Panin and Saakyan Victorious on the All Star Boxing Card in Montebello

MONTEBELLO, Ca.-Celebrities galore showed up to watch the All Star Boxing card including a few former world champions on Saturday. But it was a night of prospects and future contenders.

Vlad Panin (6-0, 5 KOs) sought his third consecutive knockout at the Quiet Cannon in front of former world champions in attendance like James Toney and Paul Banke, but found his opponent Luis Norambuena (3-3-1) uncooperative in his pursuit in front of a noisy crowd of more than 600.

Panin, a 23-year-old native of Belarus, was the taller and younger fighter but found Chile’s Norambuena a sturdy foe with an awkward style who punched without a set stance. He was an octopus of flailing blows that provided cover against incoming fire.

Veterans like Toney and Banke probably saw an immediate solution but the youngster Panin found it difficult to find an opening for his own pinpoint bombs. Though he connected in the sixth and final round with left hook that stopped Norambuena’s charge, it was not enough to put him to the floor. It merely wobbled the shorter fighter from Talca, Chile. After six rounds two judges scored it 59-55 and a third 60-54 all for Panin.

During intermission a music act featured singer Baby Girl Eileen and emcee N Dub and another singer who excelled in Spanish language singing.

Following the brief intermission the fight action returned.

Local welterweight Arthur Saakyan (7-1) carefully out-boxed Virgil Winfield (2-2) of North Carolina to win by unanimous decision after four rounds. Saakyan (pictured) used his jab and feints to keep Winfield off balance throughout their encounter. Few punches were landed but Saakyan, 23, was effective with the left jab,  a punch that jolted Winfield early in the fight.

Saakyan is trained by Dean Campos who formerly trained former super welterweight world champion Sergio Mora. He also trains top light flyweight Seniesa Estrada considered the top female prizefighter in California.

Jose Martinez (1-0) made his pro debut a good one with a third round knockout over Anthony Torres (0-5) in a fiery super bantamweight clash. Martinez’s brother lost earlier in the fight card but Jose Martinez managed to pound out a victory with a barrage if blows that forced referee Raul Caiz to halt the fight at 1:35 of the third round. Martinez fights out of East Los Angeles.

Ikeem Abdullah (2-0) nearly floored Anthony Zender (1-2) with a body shot in the first round but after that the going got tough. Zender proved able to adapt against the taller and faster Abdullah but could not get past his defense. Abdullah was declared the winner by unanimous decision after four rounds in a super lightweight match.

Mike Sanchez (5-0) was the winner by unanimous decision over Stockton’s Percy Peterson (3-14-3) in a super featherweight clash that started slowly. Sanchez, 22, fights out of Colton, California.

David Angeles (1-0) defeated Alejandro Martinez (0-1-1) by unanimous decision after four rounds in a super featherweight match.

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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