Solid Prospect Rios Rises To 13-0

Featherweight Ronny Rios (13-0, 6 KO’s) used his quick footwork and blistering combinations to dominate the very tough veteran Adolfo Landeros (20-17-1, 9 KO’s) of Ensenada, Mexico at the San Diego Four Points by Sheraton Hotel on Friday night. The bout was the main event of the Telefutura network program “Solo Boxeo by Tecate”.

20 year old Rios is considered by many as one of the hottest up and comers in southern California’s talent rich pool. His impressive amateur pedigree was on display from the very first round as he came out and boxed beautifully seeking to set the pace and tone of the fight.

Rios landed some blazing fast combinations in the second round as he repeatedly targeted Landeros’ body. Two more left hooks by Rios landed flush but the undaunted Landeros kept on coming.

There was good back and forth action in the third with Rios choosing to fight inside. It was then that Landeros found success by getting off some uppercuts.

Rios’ work output increased and Landeros’ marked up face started showing the effects.

The fifth was Landeros’ best round as he landed a nice variety of overhand rights and uppercuts. Rios rallied back with some clean combinations to regain control.

Rounds six and seven were all Rios as he easily dictated the pace by coming forward and landing fluid combinations. Landeros remained unshaken and landed his own. Yet it was Rios’s high work-rate that won him the rounds.

By the final round, Rios came out to finish Landeros as he hurled several hard combinations that ended with loud thuds to the body. Landeros kept coming forward, never giving up, landing some counter-shots. In the end it was a clear victory for Rios.

The scores were announced by Joe Martinez as 80-72 by all three judges.

“I got a lot of good work tonight. He’s a very tough guy and we knew that,” Rios said afterwards. “I’m happy with my performance. I learned a lot and I’ll make some changes and get even better.”

“I can’t believe how good he is for such a young fighter,” Landeros said afterwards. He should know. He’s fought some of the top prospects in the country like Michael Franco and Chris Martin.

Manager Frank Espinoza feels that Rios had a good outing. “I like what I saw. Overall it was a good win. I think Ronny is making good progress.”

Martin gets generous nod from judges
San Diego’s own Chris Martin (20-0-2, 6 KO’s) looked like he struggled at times with Colombian Yogli Herrera 22-14 (15 KO’s) but ultimately pulled of the win by turning on the afterburners in the last two rounds of a featherweight bout.

From looking at the scorecards that were handed in by two of the judges in Martins’ favor you would surmise that this was an easy night for Martin. Not so.

Herrera came to rumble and Martin looked a little surprised at the kind of fight that his opponent was putting up.

Herrera seemed to control the action in the first two rounds as he was able to outwork and outland Martin.

Martin pressed the issue a little more in the third but was met by wide swinging shots. Herrera pressed forward and Martin flicked an effective jab at his face. Herrera seemed to be out-landing Martin at this point.

Martin came to life in the fifth round as he stalked Herrera and landed some very nice body shots.

Great exchanges in the sixth as Martin increased his work rate. It was at this point that Herrera looked to be tiring out and Martin started to take control of the situation.

The hard combinations landed by Martin to the body clearly had an effect on Herrera. He teed off even more in the seventh and ended the round by throwing a hard straight right that backed up Herrera.

Martin controlled the last round with some nice boxing and solid combinations that won him the fight.

Although the scorecards read 80-72, (twice) and 78-74, it was a much closer and tougher bout for Martin than expected.

Hurley and Torres rock the Sheraton
Note to promoters: If you want an exciting fight call super-featherweight Ronald Hurley. Having seen him in action before, he’s usually involved in all-out wars.

His opponent for the night, Angel Torres, wasn’t one to sit back and take a beating so a furious battle broke out.  From the first round he came at Hurley and some great exchanges ensued. Torres landed well to the head but ultimately it was Hurley who got the better of the situation by hurting Torres with some wicked shots at the end of the round.

The second was very competitive as Torres came forward with bad intentions. Hurley boxed and got off some good shots but didn’t make use of the jab which would’ve served him well.

More great action in the third as both men let the leather fly. It was all action in the last round as both men let everything go with Hurley stunning Torres again.

The cards were 40-36, 39-37 (twice) for Hurley who improves to 5-5-2. Torres drops to 2-4-2, 1 KO.

Other action:
MMA fighter Ronald Perez stopped Federico Martinez in the second round of a junior welterweight bout.

The fights were promoted by Golden boy Promotions in conjunction with Don Chargin, Jorge Marron Productions and Bobby D. Presents.

–photo by Paul Gallegos