By: Matthew N. Becher
In a night where Fox News was broadcasting the Republican debates from Cleveland, Fox Deportes in association with Golden Boy Promotions was broadcasting the real fights live from the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles, California with another addition of the L.A. Fight Night series.
Roy Tapia(10-0-2 5KO) vs. Juan Luis Hernandez(18-5-1 9KO)super bantamweight:
Tapia came out the younger, stronger, aggressor. Right off the bat, Tapia set the tempo, stalking his opponent, Hernandez, throwing heavy hands to the body and then following up with shots to the head. Tapia had a game plan to walk down Hernandez, consistently backing him into the ropes, planting his feet and unloading. With ten seconds left in the second round Tapia lands a right cross that puts Hernandez down.
In the third round, Tapia comes out looking to capitalize on the knock down from the previous round. Hernandez covers up and is able to tie up Tapia, but only for a brief time, until Hernandez is pressured onto his back guard and caught with a vicious left that cracks his chin and sends him down for the count.
Tapia KO3 1:49
Abraham Lopez(18-0-1 13KO) v. Jorge Diaz(18-3-1 10KO) featherweights:
Lopez comes into this fight with a 3 inch height and reach advantage, and is able to use it to his advantage through out the fight. In the first few rounds, both fighters engage in great exchanges. And the only knockdown in the fight comes from one of these flurries as both fighters throw wildly in the first round, when Diaz’s knee grazes the canvas and Referee Jack Reiss correctly scores it a knock down for Lopez.
Lopez is able to accurately choose his shots due to his length and feinting. Both fighters show great chins, landing heavy blows, as Diaz is occasionally able to get on the inside of Lopez.
Halfway through the fight, Lopez has shown that he has the superior power. Diaz keeps pumping out a jab that just cannot reach its target. Diaz has no way on getting inside of Lopez and by the second half of the fight looks tired and beaten.
Lopez begins teeing off on Diaz at will. Lopez uses his feints and length to systematically pummel the very tough and game Diaz.
At the end of the ninth round Diaz’s corner has seen enough and decide to stop the fight. Diaz showed tremendous heart, but it was a good decision by his corner, since he didn’t need to take anymore of a beating.
Lopez TKO9 End Of Rd.
Under card Results:
Jonathan Navarro(debut) vs. Andrew Gomez (0-1) super lightweights
Navarro KO1 1:03
Hector Tanajara Jr.(debut )vs. Thomas De Leon(0-2) super lightweights
Tanajara Jr. KO1 1:14