Puerto Rico’s Javier Flores Upsets Mexico’s Angel Ruiz in SoCal

ONTARIO, CALIF.-Anytime you place southpaws against each other expect a big bang.

Puerto Rico’s Javier Flores (15-2, 13 KOs), a left-handed slugger, walloped Mexican southpaw Angel “El Relampago” Ruiz (16-1, 12 KOs) with a knockout win in front of a near sold out crowd on Friday, Oct. 18, at the Doubletree Hotel.

It was not expected.

Ruiz walked in undefeated with a large crowd of support and departed with knowledge that whenever two southpaws clash you can expect the guy with a right hook to be victorious.

During the first round the speedy Ruiz was lighting up combinations on Flores who calmly bided his time with single punch counters. But the few counters that landed, including a short right hook, spelled doom for Ruiz.

Lefty versus lefty causes problems because they seldom fight each other. And when they do, it’s the right hook that is always unexpected. Things were going smoothly as the Mexican fighter unleashed torrid combinations against Flores who covered up in the first round.

Ruiz was filled with confidence in the second round and began opening up with even more combinations. Flores seemed more animated and exchanged with the Mexican fighter. Both exchanged once again and suddenly Flores connected solidly with a right hook and down went Ruiz. He was counted out by referee Jerry Cantu at 2:02 of the second round.

Flores calmly celebrated his win and was later congratulated by Ruiz. It was an explosive end and the crowd departed in awe at the sudden ending.

Other Results

George Acosta (8-1) pinned Mexico’s Roberto Almazan (9-13) against the ropes for most of their six round lightweight bout to win by decision. Whittier’s Acosta kept the pressure on Almazan who was content to be the counter-puncher and suffered the consequences. Though Acosta never really hurt Almazan he scored by simply being more aggressive. All three ringside judges scored the fight 60-54 for Acosta.

Local fighter Alec Zavala (4-0, 3 KOs) opened up in the first round with a four-punch combination that included a left hook to the body and knocked out Mexico’s Carlos Apodaca (3-14-2) at 1:02 of the round. It was the third knockout so far in the Eastvale super lightweight fighter’s career.

A high volume punching lightweight clash saw Canada’s Golden Garcia (11-0-2, 6 KOs) and Mexico’s Hector Garcia (14-7-3, 8 KOs) battle for six torrid rounds ending in a draw. Both fighters had their moments with the Mexican lightweight landing the harder punches earlier and the Canadian taking over the middleweight rounds with accurate combinations. But the fighter from Tijuana opened up with combinations of his own to convince all three judges to score it 57-57 a draw.

Ivan Zarate (1-0) scored a big knockdown in the first round over Mexico’s Neri Garcia (1-9) and that proved the difference in the four round super bantamweight bout. An overhand right floored Garcia but he rallied to win two rounds against Zarate who was making his pro debut. The younger brother of Isaac Zarate was able to escape with a decision win by scores 38-37 on all three judge’s cards.

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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