LA Fight Club and Estrella TV Celebrate Their One Year Anniversary with a Red Carpet Event & an Action Packed Night of Boxing at The Belasco

By Anthony “Stacks” Saldaña (At Ringside)
Photos By Cynthia “Cindy Lou” Saldaña (At Ringside)

Friday night the Golden Boy Promotion series of the LA Fight Club kicked off National Hispanic Heritage Month, as well as celebrating the one year anniversary of partnership with Estrella TV. The Red Carpet was rolled out for international television stars and Golden Boy Fighters. Fight fans who tuned in to Estrella TV or were in attendance were treated to an exciting Mexico Vs Puerto Rico main event between Antonio “La Joya” Gutierrez, 21-2-1, 9 KO’s of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico as he took on Manati, Puerto Rico’s, Jorge “The Destroyer” Melendez, 28-7-1, 26 KO’s in a 10-round middleweight bout. Gutierrez came out in spectacular fashion landing flush jabs and quick combinations, but the second round seen Melendez hurt Gutierrez with a heavy over hand right sending Gutierrez to the canvas. Gutierrez beat the count and throughout the rest of the fight stood toe to toe with Melendez. Gutierrez hurt Melendez several times in the later rounds but was never able to put him away.

After 10 solid rounds of boxing the judges gave Gutierrez a unanimous decision victory with the scores of 97-92 (Twice) and 96-93. After the fight Gutierrez stated “These Mexico versus Puerto Rico fights are always a war,” I came in knowing we were going to go the distance. He was a tough opponent, and he made me fight for this win. I came out with more Mexican pride in my heart, and I am glad that I was able to provide a good show for the fans.

In the co main event Southern California fan favorite lightweight prospect Christian “Chimpa” Gonzalez, 14-0, 12 KO’s from Buena Park battled Johnathon Corrales, 8-3-2, 2 KO’s from Ciudad Morelos, Baja California, Mexico. Gonzalez went to work as soon as the bell rang landing vicious combinations early and often, dropping Corrales in the first. Corrales beat the count and eventually made it out of the round. The second round was much of the same with Gonzalez flooring and hurting Corrales, this time forcing the referee to step in and stop the bout at the 1:57 mark of the second round. “It feels really special to fight at LA Fight Club. I was on the first edition when they first opened LA Fight club, and I love fighting here,” said Christian “Chimpa” Gonzalez. “With every fight, the game plan is to go for the knockout, and I was glad I was able to get it with this fight.” with the victory Gonzalez moves to 15-0, 13 KO’s

To open up the televised portion of the night is Undefeated Lightweight prospect, Oscar Duarte, 7-0-1, 4 KO’s of Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico took on Rafael Reyes, 7-8, 6 KO’s of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico in a 4 round lightweight bout. The 20 year old Duarte who recently signed a promotional agreement with Golden Boy Promotions was back in the ring only two weeks after coming off a big 1st round knockout victory over Omar Garcia. This match-up was the complete opposite of Duarte’s last fight, as Duarte had his hands full. Duarte and Reyes battled toe to toe for all four rounds with Reyes and Duarte each landing solid blows to the face and body of each other. In the first Duarte caught Reyes with a powerful right hand dropping Reyes. Reyes made it out of the first, but Duarte seemed to stay one punch ahead of the battle tested Reyes as rounds two, three, and four were very hard to score. Both fighters never took a step back and pushed forward the whole time in this action packed Lightweight fight.

After four wild round all three judges had it by the score of 38-37 in favor Duarte. “He was a tough fighter, and I’ve learned a lot,” said Duarte. “I knew he was going to get back up after he hit the mat, and I was ready to finish all four rounds. I am going to take a small break before I hit the ring again, and I am excited to hit the gym and train hard to keep up my undefeated record.” Duarte moves to 8-0-1, 4 KO’s.

Also on the card was Golden Boy prospect Lamont Roach, JR., 11-0, 3 KO’s, from Washington DC as he battled Marcos Rorzoco, 28-19, 14 KO’s, from Mexico City, Mexico, in an 8 round super featherweight fight. Roach, JR. came out firing on all cylinders and took complete control of the fight in the 1st round landing heavy shots to the head of Rorzoco and dropping him after landing a huge right cross that buckled the knees of Rorzoco sending him to the canvas. Lamont went on to knock down Rorzoco in the 2nd and in the 3rd before the fight was waived off by referee at the :07 second mark of the 3rd. “I spar with world champions, former world champions, and everyone else in-between,” said Roach, JR. after his fight.

“I knew Macias was tough since he had fought for world titles before in his career, making me enter the ring even more cautious and even more determined. I knew my punches were breaking him down at the beginning, and it was going to be a matter of time before I knocked him out.”

Other bouts include:

Edgar Valerio, 7-0, 4 KO’s Vs Emmanuel Castro, 2-2, 2 KO’s, (4 Rounds) Featherweights, Result: Valerio 4rd round Technical Decision, due to an accidental headbutt, Valerio moves to 8-0, 4 KO’s.

Tenochtitlan “T-Dog” Nava, 2-0 Vs Juan Bryand, 1-4-1, (4 Rounds) Featherweights, Results: Nava wins by knockout victory in the 3rd Nava moves to 3-0, 1 KO.

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