CARSON, Calif., Sept 14, 2019 – WBO Junior Middleweight champion Jaime Munguia of Tijuana (34-0, 27 KOs) gave his Mexican and Mexican-American fans, and American admirers of Mexican boxing the entertainment they want on Mexican Independence Day weekend, delivering a fourth round knockout win over Patrick Allotey of Ghana (40-4, 30 KOs). Munguia makes a sixth successful defense of his title in front of 7,311 fans at the Dignity Health Sports Park Saturday.
Jaime Munguia celebrates with his team including new trainer and Mexican former champion Erik “El Terrible” Morales. Photo: Lina Baker, See You Ringside Photography
Now training with former Mexican champion Erik “El Terrible” Morales, Munguia says he is now learning both from Morales and his father and trainer Jaime Munguia Sr. as well. The new team hasn’t been together long enough to see any real changes, but Munguia’s offense appeared a little more measured at times – but just a little. Munguia was all about the action from the opening bell. Allotey moved nicely to prevent himself becoming a target, and got Munguia’s respect with several good shots in the first few rounds.
But once the far bigger Munguia assessed Allotey’s punching power and wasn’t getting hurt, he stepped on the gas. He still throws some wild shots that miss, but when Munguia focuses on body punches in combination, he gets the effect he wants. When Munguia could drive Allotey into the ropes and corners, he was most effective.
Jaime Munguia did his best work to the body of Patrick Allotey Photo: Lina Baker, See You Ringside Photography
Allotey stood up to the punishment fairly well at first, but as he absorbed more shots, they began to slow him down. In the third round, Munguia knocked down Allotey with a body shot. He stood up to beat referee Jack Reiss’s count witjh 40 seconds in the round. Munguia did his best to stop Allotey, and scored another knockdown at the bell. Reiss administered another count, and Allotey made it back to his corner.
It seemed Allotey’s corner might call it a day, but Allotey came out for one more attempt. Give him credit for bravery, but Munguia was too big and too hard hitting for Allotey. Munguia landed a left hook, a flurry of hooks to both sides of the head, and body shots. Allotey backpedaled and took a knee, and his corner alerted referee Reiss the fight was over at 2:18 of the fourth round.
Munguia benefits from new trainer Erik Morales
Jaime Munguia said he learns from every fighter and every fight. Photo: Lina Baker See You Ringside Photography
“I hurt him, and I thought he got on his knee to buy more time, but he was really looking to find a way out,” said Munguia.
Munguia landed 41 of 137 total punches (30 percent), while Allotey landed 34 of 84 total punches (40 percent). Munguia landed 28 power shots; Allotey 22.
Munguia said he is now combining what he’s learned with his father Jaime Munguia Sr. as his trainer in the past with his new trainer Erik Morales.”With all things, his advice, he has experience going 12 rounds,” said Munguia of Morales. He also said Morales is teaching him how to remain calm in the ring. “The training camp was really hard.
I feel really good with these people in Los Angeles who came to support me. It’s a Mexican day, and I feel good going forward,” said Munguia.
Now Munguia must decide whether to move up in weight from 154 pounds to the middleweight limit of 160 pounds. Munguia has acknowledged struggling more to make weight at age 22. He said he would discuss this with his team. “I think first I need to get to 160, but I’m ready to go. Viva Los Angeles, and Viva Mexico!”
Franchon Crews-Dezurn dedicates decision win to women’s pro boxing worldwide
Franchon Crews-Dezurn delivered a powerhouse performance in her rematch with Maricela Cornejo. Photo: Lina Baker, See You Ringside Photography
The women’s super middleweight championship title defense featuring Franchon Crews-Dezurn of Baltimore (6-1, 2 KOs) turned into a rematch with her Los Angeles foe, Maricela Cornejo (13-4, 5 KOs). One year ago, Crews-Dezurn scored an upset win over Cornejo for the WBC title. Saturday, “The Heavy Handed Diva” added the WBO belt with an even more dominant performance over Cornejo, winning the 10-round fight in a unanimous decision. Scores were 98-92 X 2 and 97-93.
Credit Cornejo for taking the fight on two days’ notice when mandatory challenger Alejandra Jimenez of Mexico (12-0-1, 8 KOs) could not enter the U.S. due to visa problems. Cornejo had the crowd on her side, and the partisan fans did what they could. But Crews-Dezurn was too powerful and too well-trained to let Cornejo threaten her.
Crews-Dezurn showed she wanted a stoppage win, trying to land roundhouse hooks early in the fight. But trainer Barry Hunter settled her down, and Crews-Dezurn is smart enough to listen and take direction. She settled in and kept the punishment coming. Cornejo showed she’s incredibly tough and never wobbled despite some hard shots.
‘This is the land of the warriors’
An emotional Franchon Crews-Dezurn made a statement of her own on boxing’s big weekend in Los Angeles. Photo: Lina Baker, See You Ringside Photography
An emotional Crews-Dezurn broke into tears as the scores were announced. She won over the crowd when she said, “I love boxing just like you. I’m for unity. This is not just for me, this is for women boxers in Mexico, in China, Russia, America.
“This week has been hell, and I stood in hell and made heaven. This is just another testimony to show if you believe in yourself and put the work in, and you stay focused no matter how many distractions, you stick to the plan and you will complete the mission.”
Noting her original opponent bullied her on social media, Crews-Dezurn addressed Jimenez: “I’m not here for a good time, I’m here for a long time. This is the land of the warriors. Not the poseurs, not the models. This is real boxing. I want to be respected like the men. I’m going to step up to the plate. Thank you to DAZN, by the time I finish, It’s going to be Dezurn!”
Crews-Dezurn wished her husband Jason Dezurn a happy seventh anniversary, and got into the spirit of the night: “Thank you California, Thank you to my Mexican people, my Hispanic people, Viva Mexico!”
Bring on Ryan Garcia: Romero Duno stops Ivan Delgado
Romero Duno roughed it up a little more than necessary to deliver a fourth round KO of Ivan Delgado. Photo: Lina Baker, See You Ringside Photography
Lightweight “Ruthless” Romero Duno of the Phillippines, now training in Los Angeles, was drawn into Friday’s drama with Ryan Garcia after his original opponent Avery Sparrow was arrested. Duno had reportedly been put on notice as a possible replacement. Whether the Garcia camp got the word or not, Duno was rejected.
No matter to Duno (21-1, 16 KOs, who took on his originally scheduled opponent, Ivan “Striker” Delgado of Los Angeles (13-3-2, 6 KOs). Delgado came in four pounds overweight, and appeared a bit sluggish in the ring. Duno could have stayed light on his feet and stayed out of range, but he decided to prove a point by engaging in a brawl with Delgado to the delight of the fans. After seven rounds, Delgado’s corner decided he wasn’t making any headway and ended the bout.
Duno landed 158 of 396 total punches (40 percent) to just 51 of 229 punches (23 percent) for Delgado, who wasn’t at his best for this fight.
I know that Ivan Delgado is a tough boxer,” said Duno. “I know he always wants to win because he has a family that’s always supporting him. I just do my job to make it a win so that Ryan Garcia will come to watch.”
After the fight, Duno appeared in the ring wearing a t-shirt reading “Ryan Garcia, Stop Running and Fight Me Next.” Duno was more diplomatic in his post-fight interview, but made things clear.
“I’m not lost in focus. I know that Ryan Garcia always wants to fight me. I know Ryan Garcia wants to fight a tough boxer. If he gives me a chance to have a match with him, I’m always ready.”
Ryan Garcia update: Mo’ money, mo’ problems?
Earlier in the day, Garcia and his manager informed boxing media he was willing to fight Duno or another proposed opponent, Petr Petrov, but wanted “a little more” compensation. According to Garcia, when promoters wouldn’t budge, he bowed out. After the fight, Garcia posted the following statement on social media: “As God wanted it and that’s the next one, this was never about Duno or the fight it was about the politics of the game and me standing my ground so i dont care about the opinions of people who never stood up for what is right!”
Whether the relationship between Garcia and Golden Boy Boxing can be repaired, time will tell. If so, Duno may get his chance against Garcia on the Canelo vs. Kovalev undercard, which Garcia has apparently wanted all along.
Undercard results: Four stoppage wins for Gramajo, Pacheco, Velasquez, Reyes
Rafael Gramajo made the most of his last minute opportunity, blasting Daniel Olea out in four rounds. Photo: Lina Baker, See You Ringside Photography
Taking a fight on just one week’s notice, Rafael Gramajo of Garden City, Kansas (11-2-2, 3 KOs) made the most of the opportunity, blasting Daniel Olea of Guerrero, Mexico (13-9-2, 5 KOs) for four hard rounds before Olea’s corner made the smart decision to retired at the halfway point of the scheduled eight round lightweight bout.
Whether or not his comments were directed at fellow lightweight Ryan Garcia, Gramajo thanked his Westside Boxing team for pushing him. “I feel great, man … Westside Boxing, you guys already know how we do it.” As for taking a fight on short notice: “I’m gonna beat that ass. Excuse me everybody, but that’s what my goal is every time. I come here to win. I could tell in every round. He felt my power and he just started running so I knew eventually it was coming.”
Super middleweight Diego Pacheco delivered a thrilling performance for his hometown LA fans, scoring a third round knockout win over Terry Fernandez of Oakland. Photo: Lina Baker See You Ringside Photography
Super middleweight Diego Pacheco (6-0, 5 KOs) delivered a thrilling performance for his hometown LA fans, scoring a third round knockout win over Terry Fernandez of Oakland (2-1, 2 KOs). “I feel really good fighting back in my hometown,” said Pacheco. “People here cheering me on, it’s a great feeling. During the fight, I felt really good. This guy was tough, you know, he was eating up all the punches but I was able to get him on the third round.”
Joselito Velasquez of Cancun celebrated Mexican Independence Day with a fourth round knockout over Francisco Bonilla of Chihuahua, Mexico. Photo: Lina Baker, See You Ringside Photography
It was a happy holiday for Joselito Velasquez of Cancun (11-0, 9 KOs) as he celebrated with a fourth round knockout over Francisco Bonilla of Chihuahua (6-7-3, 3 KOs). Velasquez scored a knockdown in the second round, then made it still with a slick pair of punches at 2:54 of the fourth round. “I feel really happy and blessed,” said Velasquez. “This is a dream come true to fight here, and the way that the fight went with a difficult rival who took my punches, he made me work at 100 percent. I’m going home really happy to celebrate Mexican Independence Day.”
You can’t beat a knockout in your professional debut, and Alejandro Reyes is now 1-0, 1 KO. Photo: Lina Baker, See You Ringside Photography
Los Angeles native Alejandro Reyes, now fighting ou of Mexicali, Mexico (1-0, 1 KO) will look back on his pro debut with pride, scoring a second round knockout against Jorge Padron of Sonora, Mexico (3-5, 3 KOs). Reyes is a flashy young lightweight. He fights to his full height at 5-foot-10, and took out his opponent with a vicious body shot knockout. Thanking his fans, his team, and Golden Boy, Reyes admitted he really wanted the knockout, but started a bit too aggressive. Listening to his corner, he settled down and got whta he wanted. “It was a success! Thank you everyone for coming out to support me. Viva Mexico!”
READ MORE: Vasiliy Lomachenko wins third title in decision over Luke Campbell
Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, is President/Owner of the Falcon Valley Group in San Diego, California. She is also a veteran boxing observer covering the Sweet Science for Communities. Read more Ringside Seat in Communities Digital News. Follow Gayle on Facebook and on Twitter @PRProSanDiego.
Please credit “Gayle Falkenthal for Communities Digital News” when quoting from or linking to this story.
Copyright © 2019 by Falcon Valley Group
