Artemio Reyes Demolishes Mexico’s Correa In Ontario

ONTARIO-Welterweight contender Artemio “The King” Reyes Jr. crushed Mexico’s Victor Correa with a first round demolition that was never a contest on Friday. Reyes was simply overpowering.

The Doubletree Hotel hosted its first fight card of the year to a sold out crowd that saw several local stars survive some brutal and hotly contested encounters. Thompson Boxing Promotions is in its 10th year.

Reyes (15-1, 12 Kos) cooly floored Correa (12-5, 8 Kos) with a right-left-right combination that seemed to upset Correa for some reason. He got up and was met with a short left uppercut that saw the Mexican fighter shake his head disappointedly as he rose from the ground after the count. When the fight resumed another left uppercut sent Correa down like the previous knockdown. Correa seemed to grit his teeth as Reyes approached with a left uppercut and follow up right hand. Down he went face first. Referee Pat Russell waved the fight over at 2:51 of round one.

“It’s lovely to be at home. It’s amazing to come out of the tunnel to that kind of crowd,” said Reyes who returned to fight near his San Bernardino home. “I embrace it. I’m still the same guy. I’m humble.”

Reyes walked into the ring knowing his opponent out-weighed him by at least nine pounds. It didn’t matter.

“I felt strong. That’s what I need at the upper levels,” Reyes said.

Martinez-Johnson

A welterweight clash between East L.A.’s Aron “El Asesino” Martinez (16-1-1, 3 Kos) and Escondido’s Dashon “Flyboy” Johnson ended in a split decision for Martinez.

Johnson dropped Martinez with a right hand followed by flurry of blows in round two but had been deducted a point in the first round for body slamming Martinez.

From there on it was back and forth action with Martinez landing overhand rights and Johnson scoring with lead rights and hooks. Johnson seemed to turn things in his favor in rounds six and seven but the final round began with a clash of heads. Martinez emerged with a gash along his left eye and the fight was stopped 20 seconds into the final round. Judge Sergio Caiz scored it 77-75 for Johnson but Max De Luca’s 77-75 and David Denkin 78-73 for Martinez gave the East L.A. boxer the nod.

Esquivias-Landeros

Junior featherweight contender Efrain Esquivias (16-0, 9 Kos) pounded out an eight round decision over Mexico’s super tough Adolfo Landeros (20-23-2).

Esquivias slowly and effectively dissected Landeros with blows to the body and head. With quick right counters the boxer from Carson proved accurate and convincing to all three judges who scored it in his favor for a unanimous decision.

Contreras-Quevedo

In a crackerjack super bantamweight match Riverside’s Richard “The Terminator” Contreras (9-0-1, 8 Kos) survived first and second round knockdowns and rallied to a majority draw against Mexico’s Daniel “Cuate” Quevedo (13-12-2) on Friday.

Contreras was decked from a right hand after the bell in the first round and referee Jerry Cantu deducted a point from Quevedo for the illegal blow, but the Riverside boxer was badly hurt.

When the second round commenced a still wobbly Contreras was floored with a right hand. He managed to hang on but looked unable to continue. Slowly he regained his senses and mounted a counter attack.

The crowd was surprised and excited by Contreras’ ability to win several rounds against Quevedo whose last fight was against former world champion Eric Morel. Though Contreras performed surprisingly well despite two early knockdowns, he couldn’t sustain the attack in the final two rounds.

Contreras and Quevedo ended in a majority draw. Judge David Denkin scored it 57-55 for Contreras but Max De Luca and Sergio Caiz had it 56-56 even.

Other bouts

San Fernando’s Rigoberto Flores (3-1, 3 Kos) knocked out Gilroy’s Alonso Loeza (1-4-1) at 1:30 of the first round of their junior welterweight match. Flores erupted quickly with blows from all angles and never allowed Loeza to get his footing. Referee Pat Russell waited for Loeza to mount a counter attack but it never came and the contest was stopped.

Female junior flyweight Sindy Amador (7-0) remained undefeated after four rounds with Desert Springs Gloria Salas (3-7-1). Salas fought well, especially from the outside, but once Amador closed the distance she lowered her head and bore into her foe. The Riverside boxer suffered a cut alongside her right eye after one of many accidental butts. That looks to be a weakness of Amador who lowers her head too much. Salas tired in the third round after a good start and couldn’t muster enough firepower to keep Amador from rushing in. All three judges scored it 39-37 for Amador.

Young prospects Louis Rose (2-0) and Eric Prado (0-1) battled to a four round split decision of a middleweight bout. Rose of Los Angeles connected with more clean shots though Santa Maria’s Prado had his moments with several overhand rights. Two judges scored in favor of Rose.

Artemio Reyes Demolishes Mexico’s Correa In Ontario / Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel.