Connect with us

Articles of 2006

Percival Decisions Cravens at San Manuel

Published

on

HIGHLAND, Calif. – Fontana’s Heather Percival finally got her wish and emerged victorious in a scrappy six-round junior bantamweight contest against New Mexico’s Tonia Cravens at San Manuel Casino on Thursday.

Cravens (2-3-1) raced out swinging like a human windmill against Percival (8-2) who calmly moved and jabbed out of range. It was the boxer versus the brawler once again in a junior bantamweight showdown.

In her last fight Cravens met another Inland fighter Kaliesha West. Both fought on the inside and rarely allowed more than a few inches to separate them. Not in this fight. Percival used the ring to keep a steady two foot distance that allowed her to keep her at arm’s length.

“I saw her fight before, I knew I had to box her,” said Percival, 23.

But Cravens is no quitter. She raced after Percival firing blows as if hitting a speed bag. By the fourth round the formula repeated itself with Percival calmly firing one-twos and moving out of range as Cravens hurled herself toward her opponent with little concern for her own safety.

“I thought I won,” said Cravens, who switches from southpaw to conventional. “I thought I landed the straight right hand.”

From the onset, the New Mexico fighter took the aggressive road by flinging punches in bunches as Percival circled around. On several occasions she connected, but Percival, while not as prolific in the punch output, fired and landed many counterpunches. It was these that the judges favored rather than the flurries offered by Cravens.

“I knew she was going to box,” said Cravens, who stood a few inches shorter than Percival. “I saw her fight against Teri Cruz so I knew what to expect.”

Rocky Stapleton, who co-trains Cravens, felt the judges missed the call.

“What do we have to do to get a decent decision,” said Stapleton. “Tonia was the aggressor the whole fight.”

Percival suffered a cut over her left eye in the final round from a probable headbutt. Her trainer Larry Ramirez said the cut came in the last minute.

“She was coming in with her head,” said Ramirez of Cravens. “It was accidental, but I wanted Heather to move her head side to side so she wouldn’t get cut.”

During the last 30 seconds a cut emerged on Percival.

“She can’t fight for 60 days now,” said Ramirez disappointingly.

The judges scored it 60-54, 59-55, 58-56 for Percival. The crowd favored the ‘safety last’ fighting of Cravens.

“Next time we’ll make it eight or 10 rounds,” said Stapleton. “We definitely want a rematch with Percival.”

Cravens nodded in agreement.

“Heather is a good boxer, but I felt I did more than enough to win,” Cravens said. “But she is a good fighter.”

Percival smiled after the decision was announced.

“I know there’s people here who think she won the fight because she was very aggressive,” Percival said. “My whole plan was to box her. Some people don’t like to see boxing, they like to see brawling. That’s ok.”

In other bouts:

Inglewood’s Calvin Odom (15-8, 12 KOs) upset Chicago’s Luciano Perez (13-5, 12 KOs) by forcing referee Tony Crebs to halt the bout in the seventh round of a scheduled ten- round bout. Perez suffered a badly swollen eye midway through the fight and was being pummeled by Odom. Though he fought back valiantly, Perez could not offset the handicap.

Junior middleweight David Banks (9-0-1) scored a unanimous decision over Abdias Castillo (9-16) after six rounds.

Maurice Louishome took a split-decision over Bob Marthaller in a light heavyweight bout 55-59, 58-56, 58-56.

Inglewood’s Jonathon Embry (4-2-1, 3 KOs) won by technical knockout when New Mexico’s Tim Means suffered an injured left wrist at 2:17 of the second round of a cruiserweight contest.

In a welterweight bout, Rodrigo Mosquera (1-0) of East L.A. won his pro debut with a unanimous decision over Miguel Ortiz (1-1) of San Antonio.

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Thomas-Hauser's-Literary-Notes-Johnny-Greaves-Tells-a-Sad-Tale
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Thomas Hauser’s Literary Notes: Johnny Greaves Tells a Sad Tale

Boxing-Notes-and-Nuggets-from-Thomas-Hauser
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Boxing Notes and Nuggets from Thomas Hauser

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-Top-Rank-and-San-Diego-Smoke
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: Top Rank and San Diego Smoke

Late-Bloomer-Anthony-Cacace-TKOs-Hometown-Favorite-Leigh-Wood-in-Nottingham
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Late Bloomer Anthony Cacace TKOs Hometown Favorite Leigh Wood in Nottingham

Argentina's-Fernando-Martinez-Wins-His-Rematch-with-Kazuto-Ioka
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Argentina’s Fernando Martinez Wins His Rematch with Kazuto Ioka

Emanuel-Navarrete-Survives-a-Bloody-Battle-with-Charly-Suarez-in-San-Diego
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Emanuel Navarrete Survives a Bloody Battle with Charly Suarez in San Diego

Sam-Goodman-and-Eccentric-Harry-Garside-Score-Wins-on-a-Wednesday-Card-in-Sydney
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Sam Goodman and Eccentric Harry Garside Score Wins on a Wednesday Card in Sydney

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles1 week ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-A-Hectic-Boxing-Week-in-LA
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: A Hectic Boxing Week in L.A.

Hiruta-Bohachuk-and-Trinidad-Win-at-the-Commerce-Casino
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Hiruta, Bohachuk, and Trinidad Win at the Commerce Casino

David-Allen-Bursts-Johnny-Fisher's-Bubble-at-the-Copper-Box
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

David Allen Bursts Johnny Fisher’s Bubble at the Copper Box

Italy-Mourns-the-Death-of-Legendary-Boxer-Nino-Benvenuti
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Italy Mourns the Death of Legendary Boxer Nino Benvenuti

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles1 week ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles6 days ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles1 week ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles2 minutes ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles2 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles4 days ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles6 days ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles1 week ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles1 week ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles1 week ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

Italy-Mourns-the-Death-of-Legendary-Boxer-Nino-Benvenuti
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Italy Mourns the Death of Legendary Boxer Nino Benvenuti

Boxing-Notes-and-Nuggets-from-Thomas-Hauser
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Boxing Notes and Nuggets from Thomas Hauser

Hiruta-Bohachuk-and-Trinidad-Win-at-the-Commerce-Casino
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Hiruta, Bohachuk, and Trinidad Win at the Commerce Casino

David-Allen-Bursts-Johnny-Fisher's-Bubble-at-the-Copper-Box
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

David Allen Bursts Johnny Fisher’s Bubble at the Copper Box

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-A-Hectic-Boxing-Week-in-LA
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: A Hectic Boxing Week in L.A.

Sam-Goodman-and-Eccentric-Harry-Garside-Score-Wins-on-a-Wednesday-Card-in-Sydney
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Sam Goodman and Eccentric Harry Garside Score Wins on a Wednesday Card in Sydney

Thomas-Hauser's-Literary-Notes-Johnny-Greaves-Tells-a-Sad-Tale
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Thomas Hauser’s Literary Notes: Johnny Greaves Tells a Sad Tale

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending