ringside report
by chris cozzone
The
crowd was somewhat sparse, the lighting was, as always, awful, and the
main event’s opponent was last-minute, but Frankie Archuleta certainly
took care of business Friday night at Sky City Casino.
Oswaldo
Guerrero, now 27-17-2, never had a chance.
From the opening
bell, Archuleta tore into this poor little vato, smacking him
from every angle and every conceivable punch known to Pugilism.
Guerrero spent his time, backing up, trying to cover up, and taking
punishment from the determined Archuleta.
It was nothing
like the first time they met, a year ago, when Frankie won an 8-round
decision in a tune-fight that resembled a sparring session. But, at
least in that fight, Guerrero fired back on occasion. This time, he
never had a chance against a fast and furious Frankie.
Guerrero was
Opponent #4: He’d accepted the fight on two days notice, after former
world champ and 69-fight ring veteran Victor Rabanales was unable to
board a plane out of Mexico City. Rabanales, in turn, had replaced
Isidro Tejedor, who couldn’t make weight; and Tejedor had
replaced John Lowey, who bailed out and figured retirement was a
better idea than a fight with Frankie.
Surprisingly,
the NABA allowed the title fight for the vacant superbantamweight belt
to continue, nevermind that Guerrero had lost his last 11 fights.
After the fight,
Archuleta said any remaining ring rust had been shaken in those 2-plus
rounds. In March, Archuleta had taken on Emmanuel Lucero on Showtime
for the WBC Continental Americas title, losing a unanimous decision
and hitting canvas three times. Lucero, though, was down in the first
round and was nearly out.
One thing is for
sure: if Archuleta had fought even half as aggressively as he did
against Guerrero, Lucero never would’ve made it out of the 1st.
Then again, Lucero had been aggressive whereas Guerrero wasn’t.
Archuleta, now
22-2-1 (14 KO’s), picks up the vacant NABA 122-pound title—a belt held
previously by friend and former stablemate Andres Fernandez. A title
defense (against a Tejedor or Rabanales-type contender) could happen
in August.
Guerrero, who
was pulled off the suspension list to fight Archuleta, suffers his 12th
straight loss. Once a helluva flyweight fighter, Guerrero has turned
into a professional beat-up bag for superbantams and featherweights.
Friday night’s TKO loss should put him back on the suspension list,
until another commission sees fit to okay a match against a heavier,
taller, stronger fighter for his 13th loss—hopefully his 13th
loss won’t be an “unlucky 13th.”
On the co-main
event, “Mad” Max Heyman (sorry guys, this nickname just sounds better
than “Hollywood” Max Heyman) debuted as a supermiddleweight. Coming
off a six-month layoff following a torn rotator cuff, Heyman showed no
evidence of rust.
Heyman dominated
his opponent in much the same way Archuleta did. The victim was
Denver’s Berry Basler who was coming off a two-year layoff. Now
13-16-1 (4 KO’s), Basler was battered about for one-plus round before
the stoppage.
Outclassing his
opponent using speed and footwork, Heyman threw a variety of punches
that staggered Basler several times in the 1st. Not long
after the first minute, a straight right hand dropped Basler. In the 2nd,
Basler was down twice before the fight was called to a halt.
Heyman, now
14-4-3 (9 KO’s) is looking at a WBC SuperMiddleweight Youth title shot
in July.
On the undercard,
Tommy Aragon (7-3-1, 4 KO’s) won a close unanimous decision over
rugged veteran Juan Aranday (5-29-1, 2 KO’s).
You never know
what Tommy Aragon is going to show up for a fight. It could be the
Tommy we saw in his early fights—turtle-mode Tommy who would hide
behind raised, gloves, then, when ready, throw these loopy power bombs
to crush his opponents; or it could be the Tommy who fought and beat
Steve Aragon, using his jab and showing skill . . . or it could be the
Tommy who fought at Isleta earlier this year—a pushing, shoving,
leaning Tommy who smothers his own punches.
That’s the Tommy
we saw Friday night against Aranday. Throwing his boxing skills and
powerful left hand away, he chose to maul and brawl with Aranday.
Aranday was more than happy to fight six rounds this way—this is
Aranday’s style, and this was nearly his fight.
While Tommy’s
aggression gave him a sliver of an edge, it was really Aranday’s dirty
tactics that had him losing the fight. After a couple stern warnings,
Aranday lost a point in the 3rd for a low blow that had
Tommy on his knees. Then, in the 5th, the “Mexican Marlboro
Man” lost another point for losing his mouthpiece—for the 3rd
time.
For most of the
fight, Aragon and Aranday fought at close quarters, trading uppercuts
and pushing, shoving each other.
At the end of
six, scorecards read 58-55, 59-55 and 57-55, all for Aragon. I had it
58-55 for Aragon. If Aranday had not fouled, the fight would still
have been Tommy’s but it would’ve been razor close.
In a good,
competitive four-rounder, David Martinez (2-0) won by unanimous
decision over Arturo Torres (0-2).
Got to admit, I
expected the first round to be competitive (which did happen,) then I
thought Martinez would destroy Torres in the 2nd (which did
not happen.)
In the 1st,
Art pressed the action, throwing more punches and trying to trap the
evasive Martinez. Most of Torres’ punches were blocked, and by the
middle of the round, Martinez was finding his range and landing the
telling, more accurate shots.
Martinez came
out strong in the 2nd, pursuing Torres and battering him
from post to post with left hooks and straight right hands. When
Torres returned fire, Martinez’s gloves were there to block.
Martinez
continued his attack in the 3rd with solid left hooks and
Torres tried to retaliate but his punches lacked steam. Art also
flirted with disaster by showboating—standing in the corner, inviting
Martinez to c’mon in. Torres’ memory proved short: in his pro debut,
it was showboating that got him clobbered to the canvas for a KO loss.
Torres might not
have won the last round, but he showed heart and a chin against
Martinez. Landing his best shots against Martinez, Torres actually
staggered Martinez a couple times. He also did a fair amount of
holding and hitting. Despite being hit more than he should’ve been hit
(by an 0-1 fighter with near-zero amateur experience,) Martinez still
controlled the action in the final round.
At the end of 4,
I had it 39-37 for Martinez. Judges scored it 40-36 x 2; and 39-37.
The opening bout
of the night had Holly Holm (2-0, 2 KO’s) kick things up with a
devastating knockout over pro debuter Terrie Carrillo.
Holm needed just
24 seconds—one good solid right hand, really—to put the overmatched
Carrillo down.
