Raul Curiel and Diego De La Hoya Victorious at Commerce Casino

uCOMMERCE, Ca.-Almost ritualistically Raul Curiel won by knockout in December and this time Brad Solomon was the victim in a regional welterweight title fight on Saturday.

Curiel (12-0, 10 KOs), a former Mexican Olympian training under Freddie Roach, proved too daunting a task for Solomon (29-6), a veteran gate-keeper in a fight that lasted a mere two rounds at Commerce Casino.

Not even chin checker Vergil Ortiz could knock Solomon out in such quick fashion. And once again Curiel had gathered another December knockout. His last fight took place a year ago and ended in knockout.

Curiel is more boxer-puncher than hunter-killer, but when he unleashed a left uppercut and overhand right combination, down went Solomon and he could not get up at 44 seconds into the second round.

“I felt that punch” said Curiel, 27, about the impact of his blow.

Now Curiel hopes to begin a busier pace than what he’s experienced. In five years, he’s fought only a dozen times.

In the co-main event Diego De La Hoya (24-1, 11 KOs) returned and nearly stopped Jose Santos Gonzalez (23-11-1) early in the fight, but the fellow Mexican fighter survived. In the eighth round the fight was stopped early due to an accidental head butt closing Gonzalez right eye. California rules sent the fight to the judges and the technical decision favored De La Hoya 80-70 on all three cards.

De La Hoya had knocked down Gonzalez in the third and fifth round, but the fight resumed. De La Hoya was in complete control but tired from trying to end the fight early.

“It was a complicated fight,” De La Hoya said. “But a win is a win.”

Other Bouts

Super middleweight Aaron Silva (11-0, 8 KOs) remained undefeated with a knockout of Alan Campos (18-7, 12 KOs) at 2:24 of the fourth round. A four-punch combination did the job in the battle between Mexicans.

Jousce Gonzalez (14-0-1, 12 KOs) survived a brutal super lightweight clash with Mexico’s Ivan Cano (26-11-2) and won by decision after 10 rounds. Gonzalez endured dozens of head butts, elbows and other infractions and received a cut over his eye from one of the butts.

Gonzalez, who won by scores of 98-92, 97-93, and 97-93 was sent to the hospital for observation and treatment for his eye.

Female champ returns

Former undisputed welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus (37-2) returned to the prize ring after nearly two years and needed a few rounds to rediscover her timing and defeat Argentina’s Marisa Portillo (19-16-3) by unanimous decision after six rounds.

Fighting at super welterweight, Braekhus looked slightly bigger and admitted feeling heavier for the first two rounds. Then the zip returned to her blows and they began to come faster and harder.

No knockdowns were scored but Portillo was willing but out-gunned by the former pound for pound champion.

Braekhus, 41, said she plans to challenge the current super welterweight world titlists in the near future.

Also

Angel Vazquez (12-0, 6 KOs) won a unanimous decision over Nick Sullivan (6-1) in a 6-round lightweight clash.

Ricardo Quiroz (12-1, 6 KOs) defeated Martin Leon (15-2, 10 KOs) by unanimous decision in an 8-round lightweight bout.

Greg Morales (14-1, 8 KOs) defeated Diuhl Olquin by unanimous decision in a 6-round featherweight contest.

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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