By Eric 'Sugar Foot' Duran

Photos by Michael V. Ornelas

On a brisk Friday night in downtown Denver, Jim Smith and Poor Boys Pro Boxing put on one most evenly matched and action packed fight cards in recent memory. All 5 bouts were highly entertaining and filled with splattering blood and sportsmanship. And all for a good cause as The Denver Athletic Club held their annual fundraising boxing extravaganza.

Hugo Arceo and Brittany Cruz both overcame formidable challengers in claiming RMB Colorado Titles. Arceo had to battle through blistering counter shots from Rudy ‘Phatsoe’ Zapata while Cruz overcame a relentless Alma Garcia. Both fights were close and hard to score and all 4 fighters are deserving of the recognition they’ve earned throughout the years.

Marquis Moore put the rest of the Super Middleweights in Colorado and the region on notice last night as he was awarded fighter of the night from the Martinez Family. Moore showed next level hand speed and power with a dominating decision over Benjamin Jordan.

Antonio Flores is turning into a body snatcher with his relentless attacking style to the midsection. Martin Quezada found out the hard way as suffered through 4 rounds of overwhelming pressure from Flores.

Sevelle Hasan made one of the most impressive debuts in Colorado boxing over the last decade. His systematic destruction of Ryan Silva, who is tough as nails, was beautiful and brutal at the same time. Hasan is surely a fighter worth keeping an eye on for local boxing fans.

Cruz edges Garcia to claim RMB Women’s Championship

Brittany Cruz (11-8-2) used her length, agility and size advantage to edge Alma Garcia (2-5) in a highly competitive bout. Garcia started fast and was the aggressor for most of the fight but once Cruz found her range and comfort zone, Cruz kept Garcia at bay.

Rd 1

Garcia comes out swinging. Cruz lands a right hand over the top. Garcia is looking to land her right hand that captured the 'Knockout of the Year' in 2016. Garcia proves to be the more aggressive fighter in round 1.

Rd 2

Garcia is mauling Cruz to begin the round. Both fighters trade jabs. Garcia catches Cruz with a left hook on the inside. Garcia’s aggressiveness is carrying her in the fight. Cruz needs to pick up the pace.

Rd 3

Both fighters exchange left hooks along the ropes. Garcia lands a 1-2 as Cruz backs up. Garcia continues to push the pace. Cruz lands a right hand to end the round.

Rd 4

Garcia comes out gunning in the final round. Cruz lands a right hand in the center of the ring. Cruz lands a 1-2. Cruz is finally using her reach and skill in the final round.

In the end, the judges scored the bout 39-37 twice for Cruz and 39-37 for Garcia, giving Cruz the win and the RMB Women's Super Bantamweight Title by split decision.

Moore shows next level talent in victory

Marquis Moore improves to 5-0 with a stellar performance over Benjamin Jordan (2-4) of Tallahassee, FL. Moore showed blazing hand speed and above average power as he dropped Jordan twice over 6 rounds. Jordan had his moments that included a flash knockdown in the second. However, it was Moore’s tenacity and talent that carried him to an easy unanimous decision and the fighter of the night award.

Rd 1

Moore is on the attack right away as he looks to land his straight right hand. Moore is touching Jordan’s body on the inside as Jordan looks for a way to escape. Jordan has already fallen into a defensive/survival mode as round 1 comes to an end.

Rd 2

Moore drops Jordan with a big overhand right moments into the round. Moore hurts Jordan with a pull back counter right hand in the center of the ring. Jordan drops Moore with a surprising right hand. Moore isn’t hurt by any means. Moore counters with a big 1-2 as Jordan covers up.

Rd 3

Moore is pounding away with big punches as Jordan takes his best shots and stays in the fight. Moore is landing 3 and 4 shots at a time, I don’t know how Jordan is staying on his feet. Jordan is wobbled by a left hook from Moore.

Rd 4

Jordan is showing some offense here early in the round. Moore just continues to walk him down with speed and power though as Jordan only fights in spurts.

Rd 5

Moore continues to send sweat flying off the dome of Jordan with left hooks and overhand rights. Moore touches the body of Jordan with a blazing fast combination along the ropes.

Rd 6

Moore is hurt by a straight right from Jordan momentarily. Moore rebounds and goes back on the attack. Moore lands a solid left hook midway through the round. A right hand from Moore drops Jordan in the center of the ring to end the round.

Arceo is crowned Rocky Mountain Boxing Heavyweight Colorado Champion

Hugo Arceo (7-2-2) pounced his way to a majority decision over Rudy Zapata (3-2-1). It was a battle of power vs speed as Arceo tried to maul Zapata while Zapata tried to silence his attack with sharp shooting counters. While Arceo controlled the center of ring with his speed, the judges were swayed by the attack of Arceo along the ropes. With every punch Arceo landed, a trickle of blood would fall from the nose of Zapata.

Rd 1

Zapata catches Arceo with the first right hand of the fight. Arceo lands a nice combo among the ropes. Zapata is using his hand speed to catch Arceo between punches. Zapata lands a stiff jab in the center of the ring. Arceo responds with a flurry along the ropes. A great, exciting opening round.

Rd 2

Arceo pushes forward with a jab but it’s Zapata's jab that is doing the damage. Arceo catches Zapata with 1-2 along the ropes. Arceo wobbles Zapata with a counter right hand. They’re banging away in the corner. Zapata is bleeding heavily from his nose after the onslaught from Arceo.

Rd 3

Zapata is taunting Arceo in the third round with chants of 2 slow. Zapata lands a slapping right hand to the body of Arceo. Zapata catches Arceo with a check left hook. They are trading heavy championship leather in the center of the ring.

Rd 4

Arceo pushes Zapata into the ropes and lands a right hand. Zapata presses forward with lead left hooks. Both fighters are landing their best shots here in the final round. Zapata lands a left hook straight right to close the round.

The judges score the fight 39-37 twice for Arceo and 38-38. Arceo is now your recognized RMB Colorado Heavyweight Champion!

Flores catches a body in defeating Quezada

Antonio Flores (2-0) bullied his way to a unanimous decision win over a very game Martin Quezada (4-10). Flores was on the attack from the first bell, trapping Quezada along the ropes and unleashing some heavy body attacks.

Rd 1

Quezada is boxing behind a steady jab, moving around the ring. Flores traps Quezada in the corner and unloads a 10 punch combination. Quezada escapes and lands some nice shots in the center of the ring. Flores stalks Quezada around the ring looking to land power hooks to the body.

Rd 2

Flores traps Quezada along the ropes and a solid overhand right. Flores catches Quezada again with an overhand right. Flores using a heavy body attack to wear Quezada down here in round 2. Quezada steps around and lands a straight right hand to end the round.

Rd 3

Quezada lands a big right hand as Flores finally takes a step back. Both fighters trade shots in the corner of the ring as Flores continues to pound away at the body of Quezada. Flores rips an overhand right onto Quezada head, bringing a roar from the crowd. Flores finishes the round with a heavy barrage of punches to midsection of Quezada.

Rd 4

Flores is looking to end the fight with every punch he throws. Quezada has lost some steam off of his punches due to the non stop attack from Flores. Flores continues to chase to Quezada around the ring as the final round comes to an end.

Quezada fought bravely throughout the fight but he was just over matched and out worked by the younger Flores. Flores should be a name local fans keep an eye in the future, he brings an exciting style to the ring and works well to the body.

Hasan bloodies and batters Silva

In the opening fight of the night, Jr Middleweight Sevelle Hasan (1-0) dominated and stopped Ryan Silva (1-2) of Wyoming for an impressive debut win. Hasan was simply too fast and too powerful for a game but out muscled Silva. It was evident from the first landed shot that Hasan could end the fight at any moment. It almost came in round 3 as Hasan buckled Silva’s knees with a right hook. Silva showed the heart of a lion to survive and fight his way back into the fight.

In the final round, Silva tried to stand and bang with Hasan but it didn’t last long as Hasan put him on the seat of his pants with a right hook. Hasan's follow up attack proves to be too much as referee Curtis Thrasher stops the fight 1:17 of round 4

Rd 1

Silva moving forward as the round begins, put together a combination as Hasan lays on the ropes. Hasan catches Silva with 2 huge right hands and Silva is hurt badly. Silva covers up on the ropes as Hasan looks for the stoppage. Silva survives the attack but is bleeding heavily from his nose.

Rd 2

Hasan catches Silva with a lead right hand to open the action in round 2. Silva is still game as he fires combinations away at Hasan. Hasan with another jaw cracking right hand as he simply can’t miss Silva. Silva continues to push forward though trapping Hasan in the corner. Both fighters trade power shots as the round comes to an end.

Rd3

Silva is applying the pressure here in round as he senses he’s down on the cards. Hasan is content with landing one thunderous shot at a time. A right hook from Hasan buckles Silva in the center of the ring. With every landed punch from Hasan, blood splatters across the ring canvas.

Rd 4

The fighters are trading punches along the ropes as Hasan sends Silva crashing to the canvas with a right hook. Hasan empties the gas tank as referee Curtis Thrasher steps in and calls the fight at 1:17 of the 4th round.

Daniel 'Kaos' Calzada Gets Belted!

Chris Morris and Eric Duran made an RMB Belt Presentation to local road warrior Daniel 'Kaos' Calzada who defeated Stevie Marquez to earn the RMB Colorado Super Welterweight Title.