Superfly 3 Proves a Success at Inglewood Forum

INGLEWOOD, Calif.-Fight fans clamoring for international flavor got their wish with Japan, Mexico, Philippines and Puerto Rico sending some of their best to the Inglewood Forum on Saturday.

A battle between Mexican warriors saw former world champion Juan Francisco Estrada (pictured) out-duel the taller Felipe Orucuta in an elimination bout for the WBC super flyweight world title. More than 4,000 showed up.

Sonora, Mexico’s Estrada (37-3, 25 KOs) emerged the winner by unanimous decision over Mexico City’s Orucuta (36-5, 30 KOs) but the two 115-pounders slammed each other repeatedly in the 12-round clash.

Estrada started quickly with left hooks and flashy combinations but once Orucuta established the long left jab the complexion of the fight changed drastically. Back and forth the two Mexican warriors exchanged especially in the seventh and eighth round.

One judge scored it 118-110 and the other two 117-111 all for Estrada.

“It was good to compete against a great champion. I thought the scores were a lot closer,” said Orucuta. “The atmosphere was great.”

The winner Estrada expects a world challenge next and was very satisfied with the contest.

“It’s was a good fight. Whenever you have two Mexicans in the ring you are going to have a good fight,” said Estrada. “Orucuta was taller than I am and very physical.”

It was like watching two other Mexican warriors, Carlos Zarate and Alfonso Zamora, 40 years ago in the same arena. In that fight Zarate won by knockout and a riot ensued. No riot took place on this Saturday.

Draw

In a slow moving fight Donnie Nietes (41-1-5, 23 KOs) attempt to win a third division world title was put on hold after his match with fellow Filipino Aston Palicte (24-2-1, 9 KOs) ended in a split draw. Their 12 round slow motion affair was for the vacant WBO super flyweight world title.

“Of course I won the fight. I’m very disappointed. I dealt with his height perfectly I hurt him and I controlled the fight. I wanted to unify. Now I can’t even leave the ring with my belt,” said Nietes.

Nietes seemed to be in control against the much taller Palicte but the lack of action may have allowed the fight to be in question. No knockdowns were scored and the world title remains vacant.

Ioka

Japan’s Kazuto Ioka (23-1, 13 KOs) showed little rust from a year absence to knock down and out-punch Puerto Rico’s McWilliams Arroyo (17-4, 14 KOs) and win the vacant WBC Silver super flyweight after 10 rounds.

It was an exciting slugfest.

Ioka caught Arroyo with a stiff right counter that floored the Puerto Rican fighter in the third round. The Japanese fighter began with a nonstop attack to the body and then moved it upward in the second half.

Though Arroyo had better success in the last five rounds of the fight, Ioka proved very elusive when necessary and was able to find the openings of the Boricua fighter. After 10 rounds the scores were 99-90, 97-92 twice all for Ioka.

“Very appreciative of the opportunity to fight in the US, this is exactly how I hoped it would be, the atmosphere was fantastic,” said Ioka. “The fight was exactly what I expected according to plan. I want to fight again on Superfly 4.”

Arroyo was gracious in defeat.

“A real tough fighter I thought it was a closer fight. I knew he was a top quality opponent and really showed me in the ring that’s what he is,” said Arroyo. “This was my third time fighting here against quality opponents. I look forward to more.”

360 Promotions director Tom Loeffler said that Ioka will most definitely return to the next Superfly series possibly in March 2019.

“He was very impressive especially since he had a year off,” said Loeffler of Ioka. “He was coming up two weight divisions against a tough fighter like Arroyo.”

Other Bouts

Mexico’s Brenda Flores (13-4-1) masterfully used a counter-punching scheme to out-box the constant rushes by Louisa Hawton (8-2) before a loud and supportive audience. It was reminiscent of last February when Anahi Torres handed the Aussie her first pro loss.

“I was a little afraid that because she was signed with the promoter of the fight card, that things would not go well,” said Flores. “But after every round I felt I showed enough to win.”

Though Mexican fighters are known more for being aggressive, it was counter-punches that Flores utilized from the start. And she was successful. But Hawton felt she was the winner.

“She was on the run, I had her on her back foot,” said Hawton who is a former light flyweight world titlist. “I was pressuring her every round.”

Alexandru Marin (17-0, 11 KOs) edged Bruno Escalante (17-4-1, 7 KOs) to win the IBF Inter-Continental super flyweight title by split decision after 10 rounds.

Jonathan Esquivel (7-0, 7 KOs) floored Joan Valenzuela (5-10-1) twice in winning by knockout at 1:51 of the first round in a middleweight fight. Esquivel fights out of Anaheim, Calif.

Joselito Velasquez (6-0, 5 KOs) was the winner by unanimous decision after six rounds in a flyweight contest versus Jose Alfredo Flores (6-7, 3 KOs). All three judges scored it 60-54 for Velasquez who fights out of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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