Gonzalez On Track For Title Tilt

By Roy Marquez
Photos By Marlene Marquez

Mexican fighters love to throw the left hook.  Mexico City junior featherweight Jhonny Gonzalez is no exception.  The former WBO bantamweight world champion used the left hook to dominate Mauricio “El Indio” Pastrana before stopping him with a barrage of punches at 2:32 of the fourth.   “I’m very happy with this win”, said an exuberant Gonzalez through an interpreter following the fight.  “One more fight and then I want a shot at any of the champions at 122 lbs. or 126 lbs.”

Gonzalez (38-6, 32 KOs) started slowly in the first but picked up the pace in the second.  Gonzalez looked to load up on the hook and punish Pastrana to the body.  In the third Pastrana (34-9-2) found a home for his straight right.  Gonzalez countered the right with a hook to the body, apparently unfazed by Pastrana’s power. 

A Gonzalez triple left hook brought the fans to their feet at the end of the third.  In the fourth Gonzalez paired his left with a right cross.   The combination weakened Pastrana and readied him for an uppercut that put him on the seat of his pants.  Up by eight, Pastrana was driven into the corner by a Gonzalez left hook.  Gonzalez pummeled the wounded fighter until referee Ray Corona stepped between the combatants to stop the fight.  “He caught me with a great shot”, explained Pastrana, a former three division champion.  “He is a former world champion and he has a great future.”                   

Anthony Villareal ducked under a probing right jab and then exploded over the top with a left that floored Jaime Gutierrez near the conclusion of the second round.  It was a move Villareal (8-2) used repeatedly to land telling left hands against his southpaw opponent. 

Gutierrez (3-2) made an adjustment in fourth round yet still had his mouthpiece dislodged by a Villareal left.  After four rounds of flyweight action the scorecards favored Villareal 40-35, 40-35 & 39-36.

Michael “Lil Warrior” Franco’s first round body attack softened bantamweight Benito Abraham and set him up for the knockout that was to follow.  “I throw at the shoulders and the body”, said Franco.

“Not a lot of people do it, but it slows them down.”  In the second a Franco (11-0, 8 KOs) left hook wobbled Abraham moments before a straight right sent him to the canvas.   When the bout resumed Franco jumped on Abraham and floored him with a left hook to the body. 

Abraham (10-5, 6 KOs) beat the count but was unable to continue.  The end came at 2:59 of the second round.         

In a matchup between 122 pounders, Antonio Escalante looked a full weight class larger than New Mexico’s David Martinez.   Escalante (18-2, 10 KOs) was also the bigger puncher as he opened a gash along Martinez’ left eye early in the second round. 

A series of Escalante hooks put Martinez (18-4-1) in jeopardy in the third.  Referee Raul Caiz hovered over the action sensing Martinez was in peril. Upon absorbing an upper cut-hook combination Martinez took a knee to clear his head. 

Though he rose to his feet referee Caiz waived off the contest.  Escalante proved too strong for Martinez, stopping him at 2:08 of the third.     

Coming off a two year layoff, Daniel Cervantes (10-0-1) dominated journeyman Alex Perez over four rounds on route to a unanimous decision victory. 

The triumph was Cervantes’ first at welterweight, having fought previously at lightweight and junior welterweight.   In defeat Perez dropped to 23-28-4.    

Junior welterweight Javier Castro (16-2, 13 KOs) dropped Ramon Guevara (8-16-2) three times in the first round on his way to a knockout victory. 

Guevara was victimized by the Castro left hook; he was unable to avoid it and incapable of standing up to it.   Referee Raul Caiz counted out Guevara at 2:32 of the first.   

Featherweight Eduardo Escobedo improved to 21 wins against 3 losses when Javier Cintron retired in his corner prior to the start of the second round.   In the first Escobedo knocked Cintron around the ring and had him in trouble at the bell. 

Cintron (14-10-2) stumbled back to his stool where he informed his corner he was unable to continue.   Escobedo is looking for another title shot having lost his first opportunity to WBO super bantamweight belt holder Daniel Ponce De Leon last December.