By Leann Perez, Link to pictures Sparta Combat Show Pictures

Saturday afternoon was the peak time for boxing fans to gather at the Grizzly Rose in Commerce City, Colorado. Sparta Combat League hosted its inaugural boxing show and delivered a packed house. 10 bouts were showcased, 3 professional and 7 amateur, and the main event sealed the deal for fireworks to end the day.

Lightweight Manny “Manos” Perez, 25-11-1, 6KOs, defeated Remesis Gil, 9-14-5, 6KOs, by knockout in the fifth round.

At the beginning bell, Gil and Perez were quick to get to work. Perez put his finger on the trigger early while Gil mostly waited for the right opportunity to counter. Several shots were landed throughout the beginning rounds by Gil, but it was mostly Perez’ beautiful defense that made Gil miss some heavy shots. Round two was halted for a brief warning as Perez hit a little too low according to referee Curtis Thrasher. Round three, Gil delivered some redemption when he threw a very visible low blow to Perez, giving Perez about 30 seconds to recover.

Perez answered back in round five with body shot after body shot. Fans saw Gil sit on the ropes after one combination from Perez and knew it was just a matter of time after that. As Perez hunted down Gil from one corner to the other, “It was Perez’ signature right hook with a left cross followed behind that sent Gil to the canvas. Not making it up before the ten second count sent the crowd into an uproar. Perez and his coaches raised their hand and lifted up Perez to thank his fans.

Perez’ career advances to 25 wins and going undefeated for the year of 2015 with two stoppages and one unanimous decision. After the amazing victory, ‘The Blue Collar Champ’ Perez clocks back into work Monday morning and will enter back in the gym at the beginning of the year. No doubt 2016 will give Perez some great opportunities.

By Chris Morris

The co main event started slow but finished strong as Isaac Johnson beat late sub Helario Medina in a super lightweight bout.

Johnson presses forward in the first, while Medina plays matador to the bull. Johnson lands a three punch combination, but Medina fires back. A left hook from Johnson draws a warning from referee Stephen Blea for a low blow. Medina lands a nice right hand and they finish the round in a flurry. Johnson wins the round on the RMB card. The second round is slow and it would seem Medina is pacing himself. Johnson lands a left hook that is the best punch of the fight to that point and he’s up two rounds to zero on the RMB card.

Medina comes to life in the third and he is now pressing the action and throwing punches in bunches. He lands a hard overhand right that gets a nod from Johnson. They are willingly exchanging now as Medina has decided to let his hands go. It’s a very close round, could honestly go either way, but, RMB scores it for Medina. In the fourth both men throw caution to the wind and leather lands. Medina is very wide with his punches but they are landing nonetheless. Johnson fights back with punches of his own, although they seem to have lost some steam from earlier. Medina keeps coming forward and secures the round.

Rocky Mountain Boxing scores the fight a draw at 38-38 as does judge Beal. But we are overruled by judge McEvoy who sees it 39-38 and Thrasher who has a shut out, 40-36, for the winner by majority decision, Isaac Johnson. Johnson is now 2-0 in his professional boxing career while Medina drops another fight falling to 2-9.

In the featured bout Rubin Santos took on MMA crossover Dylan ‘The Rooster’ Oligo in a four rounder at bantamweight. Both fighters were in tip top shape and came to fight.

The first round is close, but Santos takes it on aggression. Santos lands a nice body shot that carries the round. He is letting his hands go and landing as much as he misses. In the second Oligo looks to be more aggressive, but, it’s short lived and he goes back to jabbing and trying to counter. Santos is pressing the action of the fight, coming forward and throwing combinations. A four piece combo and a hard left hook win him the round on the RMB card.

Oligo has his best round in the third, he starts aggressive and has some success. He eventually settles back into his counter punching mode and lets Santos back into the round. Santos lands a lead right hand that stops Oligo in his tracks and may have swung the round to his favor. More of the same in the fourth as Santos is now walking him to the ropes and throwing combinations. Oligo is all heart and he is doing his best to fend off the attack, he simply isn’t landing enough punches, comparatively speaking, to win the rounds. Right hands and hooks carry more weight than the jabs.

In the end Rocky Mountain Boxing scores it a shut out for Santos at 40-36 and judges ringside see the 3rd round for Oligo, understandably, and score it 39-37. Regardless of the scoring, the correct man had his hand raised and that’s what’s important.

Santos gets his first win as a professional, 1-3 while Oligo drops his second pro bout, 0-2.

Jeff Cisneros and Sparta Combat League knocked their first boxing show out of the park. All of the video’s and interviews for the lead in, insured the sold out show. Cisneros has already got his next boxing date secured and it will be Saturday February 6th at the Island Grove Center in Greeley, Colorado, with tickets going on sale Monday.