By Andy Rivera

Max Heyman recorded his 22nd win on Saturday night, but it wasn’t  pretty, winning by way of a 5th round disqualification over Ernesto Zamora (14-10) at the Santa Ana Star Casino outside Albuquerque, New Mexico. The card was promoted by former two-time World champion Danny Romero Jr.

Talmadge “Two Guns” Griffis fought for the second time as a cruiserweight and made short work of James “Little Tyson” Brock with a first round stoppage.

Popular local cruiserweight Sean McClain, who was returning to the ring after a six year layoff, survived almost being knocked out by overweight Vernon Woodward in the opening round, only to comeback to put Woodward down twice in stopping him in the second.

Heyman, who in past had trouble trying to find a weight that he feels strong at, was fighting anywhere from 159 to 177 pounds, but now feels light heavyweight is where he will stay. Heyman came out strong in round one by using his jab and quick right hands to Zamora’s head. Zamoras would try to counter but it showed early that he didn’t have the speed or power to detract Heyman.

Zamora would get Heyman to the ropes in the second but missed most of his punches, then after backing off Heyman would motioned Zamora to comeback to the trenches, which from there Heyman slipped and slide away from Zamora’s flurries, laughing at Zamora each time he missed.

After a slow third round, things got ugly in the fourth round as Zamora twice received penalties from referee Rocky Burke for head butting; Zamora would kick the turn buckle on the second infraction in frustration. As action resumed Zamora pushed Heyman down to the floor, with Heyman on one knee Zamora would attempt to knee Heyman in the head, Burke had seen enough and disqualified Zamora.

”He really didn’t hit me with his knee.” Said Heyman after the fight, “It was more his thigh, but I guess I’m lucky it wasn’t his knee.”

Heyman was happy to get the win, but felt he could have had an easier night with Zamora,”I should have had him out of there in the, but I didn’t throw enough punches. I think it was more me not getting a lot of sparring in preparing, but I’ll be back in the gym Monday to work on things that I know I can correct.”

In preparation for his bout, Heyman sparred three times with Sean McClain who escaped from almost being ko’d, with a second round knockout and on the receiving end of a generous call by the referee.

McClain, who last fought in 2007, almost had his comeback short lived, as late replacement Vernon Woodward hurt McClain with the very first punch he landed. Woodward, who outweighed McClain by 45 pounds, was all punch, no skill, landed a right hand that sent McClain stumbling around the ring and looking to survive. Woodward would land more loping wild right hands that had McClain still hurt but couldn’t finish the job, to McClain’s credit he was able to withstand Woodward’s onslaught and finished the round.

With Woodward was out of gas in round two; having punched himself out, McClain would take advantage; hurting Woodward with a hard right hand followed by a left hook, McClain put Woodward down to a knee; McClain would start to walk to his neutral corner then loaded up and landed a right hand to a defenseless Woodward's head. Referee Tony Rosales should have at the very least taken away a point from McCain, but could have easily disqualified him as the punch was deliberate. Rosales did warn McClain, but it was too little to late, as Woodward was a wounded duck. McClain would go in for the kill putting Woodward out with a hard right hand which put Woodward on his back for good.

”I didn’t know he was on a knee when I hit him.” said McClain “I’m not a dirty fighter at all and hope the fans don’t see it that way.”

In any case McClain raises his record to 23-8-1, while Woodward falls to 7-19, McClain needs to tighten up his defense if he wants his comeback to be a success.

Cruiserweight Talmadge “Two Guns” Griffs (24-6-3) made easy work of James Brock, halting putting Brock down twice and ending matters at 2:26 of the opening stanza. Griffs landed a right hand in the first minute of the round sending Brock down; Brock would beat the count only to get into an exchange in which Griffs landed a vicious left hook that ended the fight.

Although winning impressively, Griffs feels he did a few things wrong and looks to correct them in the gym. “I got carried away when I hurt him the first time, I got hit with a good punch that I shouldn’t have but it worked out ok.” stated Griffs “I wanted to get more rounds in to shake off some rust, but Lemon told me if I get someone hurt don’t wait.”

Lemon, aka trainer Donald Wrenn, rates Griffs with a six on his performance. “Talmadge needs to relax more and don’t get in slugfest once he has someone hurt, he also needs to throw more straight punches, but it will come in time.”

In other action, Elco Garcia dispatched of Cabien St. Pierre in the fourth round, ending matters with a vicious uppercut that put St. Pierre down for the count. Garcia, who is as tough as they come and will battle anyone, raises his record to 19-6, while St. Pierre drops to 8-20.

Albuquerque’s Matthew Esquibel (5-0) remained unbeaten with a four round unanimous decision over Joel Padilla (0-7). Esquibel survived a second round knockdown only to comeback a put Padilla down as well. Esquibel looked more aggressive and fought with heart once put down which made the crowd get into the fight after a slow first round.

Freddy Cisneros edged out Jesse Lovato to win his pro debut, while Lovato drops to 1-2. Cisneros had Lovato hurt badly in round one, only to have Lovato make a fight of it the rest of the night. Scores were 40-35, 39-39 and 38-37 for Cisneros.

Sonya Gurule outworked Rozzanne Garvin with a four round unanimous decision, the two 105 pound females are stablemates, but in a division where there isn’t much competition the two agreed to fight each other in their pro debuts.

The opening bout had veteran Humberto Corral defeat a very green Danny Lopez, who may have been sited to stay amateur for a bit longer before turning pro. Corral had a 1-3 or 9-3 record depending on who you ask, either way it was to much experience for Lopez. All three judges scored the fight for Green, 40-35 twice and 39-36 in the third.