Cali’s Josesito Lopez Beats Venezuela’s Patrick Lopez

ONTARIO, CA-In the toughest test of his career Riverside’s Josesito Lopez pulled out a victory by split-decision against Venezuela’s strong southpaw bomber Patrick Lopez on Friday in a junior welterweight bout.

“It was a tough fight and tough to score,” said Lopez (24-3, 14 KOs).

In a battle of Lopez’s it was the local fighter who knocked down the knockout puncher to pull away on two judges scorecards and keep his place in line among the junior welterweights before a sold out crowd at the Doubletree Hotel.

Previously the Riverside fighter had fought at the junior lightweight and lightweight division, but this year had problems making the 135-pound limit. In this fight Josesito Lopez moved into the 140-pound junior welterweights and faced a boxer known for knockout power.

Throughout the eight rounds both fighters tangled legs and held, it was not until the third round when the Venezuelan fighter began focusing on the body and scored with resounding blows.

By the fourth round the South American boxer was finding the range for his power punches and scoring heavily. Then he became too enthusiastic and was caught by a perfect counter right hand that dropped him for the count.

“I knew he was going to come in with some wild punches, it was a matter of time and I caught him,” said Josesito Lopez. “I knew I had to dig down deep.”

Both fighters went back and forth carefully. It was not until the knockdown that one fighter pulled ahead. But neither fighter felt he had the fight won.

“He had an awkward style,” said Patrick Lopez (15-2, 10 KOs), who hails from Caracas. “Though I was knocked down, I felt I won five and lost three rounds.”

One judge Lou Filippo scored the fight 76-75 for the Venezuelan boxer.

“I’d like a rematch so I can win easier,” said Patrick Lopez.

Riverside’s Lopez said his 50 rounds of sparring with WBA lightweight champion Edwin Valero, a Venezuelan southpaw, prepared him well.

“It’s the reason I won this fight,” said Josesito Lopez. “I would definitely give him a rematch.”

Matchmaker Alex Camponovo of Thompson Boxing Promotions said he’s eager to make a rematch in the summer.

“I would make it in a heartbeat,” said Camponovo.

Semi-main event

Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera (10-0, 5 KOs) bedazzled Puerto Rico’s hard-hitting William Correa (8-3, 8 KOs) with another display of extraordinary defense and precision combination punching. A flurry of punches ended the fight for a technical knockout win.

Riverside’s Herrera boxed carefully for the first two rounds, using his jab and finding holes in Correa’s defense. The Boricua had eight wins all by knockout so Herrera took his time until some stiff jabs and a barrage of blows snapped The Puerto Rican’s head several times backwards as he lay on the ropes. Suddenly, the defensive-minded Herrera unleashed seven punches, forcing referee Lou Moret to stop the fight at 2:39 of the fifth round for a technical knockout.

Prelims

Undefeated Abraham “Chamaco” Lopez (7-0, 6 KOs) knocked out Miami’s Daniel Lorenzana (4-5-1) with a left hook to the liver. Referee Jack Reiss counted out the Floridian at 1:05 of the second round in a featherweight fight. Lopez fights out of La Puente.

Carson’s Danny Hernandez (5-0, 3 KOs) out-slugged Hesperia’s Kadaphi Proctor (4-3-1) in a four round lightweight contest and won by majority decision. There were no knockdowns but each landed some explosive blows. The judges scored it 38-38, 39-37, 40-36 for Hernandez.

El Monte’s Ricky Duena (1-1) won his first pro fight in a close decision against Rancho Cucamonga’s Erick Garcia (3-1-1) in a welterweight bout. Duena, a southpaw, needed a counter left hand in the second round to convince the judges and he won 39-36, 38-37 twice.

San Manuel Casino results (Thurs. April 16)

Former WBO junior lightweight champion Mike Anchondo 28-2, 19 KOs) returned to the ring after a two-year hiatus and took a decision against Tulare’s Hector Alatorre (15-7, 5 KOs) in a junior welterweight fight.

“I’m going to fight probably at 130 or no more than 135,” said Anchondo about his future weight division. “I’ve been humbled. There’s no glamour working at a Home Depot or a car dealership. I missed it.”

Rhonda Luna (15-1-1), a former high school teacher, won a six round decision against San Antonio’s Elizabeth Villareal (5-8-4) in a junior lightweight fight. Luna was the aggressor for most of the fight. Villarreal tried to counter punch and did good work in the last 30 seconds of each round. But the judges favored Luna 60-54 twice and 58-56.

L.A.’s Aaron Martinez (9-1-1) landed the more effective punches against Colton’s Freddie Barrera (10-3-1) to take a six round junior welterweight bout 59-54 twice and 58-55.

San Bernardino’s Artemio Cruz (3-1, 3 KOs) survived a first round knockdown from a Brent Rodriguez (1-1-1) left hook and knocked him out in the second round with a left hook to the body and a right cross to the head in a junior welterweight contest.

Oceanside’s Marcus Dickerson (4-0-1) won by unanimous decision against Pomona’s Jay Horton (4-2-2) in a four round heavyweight bout. All three judges scored it 40-36.

Richard Ellis (4-1) of L.A. won by decision over Stockton's Francisco Andrade (0-2) by scores 40-36 in a lightweight fight.