Liz Quevedo Wins by TKO and Josesito Lopez Wins Again

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA-Riverside’s Josesito Lopez sustained two foul shots to the groin but that didn’t stop him from rolling through Nicaragua’s Octavio Narvaez and in a female bout former amateur star Elizabeth Quevedo grabbed her first pro victory at the Irvine Marriott on Thursday.

Stepping up in class once again, Lopez dominated most of the eight rounds but when Narvaez (13-4, 8 KOs) was pummeled in his own corner he resorted to cup shots that sent the Riverside fighter down in a heap. Referee Tony Crebs deducted a point.

The lightweight fight was resumed but Narvaez found the groin shot once again available and down Lopez went again. Crebs deducted another point.

“The second time was intentional,” said Lopez. “I thought it wouldn’t affect me but it did in the later rounds. Usually I finish stronger.”

Though Lopez landed punishing shots throughout the eight rounds he was unable to knock down the veteran.

“He was a crafty fighter,” said Lopez (20-2, 12 KOs) who won by unanimous decision

Lopez may fight another contender soon. His management team plans to lead him to a world title fight within next year.

Female bout

After eight years as one of the country’s best female amateur fighters, Quevedo stepped into the ring against Fresno’s Danielle Christiansen and uncorked years of frustrations with the first volley of punches. A left hook to the body nearly ended the fight in the first round.

“I got a little excited,” said Quevedo who fights at the junior welterweight division. “I saw she was hurt. But I didn’t want to get wild. I wanted to look professional in my first pro fight.”

Referee Tony Crebs looked at Christiansen who was in her fifth pro fight and let the fight continue though she was battered in the first round.

“It looked like the referee was going to stop it in the first round,” said Robert Luna, who trains Quevedo. “I told Liz that the body shot hurt her.”

For three rounds Quevedo seemed to land lefts or rights at will. Though the punches seemed to affect the Fresno fighter, she continued. During the middle of the second round a cut above the left eye opened on Christiansen, but still the fight continued.

At the end of the third round it was apparent that Quevedo had built up an insurmountable lead. The ringside physician Richard Castanon advised that the fight be stopped for a technical knockout for South Gate, California’s Quevedo.

“It felt great to be in my first pro fight,” said Quevedo, who was a four-time U.S. National amateur champion. “I felt a lot lighter without the headgear and all of the other stuff. Even the gloves are lighter.”

The 22-year-old Quevedo said she now knows what fighting professionally is all about.

“There’s just a special feeling,” said Quevedo. “She was a very strong fighter. She never quit.”

Promoter Roy Englebrecht said Quevedo exceeded expectations.

“She just may be too good,” Engelbrecht said. “Nobody is going to want to fight her.”

Vallejo’s Dario Castillo (2-2) captured a four round majority decision over San Bernardino’s LaVelle Nichols (2-6-1) in a welterweight contest. There were no knockdowns. The judges scored it 40-36 twice for Castillo and 38-38.

In a heavyweight contest Oklahoma’s Eric Fields (5-0) captured a unanimous decision over Lancaster’s Cornell Davis (4-10) after four rounds 39-37 twice and 40-36.