29 year old local product David Lujan and Dallas’s Kyle Fincher
(0-2) started off the fight card with wild aggression much to the fans liking.
The first two rounds went the same way with both fighters taking turns of
backing the other into the ropes and teeing off. When the one throwing got
tired the other would take his turn to flurry with power shots with many of the
shots landing cleanly. Both fighters looked dazed and in serious trouble on
many occasions. The back and forth action appeared even and it was difficult to
give one fighter the edge over the other as both would have their spots. The 3rd
round started off the same with Fincher starting the round by getting the best
of it. When Lujan took his turn a right hand changed the course of the fight in
a sequence that proved to be the end of the fight for Fincher at 1:14 of the
third round. With the win David Lujan made his pro debut a successful one by
growing to 1-0.
Dallas’s Ring of Hope pugilist Carlos Martinez 140.25lbs
started out quickly in his pro debut by firing off fast jabs and using movement
to trouble 0-2 Lewisville fighter Wilbert Mitchell 141.25 lbs. Mitchell changed
strategies and started to step inside of Martinez’s longer range with right
hands and left hooks which derailed the strengths of Martinez for the remainder
of the fight. The first round appeared to go to Mitchell on the account of the
cleaner punching but could have gone either way. The 2nd round saw
both fighters having their moments by landing clean shots in the middle of the ring
but in the end Mitchell seemed to outwork Martinez. The 3rd round
started to see Mitchell more dominant by backing Martinez into the ropes on
several occasions. With the scent of his first win in the air, Mitchell
consistently applied close pressure and continuously hit Martinez with clean
hooks and right hands. In the end the fight went the 4 round distance with the
judges awarding a majority decision to Mitchell by scores of 40-36 (2X) and
38-38. It is interesting to note that the pair were originally contracted to
fight on March 1 until a licensing paperwork misstep took Martinez out of the
fight.
Cody Perez 169.5 lbs of Fort Worth started the fight with
wild aggression as he charged Louis Webster 172.25lbs also of Fort Worth at the
start of the bell and did not stop until he bumped into Webster and fell to the
canvas. The trip to the canvas was appropriately ruled a slip. When the fight resumed
things went the same way with Perez backing Webster into the ropes and landing
most of what he threw. Webster whom spit his mouthpiece assumingly to give
himself a break appeared to be on the verge of quitting when an overhand right
landed square on the chin of Perez to end the wild but short affair at 49
seconds into the first round. With the win Webster goes to 2-1 while Perez falls
to 0-3.
Fort Worth’s Alexander Lopez 135.25lbs whom just turned 18
rose his record to 3-3 in his second fight inside a 30 day period with a clear
cut 40-36 (3X) decision over Wichita Falls native Robert Reyes 137.25lbs who
falls to 2-2-1NC. All four rounds went the same way with always seemingly
posing Reyes taking sporadic flurries without responding. This was the first
fight for Reyes in 2 ½ years.
In the Co-Main Event San Antonio’s Jorge Suarez moved to 6-0
and picked up the Texas State Title and something called the NABU Championship
in an 8 round decision over 10-9 Dallas fighter Larry Smith in a bout contested
in the Welterweight Division by scores of 78-74 (2X)-78-75 and . Smith started
fast by using his reach and straight right hands to stall the advancing Suarez.
The second round was closer as Suarez started to let his hands go and
connecting with right hands in a round that seemingly went to Smith. The third
and fourth rounds saw Suarez starting to change the pace with occasional
combinations and clean right hands toward the end of the round which seemingly
stole both rounds. The remainder of the fight looked the same with Suarez
dictating the rounds with right hands and combination punching along the ropes against
the visibly tired Smith. Smith made a last stand late in the final round in a continuous
exchange between both fighters but wasn’t enough to take the round or the
fight. With the win Suarez looks to fight by the end of the month in San
Antonio. Suarez should be proud of picking up the titles and deservedly so. Not
as a nock to him but to this new NABU title, where do these titles come from?
Rumor has it that this one has come from a former Louisiana journeyman fighter
posing as “the President” of this prestigious sanctioning body who acts as an
agent of sorts for journeyman fighters out of his home state. Word has it that
the “President” had to bow down to his “Board of Directors” to charge the local
promoter an additional $500 dollars on top of the sanctioning fees for this
bogus belt after the “President’s” fighter did not get on the card due to them
not accepting any of the opponents. The riddiculist grows……………….
The 10 Round Main Event for the Texas State and the
previously mentioned NABU Middleweight titles ended with a valiant effort from fighter
turned promoter James “Boogie” Freeman in a points loss to Angel Sigala of
Arlington by scores of 98-92 (2X) and 99-91. The first 3 rounds saw Angel
Sigala landing the cleaner and stiffer shots against the tough as nails
Freeman. The fourth round saw “Boogie” come into his own and charge up the to
this point silent hometown crowd by landing several combinations. The fifth
round looked the same but with Sigala coming on later in the round with solid
straight punches. The remainder of the fight saw the rounds close but all in
the favor of the ever improving Sigala who extends his record to 8-2.
The fight was attended by about 1,000 people at the Kay
Yeager Coliseum in Wichita Falls and presented by Boogie Promotions. It is
admirable of Mr. Freeman to take a competitive fight like this in front of his
hometown contingency when most would have brought in someone much less skilled.
That is a testament to his courage and fighting spirit. His promotion was first
class and had the local population excited through a barrage of television and
radio coverage. The fighter’s family was extremely efficient and hospitable
while the matchmaking was even. By far one of the best local yocal fight card
experiences in my years of attending fights.
