Story and photo by Francisco Salazar at ringside
Former world title contender Jose Aguiniga remained unbeaten with a seventh round stoppage victory over Eduardo Arcos at the Oceanview Pavilion in Port Hueneme, CA. Aguiniga looked much sharper and trimmed down compared to his February 25th victory over Juan Ruiz. Aguiniga threw and landed at will against Arcos, finishing each combination with a left hook to the body or overhand right hand to the head. The only blemish on Aguiniga was a cut from an accidental headbutt in the third round that bled profusely from above his hairline. From that point on, Aguiniga pressed the action more, stunning a game Arcos in the sixth round with an overhand right hand to the head. A left-right combination by Aguiniga to the head sent Arcos backwards against the ropes, prompting referee Wayne Hedgpeth to step in and stop the bout at 1:45. Aguiniga, from nearby Oxnard, improves to 33-0, 15 KOs. Arcos, from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, falls to 18-7-1, 15 KOs.
The Aguiniga-Arcos bout headlined an eight-bout “Commotion by the Ocean” card, presented by El Dorado Entertainment.
In the semi-main event, Oxnard lightweight Irving Garcia scored a one-punch knockout over Alejandro Artiaga in the first round of a scheduled four round bout. Midway through the first round, Garcia dropped Artiaga face first to the canvas with an overhand right hand. Artiaga stood up and fought back as best he could. Near the end of the first round, just as Artiaga dropped his left hand, Garcia threw and landed a hard right hand to the head. Artiaga dropped hard violently onto his back, prompting referee Danny Sandoval to immediately step in and stop the bout at 2:59. Garcia goes to 7-1, 5 KOs, while Artiaga, from Bakersfield, CA, falls to 3-6, 1 KO. Garcia avenged his third round technical knockout loss to Artiaga back in November of 2006.
In an all-out and competitive war, Roger Romo and Lawrence Letuli fought to a four round unanimous decision draw. After Romo controlled the first round, the stockier Letuli stunned Romo with a barrage of punches in the second round. Both had their moments in the third round, but Romo was able to outland Letuli in the fourth round. Letuli attempted to get on the inside, but Romo rained punches down on his opponent until the final bell sounded. All three judges, including Fightnews.com, scored the bout 38-38. Romo, from nearby Oxnard, goes to 5-0-3, 1 KO, while Letuli, from Carlsbad, CA, goes to 0-1-1. Romo is the younger brother of former world champion Fernando Vargas.
Welterweight Abraham Lopez won a controversial first round stoppage victory over Eduardo Hernandez in a scheduled four round bout. Lopez landed a left uppercut that momentarily stunned Hernandez. As Hernandez backed up against the ropes, Lopez followed up, but mostly landed on the shoulders of Hernandez. Referee Danny Sandoval unexpectedly stepped in and stopped the bout at 1:46, even though Hernandez did not appear to be hurt. Hernandez vehemently protested the stoppage. Lopez, from Oxnard, CA, goes to 3-1, 1 KO, while Hernandez, from Hollywood, CA, falls to 0-3.
Cruiserweight John Hernandez of Oxnard, CA won his professional debut, a four round unanimous decision over Seth Keeling. Hernandez was the busier and more effective throughout most of the fight. Keeling fought in spurts, although he tried to find a home for right hands. Hernandez stunned Keeling in the fourth round, almost dropping him, but Keeling was able to weather the storm. All three judges scored the bout in favor of Hernandez, 40-36, 40-36, and 39-37. Fightnews.com scored the bout 40-36 in favor of Hernandez. Keeling, from Santa Maria, CA, falls to 1-2.
Bantamweight Indian Banuelos won a four round split decision over Brice Yeniki. Banuelos started well, outhustling Yeniki in the first round, while Yeniki landed more punches in the second round. Yeniki dropped an off-balanced Banuelos with a right uppercut to the head. During a competitive final round, Banuelos was able to outland Yeniki to the head and body. One judge scored the bout 38-37 for Yeniki, while the other two judges scored the bout 38-37 in favor of Banuelos. Fightnews.com scored the bout 38-37 in favor of Yeniki. Banelos, from Santa Paula, CA, goes to 1-1. Yeniki, from Las Vegas, NV, drops to 0-7.
Lightweight Yolanda Ezell won a hard-fought four round split decision over Crystal Morales. The southpaw Ezell, who is trained by Floyd Mayweather, Sr., was at her best when she boxed from a distance, countering with straight left hands to the head. The shorter Morales started well, landing left hooks over the top of Ezell’s righ hands. However, Ezell would outbox Morales during the middle rounds. Sensing she was down, Morales pressed the action in the final round, bullying her way into the pocket to throw punches. One judge scored the bout 39-37 in favor of Morales, while the other two judges scored the bout 39-37 in favor of Ezell. Fightnews.com scored the bout 38-38. Ezell, from Las Vegas, NV, improves to 2-2, 1 KO. Morales, from Oxnard, CA, drops to 6-8-1, 1 KO.
Opening up the El Dorado Entertainment card, Abraham Morales won his professional debut, stopping Francisco Solis in the third round of a scheduled four round bout. Morales did well by countering right hands to the head of Solis. Morales, from Oxnard, CA, dropped Solis with a counter right hand to the head in the second round. Solis got up and survived the round, but was stunned by a barrage of punches at the beginning of the third round. Morales pinned Solis against the ropes, throwing punches until referee Danny Sandoval stepped in and stopped the bout at 44 seconds. Solis, who also hails from Oxnard, drops to 0-5.
