2003: Year in Review
Gallegos 'Fighter of the Year'

By Chris Cozzone

2003 will never be described as a banner year for New Mexico boxing—but it could have been worse. With little success outside the state, the year left us with unanswered questions about our top combatants.

There was also a shrinkage in action, with 15 fight cards within the state's borders, compared to 17 the year before.

But while 2003 might have had less fight cards than the previous year, with two major players of '02—Santa Ana Star Casino and Isleta—completely backing out of the game, the notable gain was the increase in promoters.

While Fresquez Productions, Inc. pulled back to six shows, down from ten cards the year before, smaller NM promoters and Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing filled the gap.

New promoters North Star Productions in Roswell and GKB Productions in Albuquerque each produced two shows; KOX had one at Camel Rock, then teamed up with Ray Sanchez, Jr. for another one at Rio Grande H.S.; and Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing held two back-to-back ESPN cards at Sandia Casino.

As always, the Sky Ute Casino, just 20 miles from the state line in Ignacio, Colo., proved to be a second home for several New Mexican fighters unable to land fights in their home state.

2003 was a year of returns, for Johnny Tapia, and again, for Danny Romero, who disappeared as quickly as he returned.

Five-time world champion Tapia (53-3-2, 29 KOs) returned from the grave early in the year following a drug overdose and a 36-hour near-death coma; returned to Albuquerque to live in the summer; then returned to the ring in September to fight a lively scrap with Carlos Contreras.

Tapia promised a few more fights and yet another world title for 2004, before hanging up the gloves.

Tapia's former nemesis, Danny Romero (44-5-1, 37 KOs) had a disappointing year. The former two-time champ started off the year turning down a rematch with WBO champ Cruz Carbajal; then pulled out of a main event fight at Sandia on a week's notice due to illness; then had a bad showing and a close fight against journeyman Trinidad Mendoza in May for the vacant IBA “world title.” Following that, he's, once again, gone MIA.

While Romero might be calling his IBA trinket his “third world title,” there was only New Mexican to achieve legitimate world championship status in 2003.

In May, Albuquerque's Adriana Delgado (10-2-1, 3 KOs) took on Kathy Williams (both rated by the top women's ABCs) for the vacant IFBA world bantamweight belt at Sky Ute, winning the unanimous decision with a powerful performance. Delgado, too, was inactive for the remainder of the year.

Early in the year, Delgado broke her ties with Fresquez, which became a common occurrence in '03. Joseph Brady pulled away from Brady in March; David Martinez relocated to Stockton, CA after nine straight wins on Fresquez cards; and, later in the year, Romero and Fresquez had a mutual break.

Fresquez recouped his losses by adding former world champion Goyo Vargas, hot prospect Cuauhtemoc Vargas, and Romero-conqueror/WBO bantam champion Cruz Carbajal to his stable.

Goyo Vargas had a great showing on ESPN, schooling Gary Balleto in Providence, RI, then dropped the ball against “Mighty” Mike Anchondo in December on HBO Latino; Cuauhtemoc remains one of the world's best prospects at 122; and Carbajal had a great year, destroying Steve Dotse in two rounds, and later in the year, Gerardo Espinoza in eight in a title defense.

Fresquez was also able to promote Tapia on a card at Tingley, in addition to bringing Albuquerque three televised cards at Telefutura, co-promoted by Don Chargin.

Another Fresquez fighter, Frankie Archuleta (22-4-1, 14 KOs), did not do too well. In his single fight of the year, he slipped out of near-contention with a sixth round TKO loss to former Olympian Rocky Juarez on a card televised on NBC. Archuleta remains on a rocky road for '04 when he takes on Tapia on yet another Fresquez card, this one in Las Vegas, NM.

Also fighting just one fight this year, and making a successful return following his sole loss was the “New Pride of Albuquerque,” Ray Sanchez III (9-1, 7 KOs).

In front of a hometown crowd at his alma mater of Rio Grande High School, Sanchez showed the fans that he's second only to Johnny Tapia when it comes to drawing a crowd.

In his first fight at welterweight, he took care of rugged Richard Ueding (6-7) in three rounds, but ended up with a hand injury that kept him inactive for the remainder of the year.

Another return—after a six-month layoff—was the “Assassin”, Joseph Brady (13-1, 6 KOs), who reappeared at Sky Ute Casino, first with an impressive knockout over “Hurricane” Earl Jackson and in the fall, a 12-round war against also-undefeated Andres “Panda” Pacheco (13-0, 6 KOs).

While showing a ton of heart in what was a close and epic battle, Brady came away from Ignacio without his WBC Fecarbox belt, and with his first loss when he was taken out with body shots with just 13 seconds on the clock in the final round.

Max Heyman (17-5-3, 10 KOs) dieted down to middleweight and tried to recreate himself under Eddie Mustafa Muhammad and after a tune-up at Sky City, he next fought in September but was knocked out by RJ Karsten.

With Tapia, Romero, Archuleta and Sanchez all fighting but once; and Brady losing to Pacheco, the honor of “Fighter of the Year” went to fighters still clawing their way out of the state scene.

Fighter of the Year

Also making a return in '03 following a loss (to Miguel “Conan” Torrecillas in '02) was Las Vegas' lightweight prospect Shawn Gallegos (10-1, 5 KOs).

Gallegos started out the year with a no-brain destruction of easily-beatable Tyree Tidwell at Sky City, then stepped it up to fight 10-1 Jacob Romero, who was making his return after several years.

Gallegos took care of Romero for the unanimous, then fought Tommy Aragon (7-6-1, 5 KOs) for the state lightweight belt in his hometown in August—another unanimous decision.

Finally, in December, he rematched Aragon, this time for the state jr. welterweight belt. While this fight could've gone either way (if not on the judges' cards, who all saw it definitely for Gallegos, then with most of us ringside), Gallegos survived Aragon's bombs for the win.

With four wins and two state belts, Gallegos is our “Fighter of the Year.”

Runners-up would have to include:

• David Martinez (10-0, 2 KOs), who fought once in Albuquerque (4-round decision over common opponent Heriberto Velasquez) and twice in Stockton, Calif—an eight-round battle over Joaquin Candelario (6-25-5) and an even tougher war & split decision win over Angel Mata (10-9).
• Johnny Tapia, of course, who defeated death and carried New Mexico yet another year.
• El Paso's Juan Lazcano (33-2-1, 25 KOs), who destroyed Stevie Johnston in 11 rounds for the #1 Contender lightweight spot.
• And both Holly Holm (6-0-1, 2 KOs) & Stephanie Jaramillo (3-1-1, 2 KOs).

Girls Got Game

Besides Adriana Delgado, who is, at present, New Mexico's sole world champ, the state's top two women welterweights are on their way into contention.

Stephanie Jaramillo opened up the year with a war against Angie Poe, then a no-brainer over untrained Mimi Falfi, then went up against cross-town rival Holly Holm in back-to-back fights at Sandia on Sugar Ray Leonard cards.

Holm started out the year in devastating fashion, losing by knockout to Trisha Hill in the early summer. Luckily, it was a kickboxing bout and the kayo does not show on her clean pro boxing record.

Holm not only bounced back from the tough loss but defeated Jaramillo in their first fight in August, with a well-earned majority decision.

And in their second fight, Holm and Jaramillo battled to a six-round draw, two months later—a fight many of us think Jaramillo won.

Former world champion Delia Gonzalez (13-10-3, 3 KOs) fought but once, against Ada Velez for the WIBA bantamweight belt, resulting in a loss by DQ.

El Paso Action

At present, El Paso beats out New Mexico for the number of fighters ready to make the jump into contention.

Cesar “El Gallito” Lopez (11-1, 4 KOs) and Alex “El Diablo” Becerra (14-2, 6 KOs) kept busy on Fresquez cards.

Becerra fought two tune-ups, then stepped up a bit against 7-2 Nelson Soto on the Tapia card at Tingley, winning a unanimous decision.

Lopez fought a tuner in March, then had a tough time against Joaquin Candelario on the Roswell card in April, and finished out the year with an easy unanimous win over Bryan Garcia (6-7) in August (they're scheduled to fight again later this month.)

Both Lopez and Becerra are rated in the NABA and NABF's top ten, as is their former stablemate Adan “El Texano” Hernandez (13-2, 5 KOs), who is taking a different route to contention against tougher opposition.

Hernandez started out the year beating Oswaldo Chavira for the Texas Miller Lite state belt; had a solid win over 17-4 Marco Angel Perez as the main event fight on a Richard Steele card in Vegas; then landed a big fight on HBO Latino against undefeated 12-0 Urbano Antillon.

Many present thought Hernandez won that fight, but judges scored it for the house fighter, Antillon.

David “Nino” Rodriguez (13-0, 13 KOs) had a record year, fighting five times, mainly against sad opposition, until November when he knocked out Tommy Connelly for the Texas state belt.

Miguel “Conan” Torrecillas (13-4, 6 KOs) managed to upset Mark Burse in Vegas, but came up short on TV when he was KO'd by Koba Gogolodze on ShoBox.

Top Prospects Stay Busy

Several New Mexicans continued to build.

Jason Bray (5-0, 2 KOs) recreated himself as a natural southpaw (rather than the forced rightie he'd been in his first 3 fights in '02), returning in Roswell to outhustle veteran Eric Holland in his first six-rounder; then destroy 10-7 Joe Hernandez at Sandia (Hernandez replaced 14-2 Elco Garcia who pulled out with less than a week's notice.)

Joaquin Zamora (4-1, 3 KOs) bounced back from his loss in '02 on both Roswell cards and a fight in Vegas, with wins over Pablo Vallin, Jaime Bretado and Ruben Aguayo.

Julio Chavez (3-0) fought twice, against unchallenging foes, then injured his hand.

Victor Barela (6-0, 2 KOs) had a near-loss in Ignacio against veteran Ruben Contreras.

“Hurricane” Hector Munoz (4-0, 3 KOs) fought three times, improving his skills and dieting down to welterweight.

Lee Montoya (4-0, 4 KOs) made yet another comeback, only to fight a last minute and ill-prepared foe in August, then disappeared again.

Lightweight Jacob Romero (10-2) came off a long layoff only to lose to Gallegos.

Espanola's Tony Valdez (5-1) fought but once, against ill-prepared pro debuter Matthew Salazar, destroying him in less than a round.

Veterans Eric Holland (22-33-3, 4 KOs) and Rudy Lovato (19-26-3, 6 KOs) continued to lose. Holland came off a two year layoff to lose to Bray; Lovato suffered his 5th straight loss in his only fight of the year against Horatio Garcia in Tacoma, Wash.

Never dull Tommy Aragon was 1-2 in '03, but nearly unseated Gallegos; Jeremiah Torres (5-4) lost in Texas to Oscar Diaz (2nd rd TKO), then to Bernard Guereca in a close fight, and then decisioned Al Salinas (3-1) at Tingley; Salinas came off a 7-year retirement to lose to Torres, then beat veteran Eugene Lopez in December; Bryan Garcia (6-7) had a great win over Jorge Lopez, then lost to El Gallito; Colbert Losoya (2-3) resurfaced to beat Oscar Castillo, then lost by body shot to Fernando Yguado (5-4, 5 KOs); and Arturo Torres (1-3) beat Mike Connolly (1-1) but lost to Ruben Contreras later in the year.

Pro Debuters

Pro-debuters include cruiserweight Mike Alderete (2-0); Yvonne Chavez (2-2); Jason Cordova (1-0); Jeremy De Los Santos (2-0); John Anthony Galllegos (1-1); Jesus Gonzalez (0-1); Martin Hernandez (1-0-1); Keith Jardine (1-0); Marc Lopez (1-0); James Martinez (1-0); Dale McCartey (0-1); Elizabeth Monge (0-2); Paul Mueller (0-1); Diego Sanchez (1-0); John Sanchez (0-1); and Liz Mathiason (0-1).

M.I.A.

Vernon Payne nearly lost to Bernard Guereca in the beginning of the year, and fell out of sight for the remainder.

Still missing: Adriano Sanchez, assumed retired; Jackie Chavez, in the gym and scheduled to return on the Roswell card in February; Brian Romero; Ceboyeta's Stevie Aragon; Francis “the King” Royal; Jayla Ortiz; and the “Goose”, Jose Ramirez.