Honorio stuns Molina.

Pechanga Resort and Casino hosted a very exciting night of boxing on Saturday, November,28th.The card was promoted Goossen-Tutor Promotions and televised live by ShoBox The New Generation.

Photo by Ray Flores

Lightweight John Molina told me last week that he was willing to die in the ring and I am sure by the end of the fifth round he knew he was in a life and death struggle against a Mexican veteran Martin Honorio. So confident was undefeated Molina in his strength and ability that he forgot to box looking strictly for one big punch stocking his opponent but being very ineffective.

Meanwhile veteran Honorio used a stiff jab that bloodied Molina in the first round and lateral movement and accurate punching that included heavy body shots. Aside from that Honorio’s straight right hand found a mark on the regular basis. Round after round Honorio controlled the action with a very hard jab and kept landing hard shots battering Molina from pillar to post. Molina made it a tough fight in the latter rounds, but he could not adjust and it was a little too late. Judges scored it unanimously for Honorio: 99-91, 98-92-98-92. With the win Martin Honorio’s career is rejuvenated. Molina suffers his first professional defeat. Let’s see how he comes back.

“My guy had the flue” said Joe Goossen, Molina’s trainer, who is not known for making excuses:” Wednesday night he had sore throat.”

Photo by Ray Flores

“The weight difference was definitely a factor,” said Honorio:” I could feel his punches and it took me a few rounds to adjust.”  Honorio said he was willing to give Molina a rematch but it would have to be at a lighter weight.

Despite loosing handily and possible physical ailments, John Molina showed the heart of champion and tried very hard to win the fight especially in the latter rounds. He will be back.

Photo by Ray flores

In the first bout televised by ShoBox the New Generation super bantamweights Rico Ramos from Los Angeles and Alejandro Perez from Salinas, California met in the squared circle for an eight round scrap. After a relatively meek first round which Perez won due to activity and pressing the action, combat escalated rather quickly. Perez got more aggressive in the second and was on his way of winning a round when he ran into a short right hand and went down. Rico Ramos took control of the fight in the third and had Perez in deep trouble several times, but the Mexican warrior weathered the storm and came back with shots of his own.

Alejandro Perez made it a competitive fight in the middle rounds by continuously marching forward and trying to put hurt on his nemesis, but Rico was obviously the more talented and a faster boxer. Every time Perez backed his foe to the ropes, Ramos was more effective in a firefight. Ramos had a huge seventh round, getting his opponent in a lot of trouble landing hard accurate punches almost at will. Ramos finished the fight very strong moving and firing and hurting his brave adversary who kept marching forward displaying inhuman courage. In the end the old adage speed kills never rang more true than in this contest. Judges awarded undefeated Rico Ramos a unanimous decision with scorecards reading as follows 78-73, 80-71, 80-71. “I did well,” said Ramos, who despite a convincing victory is going to know he was in the fight: “He was very strong. I had to use my movement.” It was very good showing for Rico Ramos who showed the skills and maturity of a seasoned veteran.

In the opening bout of the evening, a four rounder in a flyweight division, undefeated Malcolm Franklin (2-0) from Rialto, California overcame a first round knockdown to out point winless Ludwin Mondragon (0-3) from Santa Ana. All three judges scored the fight the same 38-37.

The four round heavyweight attractions featuring a seven foot 325 pound giant from Los Angeles Ernest Mazyck (7-1,2KO) and Ethan Cox (2-6-1) from Long Beach was hardly an attraction as neither fighter had any idea as far as what to do in the ring and they clinched for most of the fight. Knowing the outcome of the bout was still in the balance both pugs opened up in the final stanza to bring a little excitement to the crowd. Judges awarded majority decision to the giant nicknamed Zeus. Scores were 38-38, 39-37, 39-37 in his favor. The crowd booed the decision.

In the battle of light middleweights journeymen, Charles Whitaker (35-12-2,22KO’S) from Cayman Islands stopped Chad Greenleaf (11-14-1, 5KO’S) from Wheeling, West Virginia at 2:28 of the third round with a good liver shot. Greenleaf got up but went down again right away from no apparent punch. He got up again and just as he seemingly was getting his legs under him, the corner asked the referee to end the contest.

Photo by Ray Flores

U.S. Olympian Javier Molina (3-0,3KO) had absolutely no trouble with his opponent from Mexico Miguel Garcia (0-2); he battered and bloodied him for two rounds until his corner threw in the white towel at 2:44 of the second stanza. “I should have gone to the body,” said Molina:” But my jab was working so well, so I kept using it.”