Highly regarded pro featherweight boxing prospect Samuel Flores, of Ogden, (photo above) scored his second win with an impressive wearing down of veteran Jesus Marin, of El Paso, Texas.
It was via a TKO very late in the fourth and final round. After a close first round that arguably could have gone to Marin, 1-7, Flores, 2-0 took control of the bout, each round getting more one-sided. It looked as if the durable Marin - who has fought very tough competition and was not stopped in his previous bouts - was going to last the distance. But Flores landed a strong body shot that visibly hurt Marin and backed him into a corner. Several punches later, the bout was stopped at 2:43 of the round. Both Flores wins are by knockout.
The semi main was a four-round junior middleweight rematch between Sandy, Utah's Bobby Tabile and Ogden's Eligio Hernandez Jr. Their first fight was a war - both possess equal skills and talent - and this fight was again action-packed. The judges gave Tabile, 5-0, another narrow win via majority decision over Hernandez, 1-3. (Above are two photos. Hernandez is in the red, white and green trunks.)
During the bout Hernandez was more aggressive with Tabile counterpunching well. With no disrespect intended to the judges or Bobby Tabile, who is a talented boxer, this bout should have at least been called a draw. Utah Fight Game scored it 39-38 for Hernandez but a draw would also have been appropriate. If there is a rematch it'd be interesting to see it scheduled for five or six rounds.
Another intriguing bout matched cruiserweights Shon Cross and Zack Partridge, both from the Salt Lake area. (These are two of the nicest guys in the Utah combat sports scene.) Partridge has successful experience in MMA and bareknuckle boxing, but this was his debut in boxing. Cross came in 1-2 as a pro. Partridge had a good first round, but the taller, methodical Cross begin rallying in a close second round. Cross dominated the final two rounds as Partridge tired, particularly in the final round. The fight was a majority draw, with one tally at 39-37 for Cross, which is also how Utah Fight Game scored the bout. Despite Cross' strong finish, calling the first two rounds for Partridge is not way out there. A rematch seems likely, but again it'd be interesting to have it five or six rounds.
Super lightweight prospect Dillan Nguyen, 3-0-1, took a unanimous four-round decision over debuting Joshua Jose Rivas, 0-1. Rivas showed good skill for a fighter making his pro debut, but was overmatched by the more experienced, aggressive Nguyen, who seems a good prospect. Utah Fight Game scored bout 40-36 for Nguyen.
Nineteen-year-old welterweight Jose Angel Mata had a successful pro debut, knocking out Jeremiah Rodriguez, 0-1, in 80 seconds. Mata pressured his opponent for 70 seconds and then scored a two-punch combination that ended it.
In a junior welterweight rematch, Emmanual Aldair Gonzales Secion, 3-0, stopped Zaden Clark, 0-3, who had to retire after round two. Clark landed occasional shots, but Gonzalez Secion was in control, damaging Clark's ribs in round two.
William Wirthlin, 0-2, was willing and aggressive but lacked the technique and resilience to hold off better boxer Darien Orvin, 1-0. After a competitive first round, Orvin opened up and ended the middleweight bout at 1:16 of round two.
The Golden Spike Exhibit Hall at the Ogden Fairgrounds was filled on Saturday night for the card. Ring announcer Destiny McCubbin interviewed former U.S. pro boxing champion Jose Haro during an intermission. Haro suggested a comeback might be in order, but perhaps it was tongue in cheek. Haro had the crowed laughing after he suggested that his wife might be amenable to the idea if he regained "six-pack abs" on his body.
The entire fight card results, with links to each fighter, are here. Photos are from Tommy Presnell.
-- Utah Fight Game
