Connect with us

Articles of 2010

Riverside’s Larkin Wins Title; Santana Wins Too

Published

on

RIVERSIDE-Riverside’s Lorenz Larkin and Brazil’s Giva Santana skillfully outmaneuvered their opponents in winning MEZ titles on Friday in a mixed martial arts and pro boxing mixed card.

A big crowd numbering well over 2,000 at Riverside Convention Center saw a local MMA fighter Larkin win his first title and an older veteran Santana use his grappling skills to submit a defensively inclined opponent. A few boxers made big crashes too.

Larkin lost his opponent earlier in the week but promoter Craig Zimmerman was able to find someone in Hector Carillo of Orange County.

News of Zimmerman’s speed and power standing up have made the rounds in Southern California so when Carillo opened up the first round of the light heavyweight title fight he went straight for the take down. It wasn’t happening.

Larkin nimbly avoided Carillo’s hard charges and kept the fight at a distance. Punching gingerly at Carillo for two minutes of the first round a sudden high leg kick to the head caught Carillo hard on right side of his head and down he went. Larkin pile drived a blow that landed and referee Jack Reiss stopped the fight at 2:57 of the first round to win the MEZ light heavyweight title.

“This is my first pro title,” exclaimed Larkin. “It feels good to win it here in Riverside.”

In the MEZ middleweight title fight it was Santana (15-1) utilizing his jujitsu skills to keep Fresno’s Anthony Ruiz (25-15) on defense. Though known as the “arm collector,” it was no secret that the Brazilian was hunting for yet another arm bar, but Ruiz guarded well against it but was manhandled on the ground. Finally, at 4:37 of the second round, Ruiz left an arm for Santana to grab while in a scramble and he took it to force a submission.

Long Beach’s Saunders (8-1) ground and pound his way to victory over Palm Desert’s Jorge Valdez (4-1) to win the MEZ Pandemonium lightweight title. For three rounds it was Saunders taking down Valdez who tried vainly for some holds to no avail. A cut from an elbow strike forced Valdez to submit at 3:21 of the fourth round.

Alta Loma’s Brandon Bender (7-0) and Murrieta’s Mike Palo (4-1) battled with kicks to open the title fight but a quick take down by Bender after a powerful kick changed things quickly. Bender caught Palo in a triangle choke and submitted him in 2:11 of the first round of a featherweight fight.

MMA prelims

Dana Point’s Ian McCall (8-2) used his sharp kicks to score early against Westminster’s Jeff Willingham (16-14-1) then took him down in the first round. From there it was ground and pound until referee Jack Reiss stopped the bantamweight fight at 2:17 of the first round.

L.A.’s Jared Carleston was taken down by Moreno Valley’s Chris Manzo but turned it around on the ground and grabbed him in a triangle choke at 2:08 of the first round to force a submission.

Monrovia’s Daniel Hernandez and Santa Ana’s Ozzy Avalos clashed immediately with both looking for take downs. Hernandez avoided a rush from Avalos and applied a guillotine choke to force a submission at 45 seconds of the first round.

Boxing prelims

East L.A.’s Jaime Ocegueda won his pro debut with a knockout win over Mexico’s debuting Sylvanio Reyes after two rounds. Ocegueda, who trains in at the very successful Commerce boxing gym, immediately exchanged left hooks with Reyes and landed his first. Down went Reyes who was battered but survived the first round. In the second round it was more of the same until a perfectly placed left hook caught Reyes bending down and out he went at 1:06 of the second round. Referee John McCarthy called the knock out.

Whittier’s Alex Luna scored his fourth knockout in four wins by stopping Mexico’s debuting Miguel Nava at 2:17 of the second round. Nava kept his guard up and tried to keep Luna from landing but it was a losing cause. A right hand by Luna (5-0, 5 KOs) pierced Nava’s guard and down he went for another knockout win for the Whittier boxer.

L.A.’s Arron Robinson (6-2-2) caught Burbank’s Johnny Suarez (6-5-2) early with a long right hand but was unable to follow up. In the second round Robinson kept a better distance and landed a long left hook and a right hand that dropped Suarez who beat the count and held. Robinson followed up with another long left and right that had Suarez teetering. Referee John McCarthy wisely stopped the fight at 59 seconds of the second round.

San Bernardino’s Juan Sandoval (2-5) was probably not picked to win against Fontana’s debuting Robert Figueroa (0-1) but proved it only takes one punch to turn things around. A left hook to the body and a right to the head followed by another left and right to the head dropped the Puerto Rican fighter for a knockout at 1:37 of the first round of a featherweight bout.

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Boxing-Notes-and-Nuggets-from-Thomas-Hauser
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Boxing Notes and Nuggets from Thomas Hauser

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles3 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 Articles3 weeks ago

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

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

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

Hiruta-Bohachuk-and-Trinidad-Win-at-the-Commerce-Casino
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Hiruta, Bohachuk, and Trinidad Win at the Commerce Casino

David-Allen-Bursts-Johnny-Fisher's-Bubble-at-the-Copper-Box
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

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

Italy-Mourns-the-Death-of-Legendary-Boxer-Nino-Benvenuti
Featured Articles4 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 Articles3 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 Articles3 weeks ago

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

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles2 weeks 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 Articles2 weeks 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 Articles2 weeks ago

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

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles1 week ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles1 week ago

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

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

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

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles1 week ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

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

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles4 days ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles7 hours ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles1 day ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles4 days ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles1 week ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles1 week ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles1 week 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 Articles2 weeks 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 Articles2 weeks 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 Articles2 weeks 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 Articles2 weeks 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 Articles2 weeks 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 Articles3 weeks 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 Articles3 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 Articles3 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 Articles3 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 Articles3 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 Articles3 weeks ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

Italy-Mourns-the-Death-of-Legendary-Boxer-Nino-Benvenuti
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Italy Mourns the Death of Legendary Boxer Nino Benvenuti

Boxing-Notes-and-Nuggets-from-Thomas-Hauser
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Boxing Notes and Nuggets from Thomas Hauser

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending