Seniesa Estrada Scores Fifth Consecutive KO and “Crazy A” Wins Too

HOLLYWOOD, Ca.-After a turbulent first round Seniesa Estrada turned on the after burners and delivered a savage body attack to defeat Philippines Gretchen Abaniel and score her fifth consecutive knockout on Thursday evening.

It was the first time a Golden Boy Promotions female fight was featured as the main event on a DAZN streamed boxing card.

WBC Silver light flyweight titlist “Super Bad” Estrada (17-0, 7 KOs) was making her second defense of the title and clashed heads with the veteran Abaniel (18-11, 6 KOs) in front of a sold out audience at the Avalon Theater.

“It didn’t bother me at all. Blood doesn’t faze me,” said Estrada who was cut on the side of her head from a supposed head butt.

In the opening round both clashed with a flash of blows inside and perhaps heads clashed. The exchange was furious as both found themselves tangled with each other and unable to find distance or a rhythm.

That would end soon.

The next round saw Estrada switch to southpaw. That seemed to stall Abaniel’s attack and then the East L.A. fighter began establishing a left hook as an attacking blow and a countering measure. Abaniel seemed stymied and confused. The quickness of the East L.A. fighter and her ability to hit and get out of range left the Filipina slugger waiting instead of fighting.

It would only get worse.

Abaniel’s corner admonished her to attack and forget about trying to out-think Estrada. She almost ran toward Estrada swinging with abandon until the East L.A. fighter hit her with a quick one-two. Then Estrada began targeting the body with punishing blows that drew winces from the crowd at the sound of the blows. Abaniel fought back and launched a five-punch combination. Estrada returned fire with a four-punch combination that saw Abaniel try and counter. Estrada slipped the blow and returned with a lightning quick four-punch combination at the bell.

Estrada had established her distance and rhythm and was now in full control. After several counter left hooks and counter rights, Estrada zeroed in toward Abaniel’s body and pummeled her abdomen with resounding shots. Body shot after body shot was sent to Abaniel’s body and it was apparent that she was slowing from the punishment. At the end of round four she went to her corner stool and was asked if she wanted to continue. Abaniel’s corner halted the fight. Estrada was declared the winner by knockout at the end of round four.

It was Estrada’s fifth consecutive knockout win.

“I was landing some really hard shots I had to be careful because her style makes for a really sloppy fight,” said Estrada after the fight.

Now the East L.A. light flyweight champion knows exactly what road she intends to take.

“Of course everybody knows the rivalry between Marlen Esparza and me,” said Estrada. “The fight I want is Yesenia Gomez the WBC champion. Let’s make it happen.”

Estrada has no doubt its world title or bust.

 Azat

Super bantamweight contender Azat Hovhannisyan (17-3, 14 KOs) battered Philippines gladiator Glen Porras (32-9, 20 KOs) relentlessly for four rounds until the fight was stopped.

“Crazy A” Hovhannisyan has previously fought for a world title and lost to WBC titlist Rey Vargas and was eager to prove he belongs on the big stage again. Porras, a contender also, just could not match Hovhannisyan’s speed or stamina though he did try.

After a 15-punch barrage followed by a 13-punch barrage by Hovhannisyan, the referee Sharon Sands decided she had seen enough and stopped the one-sided match up at 2:08 of the fourth round. Hovhannisyan was given the win by knockout.

“Everything is good, it was a good fight,” said Hovhannisyan who arrived with a large crowd and told everyone he wants to the champions and ex-champions. “I want TJ (Doheny) and Danny Roman and Rey Vargas. First, maybe TJ.”

A battle between two island fighters saw Puerto Rico’s Carlos Caraballo (12-0, 12 KOs) gain his 12^th knockout in 12 fights with a second round ending over Dominican Esteban Aquino (12-7, 7 KOs) in a super bantamweight clash.

From the opening bell Aquino showed no fear in opening up aggressively against the left-hand slugger. Both exchanged blows but nothing much in the first round.

Aquino was even more aggressive in the second round and during an exchange ran into a left counter by Caraballo. Aquino resumed the attack and ran into another counter left cross and down he went for the count. Referee Zachary Young ended the fight at 1:52 of the second round.

Arizona’s Cesar Valenzuela (15-6-1, 5 KOs) used a stiff jab and right cross to upset L.A’s Christian “Chimpa” Gonzalez (19-4, 15 KOs) and win by unanimous decision after eight rounds in a lightweight contest. Valenzuela was the busier fighter throughout as Gonzalez could not pull the trigger. Round after round Valenzuela connected with solid jabs and rights to the body.

Gonzalez seemed listless and unable to mount an offense despite the urgings from his corner. A Valenzuela left hook in the seventh round connected solidly and Gonzalez seemed unable to retaliate. All three judges scored the fight 79-73 for Valenzuela who fights out of Phoenix.

Two-time Olympian Bektemir Melikuziev (1-0) won his pro debut with a single power shot to knock out Argentina’s veteran Martin Rios (23-20-4, 13 KOs) in the first round of their light heavyweight match up. Melikuziev, 23, a southpaw from Uzbekistan who is trained by brothers Joel and Antonio Diaz in Indio, used a single left cross to the belly to end the night for Rios at 1:39 of the round. The taller Argentine could not beat the count.

“I wanted the toughest challenge out there,” said Melikuziev. “I went in there and took care of business.”

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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