was gaining confidence as he was now sticking his chin out, daring Valdez to hit him, Valdez wouldn’t take the bait but Cardenas was now making a fight of it.

The fifth round saw Valdez going back to boxing and won the round by doing what had him winning the first two rounds, keeping Cardenas in the middle of the ring and not letting Cardenas pin him on the ropes. Valdez would land quick flurries that would win him the round.

Cardenas won the sixth by keeping the pressure on Valdez and landing the harder shots, Valdez would have the edge in speed but Cardenas defiantly had edge in power, as his jab would now keep Valdez honest and stop him from coming in. On several occasions, his jab would halt Valdez from coming forward. Cardenas seemed to be the fresher of the two as he was had too much sting on his punches to win the round

”I won the fight.” said Valdez, “I blocked a lot of his punches with my gloves, but don’t think the judges look at those things, I think I lost because of things outside the event itself. I’m going to write a letter and formal complaint to the commission and see what can be done in future fights.”

When the cards were read Valdez and his corner seemed in shock to have come up on the short of the stick,  NewMexicoSportsNews.com/BoxingScene.com had it 58-57, Valdez  It was Valdez third set back, bringing his record to 6-3-2, while Cardenas raises his record to 6-6-2.

ESQUIBEL DESTROY’S DE LEON IN TWO

Albuquerque prospect Matthew “Papitas” Esquibel remained unbeaten with a crushing second round knock out of Jorge De Leon (0-3) in the opening fight of the night. The first round was a good opening stanza, but in the second Esquibel ended the night in raising his record to 3-0 (2ko’s).

Both fighters had their moments in the opening round, but it was Esquibel who captured the round by being patient and picking his shots. Most of the punches were quick shots with his right hand to the head De Leon. De Leon was one tough cookie though as he took everything Esquibel dished out, even landing a few hard right hands of his own, but it was Esquibel’s more aggressive offensive that won his the round.

The end came quick and viciously, when Esqubel landed a wicked right uppercut to the head of De Leon, in which De Leon was out by the time he landed flat on his back, referee Rocky Burke didn’t bother to count, as the ring medical team was in the ring immediately, checking De Leon’s health. The time off the stoppage was 1:03.

ALDERETE WIN WARS

In a four round war, Mike Alderete captured a hard fought unanimous decision over Deric Flores, all three judges had it 39-37 for Alderete.

NewMexicoSportsNews.com/BoxingScene.com had it a 38-37 for Alderete.

Alderete ripped Flores body apart in round one, landing with both left hooks and right hands to both sides of Flores body, and then coming up with left hooks to the head. Flores didn’t have an answer for Alderete’s attack. It was no a matter if Alderete could keep up this pace for four rounds.

The question was answered early on Alderete, it looked as if he had shot his load in the first round, as Flores took his turn using Alderete as a punching bag, landing left hooks to the tired Alderete’s head, the going to his body, Flores look rejuvenated that he was now talking to Alderete. Alderete to his credit would fire back with a right hand occasionally, but this round was Flores.

Both fighters slowed done in the third, but it was Alderete , who won the round by keeping Flores on the ropes landing shots to the body then the head. Flores would fire back but Aderete would be the one who was the busier of the two. It was a round that could have gone either way.

Alderete made a huge comeback in the fourth and final rounds by keping Flores in the center of the ring teeing off on Flores with vicious shots to the head and body; bring the crowd to its feet. Flores would have one last rally in the final: 30, but Alderete went crazy in the final: 10 as he almost put Flores down. The crowd roared with its approval at the end of the fight.

Alderete remains unbeaten at 4-0 (3ko’s) while Flores falls to 2-6.

BRAY BUM RUSHES BRADY

It has been a sad three years since Joseph Brady was once considered a top prospect in New Mexico, but how the mighty have fallen. Brady, who at one time 13-0-1, now has lost six in a row, all by knockout. His first loss was a war in which he was Andres Pacheco, from there it has been disgraceful, dropping five all by knockout, four in the first alone. Saturday was no exception as he once again down early, this time against Jason Bray, who five years ago would never have been in the same ring as Brady, but that was then and times have changed.

Both fighters started their battle at the weigh-in, but that is where Brady may have had his best chance to win. Both had words and had a wrestling match, ala Rahman-Lewis, but in the fight it was all Bray, as he went after Brady early, with not much power on the soft body of Brady. Brady did try to land a haymaker, but Bray would get Brady on the ropes then landed or seemed to land depending on who you talk to a left to the body. Brady was more then able to beat the count, but he took the easy way out and was counted out at: 53.

The New Mexico Athletic Commission should really look at possibly revoking Brady’s license as he is an accident waiting to happen. As for Bray, he did what he had to do, come in shape and took care of business. Bray is now 6-0, while Brady falls to 13-6-1.