Michael Dutchover Wins in Corona on the Thompson Boxing Card

Michael Dutchover Wins in Corona on the Thompson Boxing Card

Under stifling heat and new health restrictions, a trio of prizefights were staged in the city of Corona, California, by Thompson Boxing Promotions on Sunday afternoon.

It was the first time in 20 years the Southern California company that groomed Tim “Desert Storm” Bradley, Mauricio Herrera and Danny Roman held a pay-per-view boxing card.

Fans worldwide were able to see three of its new star products at work.

Michael Dutchover (14-1, 10 KOs) discovered quickly that Jorge Marron Jr. (18-2, 6 KOs) was not a prototypical Mexican fighter and made the necessary adjustments to dig out a victory and re-enter the victory column by unanimous decision after eight rounds in a lightweight match.

“This wasn’t just the most important fight mentally, but physically,” said Dutchover whose last fight was a loss to Thomas Mattice back in September 2019. “Every fighter wants to stop it with a spectacular KO but also I wanted to work on some things.”

What he worked on was targeting the body against the very elusive Marron whose southpaw style and head movement did not allow Dutchover a sitting target. But once the Texas lightweight altered his sights toward the body, the points started to mount.

Marron had his moments especially with his counter-punching tactics. A few times the son of Mexican promoter Jorge Marron was able to snap back the head of Dutchover but not enough to put him down. But he had many moments.

Dutchover realized quickly that pressuring the slippery Marron and using a body attack mixed with head shots was the best mode of attack. But the lack of fans proved puzzling at first for the fighter from Midland, Texas.

“I landed a couple of clean shots and I was waiting for the oohs and ahhs and nothing happened,” Dutchover said.

After eight rounds one judge saw it 80-72 and two others 78-76 all for Dutchover.

“Everybody knows 135 is a packed division. My last fight didn’t come out like I liked. Hopefully this catapults me to the top of the division,” he said.

In another lightweight battle, a big question was answered by big lightweight Ruben “Ace” Torres (13-0, 11 KOs) who stopped Oscar Bravo (25-10) with a blistering attack to win by knockout in the sixth round. It was a clash that featured a young gunslinger against a veteran warhorse.

Torres’ performance answered many questions.

Bravo arrived with experience in facing some of the toughest fighters in the lightweight division and walked in with venerable trainer Joel Diaz at his side. Only one other fighter had ever stopped Bravo and that was two years ago against another undefeated fighter.

With a reported seven-inch height advantage Torres moved around smoothly, not allowing Bravo to set his feet. The taller fighter shot out jabs and fired combinations up and down at the crouched Bravo.

Behind a tight guard Bravo moved in with his head into Torres’ chest trying to smother any blows from the big lightweight. For two rounds both fighters fought in close with Torres landing crisper short blows while Bravo tried connecting with overhand rights.

“For starters, he was shorter. We already knew he was going to throw those overhand and try and catch me with it. I knew he was going to come with it,” said Torres.

As distance began opening up between the two fighters, Torres seemed more comfortable firing at range and began connecting with three- and four-punch combinations. Bravo fired back with his own five-punch outburst in a very close third round.

Torres opened up the fifth round with a lightning five-punch combination and that was met by a Bravo four-punch combo. Both fired back and forth when the opportunity arose but Torres fired double jabs and closed with a shot to the body and a left uppercut that wobbled Bravo. Torres continued the assault and had Bravo looking to find a more comfortable position. Torres connected again with big blows to the body and head. It was his best round.

In the corner Bravo’s team worked hard to prop up their fighter. A visit by the ringside physician was not comforting to their corner.

Torres opened the sixth round with a left uppercut and two more blows to put Bravo in reverse mode. Bravo fired a big right and left trying to stop the rushes from the taller fighter, but it did not work. Torres resumed his pinpoint attack and followed up with two big blows to the body. Referee Ray Corona stepped in between the fighters and stopped the fight giving Torres the win by knockout at 1:43 of the sixth round.

“He only had one loss by knockout, but we were able to catch him later in the rounds for the knockout,” said Torres, 22, who scored his fourth consecutive knockout win. “He had that poker face…he was walking through them and taking them.”

Torres thinks he’s ready for the other more notable contenders in the lightweight division.

“I’m taller than all these guys. I’m at the same age as these guys,” he said. “This is history in the making.”

Other Bout

Arnold Dinong (7-0) hustled his way to a unanimous decision over Brandon Cruz (6-2) after six rounds in a featherweight battle that featured height versus speed.

Dinong was able to use his quickness to jump out ahead quickly against the taller Cruz, but soon the edge dwindled when the jabs began shooting out from the San Diego fighter.

Cruz began firing three-punch combinations that bothered Dinong who made adjustments and used his quickness to out-punch the taller fighter toward the end. After six rounds the three judges scored it 58-56 and 59-55 twice for Dinong.

“Cruz is a great boxer, he is very tall and lanky fighter. I wasn’t expecting him to brawl but he did. What worked best was working my boxing. I’m more of an inside boxer but my jab worked well,” said Dinong. “Cruz was no stepping stone so this will help me climb into the rankings.”

Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel 

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE