Escobedo defeats Arrieta!

By Edgar Gonzalez / Photos: Big Joe Miranda

May 5, 2008

2004 U.S. Olympian Vicente Escobedo 17-1, 11 KOs) continued his rise with a workmanlike ten round unanimous decision over South American champion Roberto Arrieta (27-13-4, 10 KOs) Friday night at The Home Depot Center Tennis Stadium the bout was televised live on TeleFutura's Solo Boxeo as a part of "Homecoming" weekend headlined by Oscar de la Hoya vs. Steve Forbes the following night at The Home Depot Center Soccer Stadium.

Escobedo began landing impressive jabs at the sound of the bell, then unloaded several 1-2 combinations. By the third round, Arrieta's right eye started to bleed. He landed several powerful overhand rights but it was Escobedo's quick jab that was controlling the fight.

"I looked better than my last fight," said Escobedo afterward.

By the fourth and fifth round Arrieta change his strategy and worked the body in hopes of slowing Escobedo down, which became effective and weakened the Californian, but he managed to escape the heat. The crowd began to yell "Chente," Chente!" that was enough to energize Escobedo's stiff jab followed by a left-right combination that sent Arrieta to the canvas by end of round six.

"This guy was durable," said Escobedo "He connected well to the body, but I was in better shape."

With blood dripping from his right eye and nose Arrieta, survived to the end of the scheduled ten rounder, but at the end it was Vicente Escobedo who won a unanimous decision.

"He has a bright future," Arrieta said of Escobedo. "He just needs to work on the small details like defense."

Some people say Escobedo might be the next Golden Boy and some say Escobedo is Oscar De La Hoya's double. You be the judge. The judges scored it 99-90 twice and 97-92 for Escobedo.

New York's Jeffrey Resto (22-2, 13 KOs) from the Bronx pulled out a majority decision in a junior welterweight fight with Tulare, California's Hector Alatorre (15-4). "I didn't feel well. I had a pain in my stomach, I felt like vomiting," said Resto "I think it was the water during the rounds that upset my stomach."

The crowd was not pleased at all with the lack of fireworks. In the last three rounds, Resto discover his jab and rallied behind good upper body movement that made it difficult for Alatorre. Alatorre pressed the action with constant flurries against the taller Resto but couldn't land a telling blow. "He's really tall and has a nice reach, but I think I won the fight. You heard the crowed booing him," stated Hector Alatorre who lost by scores of 95-95 and 99-92 twice for Resto.

Colombia's Yonnhy Perez out-boxed Mexican Manuel Sarabia from Culiacan with a pinpoint attack to the head and body throughout the scheduled six rounds. Judges scored it unanimously for Perez 60-54 twice and 59-55, the experienced Sarabia battled every round like it was his last. It was a tremendous action fight between two very skilled boxers.

Marteze Logan (26-32-2, 6 KOs) from Tennessee and wearing leopard trunks, began the bout like a lion being unleashed for the first time rushing his pray, but it was the speed of Ernest Johnson (17-2-1, 7 KOs) that kept him focused, landing 1-2 combinations throughout the rounds. The fifth stanza started with a low blow from Johnson, after Logan's recovery Johnson took advantage of the situation by displaying burst of quick left and rights to the body winning over the crowd and the judges as all three scored the bout 60-54 all in favor of Johnson.

Mexican fighter Esau Herrera (13-3-1, 6 KOs) won a unanimous decision against Sergio Rios (17-6, 15 KOs) in a good back-and-forth action junior middleweights contest. The Oxnard slugger seemed to take the middle rounds but Herrera used his jab to keep distance and win a unanimous decision all three judges score the about 60-54.

In an exciting junior welterweight bout, Hector Ramos (2-0) was dropped three times in a scheduled four round fight and his opponent Shawn Waite (0-1) was knocked down twice. Ramos overcame the three knockdowns to win a unanimous decision. Judges scored the bout 39-38, 38-37 twice all in favor of Ramos.