Hogue, Maldonado win at ‘Rumble on the Rez’
Twenty-eight all-action bouts fill Isleta Boxing Club card

Ringside report by Trevor Trujillo

“The Rumble on the Rez” hosted by the newly-formed Isleta Boxing Club drew over 600 people last night to the Isleta Recreational Center. The 28-bout t event ended just before midnight and featured fighters from all over New Mexico.

In the first bout of the evening, 60-pounders Isaac Perez of Perez boxing and Juan Texachua of Los Tigres Boxing squared off. Perez fighter exhibited an awesome one-two combination throughout the bout and came away with the win.

In the 65-pound division, Luis Maldonaldo of TNT Boxing and Juan Renteria of Las Cruces PAL stepped into the ring. Luis showed heart, but the taller and stronger Renteria was the clear victor.

At 73 lbs., Sergio Madrid of Los Aguilars and Angel Tarin of Hobbs’ The Works, faced each other. Madrid’s southpaw stance was not a factor for Tarin, whose stinging hooks blasted through Madrid’s defenses earning him the win.

In another 60-pound bout, Francisco Tewaheftewa of Isleta boxing took on Ty Huring of TNT Boxing. Both fighters came out of their corners throwing fire, but it was the footwork and stiff punches of Huring that made him the victor. 

In the 75-pound division, Christian Garcia of Van Buren Warriors and Israel Fresquez of Barron Boxing went to battle. Garcia displayed good movement, but Fresquez’ hard punches proved to be too much, as he won the bout.

Alex Garcia of Sigala’s and Zachary Jacquez of Bloomfield Boxing faced each other in the 80-pound division. Jacquez came out of his corner like a firecracker, but the straight punches of Alex Garcia doused the flame as he came away with the win.

In another 80-pound bout Eric Reyes of Martinez boxing and Rudy Vigil of Bloomfield boxing met in the ring. Reyes sent Vigil to the corner for a standing 8-count in the second round and ran away with the fight.

In the 83-pound division Cruz Abeita of Isleta boxing and Irvin Texachua of Los Tigres Boxing squared off. Irvin displayed good boxing skills, but the faster and harder hitting Cruz Abeita proved to be too much. Abeita was light on his feet and worked with four and five punch combinations to the body and the head of Texachua. Abeita would come away with the win.

At 117 lbs. Angel Portillo of Las Cruces PAL met with Omar Rangal of San Juan Boxing. Round one was all close range boxing, with Portillo working Rangal against the ropes. When Rangal came out of his corner for round two he was a completely different fighter. Rangal unleashed a blizzard of long range bombs against Portillo, who, now bleeding from his nose, went back to close range boxing, attempting to take the long range power away from Rangal. At the end of round two, the tide had shifted. Rangal again dominated and outhustled Portillo in round three to won the bout. 

In the first four-round bout of the evening Jesus Correa and Timothy Meeks, both at 165-pounds, went to battle. There was a clear height advantage between the two fighters as Meeks towered over Correa, but his reach was not a factor as the quicker and harder-hitting Jesus Correa connected with solid punches throughout all four round punishing Meeks.

At 90 lbs., Andrew Abeita of Isleta Boxing and Carlos Medina of One Nation Bloodline met in the ring. The two young fighters went to work early trading shots, but it was Abeita who landed cleaner shots and outboxed the taller Medina.

In the first female bout of the evening, Michelle Lente of TNT Boxing took on Angelica Sanchez of Taos’ Los Tigres club. The bout was all Sanchez, landing clean hard shots through all three rounds. Lente put on a gutsy performance, but it was Sanchez who dominated and walked away the victor in the 110-pound bout.

At 85 lbs., Chris Suire of Los Aguilars faced off with Valente Ruiz of Barron Boxing. These new fighters show tremendous heart as they threw non-stop punches through three rounds, but it was the cleaner shots of Ruiz that won the fight.

In the 90 pound class, Brendon Jones of 11^th. Street Gym faced Marco Martinez of Bloomfield Boxing. These young fighters left it all in the ring, Jones scoring a knockdown in round two would prove to be the deciding factor as he edged Martinez.

Halfway through the card, fighting at 118, Misael Lozoya of JSC Memorial took on Johnathan Tapia of Team Tapia.

Name sound familiar?

With good reason, the son of former world champion Johnny Tapia stepped into the ring to the roar of over a hundred supporters. Lozoya, however was not shaken by his cheering section as in round one he began to punish young Tapia. In round two, Tapia came out of his corner with more fire, but the constant pressure and precise punches of Lozoya quickly extinguished the flame, and by round three, Lozoya owned the fight. Judges all scored for Lozoya.

After a short intermission Victor Hernandez of Van Buren Warriors met Anthony Gutierrez of Team Tapia to battle for the 112-pound trophy. In the best fight yet, both Gutierrez and Hernandez left nothing in the ring, and both fighters let their hands go; Hernandez landing multiple shots per confrontation, and Gutierrez landing at least one hard shot.

The blood coming from Hernandez’ nose was only fuel to the fire for both fighters. Round three was another slugfest, Hernandez coming at Gutierrez landing combinations, moving laterally and Gutierrez landing a few hard shots. At the end of the fight it was announced that the decision had been made in favor of Hernandez. The Tapia supporters erupted in anger and the Gutierrez’ corner began throwing their bottles in towels into the ring. Had this been a professional fight, it would have gone to Gutierrez who landed harder shots,  but the poise, straight punches, and hustle of Hernandez earned him the fight.

After order was restored, Julio Gomez of TNT Boxing and Brandon Salazar of Sigala’s came to the squared circle for battle in the 108-pound class. Salazar showed he is a game fighter, but it was Julio Gomez’ speed, and agility winning the fight.

At 105, Dacia Werito of Bloomfield Boxing and Selena Valencia of Martinez Boxing squared off. Werito never tired, and showed tremendous heart, but the taller Valencia made quick work of her foe.

In one of the hardest hitting fights of the evening, Mike Gallegos of Albuquerque PAL took on Gary Sanchez of Las Cruces PAL in the 150-pound weight division. Both fighters came out of their corners with destruction on their mind. Gallegos, the faster of the two began laying leather in Sanchez’ face. Round two, however was a different story, with Gallegos receiving a standing 8 early in the round. Sanchez, now finding his target with a big left hand had gained some confidence, but also burned a lot of fuel. Round three was all Gallegos, with Sanchez staying on the outside more, avoiding the quicker jab of Gallegos. The fourth and final round was all Gallegos, pushing the action and landing precise shots. Gallegos would be the one exiting the ring victorious.

The 147-pound bout between Jordan Otero of Isleta Boxing and Camden Jumayan of One Nation Bloodline lasted less than one minute with Jumayan winning by doctor’s stoppage in round one.

In the final female bout of the night Teller Hogue of Albuquerque PAL and Rita Martinez of Las Cruces PAL, both at 120 lbs, faced each other. Hogue began and ended the fight aggressively, but it was the one-two combinations, crisp punches, and standing 8-count in round two that made Martinez the clear victor.

In the most exciting fight of the night, two 155-pound Isleta fighters from different camps stepped into the ring. Devon Jojola of Isleta Boxing and Manuel Eastman of TNT boxing came to brawl.

There is no love lost between these two and the both left it all in the ring. A taller Eastman came out of his corner in the first round the aggressor, throwing first and throwing multiple punch combinations. The wide punches of Eastman would prove to be his downfall as Jojola returned fire with a stiff left that rocked Eastman. With a new respect for his competitor, Eastman slowed his pursuit. Jojola began to display his superior footwork and landed a thundering right hand squarely against the side of Eastman’s head. The crowd erupted as a slowed Eastman returned to his corner.

In round two Jojola found his rhythm, using head movement and a one-two combination to work inside on Eastman. When the fighters went to their corners Eastman had a stream of blood coming from his nose. Round three was a war. Eastman came out looking for a home run, but the head movement and footwork of Devon Jojola sealed the deal as he outboxed Eastman early and continued to dominate to get the win.

Josh Milam of San Juan boxing took home the 155-pound trophy as his opponent, after Oscar Saavedra of Barron Boxing pulled out.

In the 200+ weight division, Mark Martinez of Hobbs, The Works made quick work of TNT Boxing’s Jamie Eastman. Three standing 8-counts in the opening minute of the bout warranted the stoppage.

At 125, Jarron Espinosa of One Nation Bloodline was stopped early in the first round by Leo Arrelleno of Eddie’s Boxing.

Ivan Gonzalez of Hobbs’ The Works faced William Griego of Eddie’s Boxing in a 137-pound southpaw bout. Early in the first round Gonzalez rocked Griego with a big right hand, this wake-up call was all Griego needed, as he ran away with the bout. Stinging body shots and multiple punch combinations won the fight for Griego. As he left a stiff body shot for Gonzalez as a parting gift at the end of the fight.

Maldonado wins co-main

In the co-main event, Fidel Maldonado of TUFF Boxing faced Elias Chavira of Hobbs’ The Works in a 140-pound event. The taller Chavira began the fight throwing lunging jabs, with little effect as Maldonado easily avoided the lethargic attempts. The southpaw Maldonado began to drop bombs on Chavira in the end of the round. The round came to a close with Maldonado holding his hands on the side of his body dodging Chavira’s combinations exclusively with head movement.

Round two consisted of Maldonado taunting Chavira. Holding his hands at his hips, smiling at Chavira, and standing motionless begging for Chavira to throw a punch. Chavira was more than happy to press the action, but few of his punches had any effect.

Round three was more of the same with Maldonado toying with the lengthy Chavira. In the fourth and final round Maldonado put more pressure on Chavira, who returned fire. The two exchanged in the middle of the ring, Maldonado landing big shots. It was a gutsy performance by Chavira, but Maldonado came away with the win   

Hogue puts on clinic

The 28^th bout of the evening came at around 11:45 pm and pitted two southpaw fighters, Jazzma Hogue of Albuquerque PAL against Aaron Fernandez of Bloomfield Boxing. Fernandez showed a ton of heart, but it was a three-round boxing lesson by Hogue. Hogue punished Fernandez’ body and sent him to his knees multiple times.