Dominic Salcido Scores KO In Cali

ONTARIO, CALIF.-Rialto’s Dominic Salcido ignored Julian Rodriguez’s weight advantage and knocked out the Mexican fighter in the first round at the Doubletree Hotel on Friday.

Salcido could have postponed the fight due to Rodriguez’s extra five pounds but he accepted the fight against the Juarez, Mexico fighter as a test of his own skills before a sold out crowd.

“I thought about it but it didn’t really bother me,” said Salcido (12-0, 7 KOs) of Rodriguez. “I just want to step up in class.”

From the opening bell Salcido proved too quick for Rodriguez (15-14-3) in the lightweight contest. He cornered the tough Mexican fighter and fired a three-punch combination that dropped him to his knees in an awkward position. Referee David Mendoza stopped the fight at 1:44.

“It was a body shot that hurt him,” Salcido said. “I’ve been working on body punches a lot with my coach.”

Since signing a promotional contract with Thompson Boxing Promotions, who promoted the event, Salcido has slowly stripped away the rust from the previous two years and looks like the promising junior lightweight experts saw when he became a professional.

“My goal is to be 16 and 0 so then I can get to show my ability on television,” said Salcido.

In a 10-round flyweight bout between two San Diego fighters, Benji Garcia’s eclectic style proved puzzling and frustrating for Sergio Espinoza (14-3-1) in winning a close but entertaining split-decision.

A knockdown by Garcia (12-8-3) in the third round proved the difference in the scoring. The judges scored it 95-94 for Espinoza and 95-94 twice for Garcia.

Ron Hurley (1-1-2) can’t seem to grab any kind of luck. Despite a first round knockdown of Oxnard’s tough Miguel Reza (3-2-1) with a left-right combination, an accidental cut forced a stoppage after the round concluded. Reza’s bloody left eye forced referee Lou Moret to stop the featherweight fight and rule it a technical draw. It’s the San Jacinto fighter’s second draw within a year.

Santa Barbara’s Anthony Ramos (1-2-1) captured his first pro win with some stinging punches against Pomona’s Gus Torales (4-3) in a four-round junior welterweight contest. The judges scored it a split-decision 40-36, 39-37 for Ramos and 39-37 for Torales.

Another Pomona fighter had better luck as Ivan Stovall (8-1) stopped Michigan’s Anthony Cannon (4-5) with about a dozen body shots. Referee Moret stopped the super middleweight fight at 2:29 of the first round.

Heavyweight Jam Williamson (1-0) of Anaheim knocked down William Jackson (0-4) twice with right hands. First, a right hook from a left-hand stance dropped Lancaster’s Jackson during the first seconds of the opening round. Later, an overhand right crumbled Jackson for good at 2:02 of the first round. Referee Mendoza officially stopped the fight.