Photos and report by Peter Lim
Lightweight Bahodir Mamajanov, 2-0 (2 KOs), of Uzbekistan, did a pretty decent impersonation of Manny Pacquiao as he brutally stopped Jesus Mendez, 3-2-1 (2 KOs), in the second round at the Houston Athletic Fencing Center. But it was more the raw, free-swinging Pacman of five years ago that Mamajanov resembled rather than more polished and rounded version of today.
The Uzbek southpaw stalked Mendez around the ring from the opening bell and, with decapitating intentions, hurled left haymakers, one of which grazed Mendez and dropped him for a flash knockdown in the first round. Mamajanov, 24, connected again with an intercontinental ballistic missile disguised as an overhand left in the second round. This time, it was a direct hit and Mendez, 22, went crashing heavily on the ropes. Mendez struggled to his feet barely beating the count but quickly found himself trapped against the ropes under fire. Mamajanov uncorked yet another roundhouse left that froze Mendez in his tracks prompting the referee to jump in and rescue him from further punishment at the 1:42 mark. The fight was staged by Savarese boxing promotions.
Junior welterweight KC Martinez, 8-0 (5 KOs), stopped fellow-southpaw John DeJean, 3-6-1 (3 KOs), in just 38 seconds of the first round. DeJean could not have walked more directly into the trajectory of a Martinez straight left if Martinez had sent him an invitation card with directions. DeJean hit the canvass heavily with a blank look on his face. He beat the count but the referee determined he was unable to continue.
In the main event, heavyweight Maurenzo Smith, 8-2-2 (7 KOs), knocked out a blubbery 260-pound Christopher Jones, 0-3, in the first round. A lead left hook to the head sent Jones reeling to the ropes and Smith pounced on him with a chopping right that dropped Jones for good. Jones had to be stretchered out of the ring by EMTs.
In other bouts, switch-hitting light heavyweight Cedric Agnew, 17-0 (9 KOs), stopped Jerome Johnson, 2-2 (2 KOs) in the fourth round.
Pressure-fighting switch-hitter Cesar Martinez, 3-0 (1 KO), won a hard-fought unanimous four-round decision over slick southpaw Edward Tigs, 1-1-1, in a super middleweight bout. Heavyweight Ahror Muralimov, 5-0 (4 KOs), of Uzbekistan, won a workman-like four-round decision over veteran journeyman Andrew Greely, 14-37-3 (8 KOs). And Jonathan Nelson, 14-0 (6 KOs), outpointed Mikel Williams, 8-24-4 (3 KOs), over six rounds.
