Zavala upsets Bruseles!

May 23, 2003

By Tom Hatheway at ringside
Photos: Michael Pimentel

BRUSELES VS ZAVALA

VEGA VS BELTRAN

RODRIGUEZ VS TOKTAULOVA

In a non-title fight, NABO Latin American Jr. Welterweight Champ Henry Bruseles, 18-2 (11 KOs), was upset by durable Ernesto Zavala, 17-2 (7 KOs) who came on strong in the late rounds to take a controversial majority decision over the WBO #10 ranked Jr. Welterweight, at the second installment of “Fight Night at the Tank” in San Jose this year. The fans were treated with having former Heavyweight Champion Ken Norton in attendance as a special guest. The announced attendance was 3,512.

The bout started at a slow pace with both fighters being cautious and testing the other out as they exchanged jabs and counter punches. The early rounds contained some great exchanges by both with the edge apparently going to Bruseles, 141 ¾, from Caguas Puerto Rico. Slightly taller, he appeared quicker and able to get out of the way of most of Zavala’s early salvos.

In the mid rounds Zavala, 138 ½, Burbank, became more effective as he connected more frequently with sneaky jabs and rights hands that seemed to land at just the right time, at just the right opening. He landed particularly well in the 6th round with a nice right to the temple that was his best punch of the night to that point. Zavala also took round seven with successful shots while effectively slipping away from many of his opponent’s punches.

Going in to the late rounds Zavala looked visibly fatigued with a slight cut over his right eye; while Bruseles looked fresh and calm. Rounds nine and ten contained some good exchanges by both fighters: counter rights and 1-2 combos from Zavala, effective left crosses and straight rights from Bruseles. Both fighters had furious exchanges (round nine was the round of the night!) This was a competitive and entertaining fight for the fans.

The judges’ scores were: 96-94, 97-94, and 95-95 all for Zavala. This seemed to surprise the audience as well as many nearby as the general ringside consensus was roughly seven rounds to three for Bruseles. That said, it was a competitive and difficult fight to score. The referee was Dan Stell.

In the semi-main event, local undefeated Featherweight Luis Vega extended is unbeaten record with a virtual white-wash over Guadalupe Beltran 15-3 (12 KOs) with a unanimous 8 round decision.

Both fighters started out tentative early on with Vega, 127 ½, Salinas, CA, controlling the action with jabs, lefts, and combos. He was repeatedly effective in landing nice shots for the judges just before the round ending bell.

More of the same continued on in the middle and late rounds with Vega landing some good shots behind a flicking left jab, sometimes doubling and tripling it up. The crowd booed in round 7 at the visible lack of action from both fighters.

The final round saw Vega, 14-0-2 (3 KOs), a 1996 Olympic finalist, pick it up by landing a left that backed Beltran in to the ropes to start the round. Vega stunned his opponent with a big right with 1:20 left in the bout. That was followed up with a dozen unanswered punches, of which one third landed. The final bell rang with Beltran staggering, reeling, and holding on, which was mainly due to fatigue.

The judges’ scores were as follows: 80-72, 79-73, and 80-72. Fightnews had it 80-73. The referee was Marty Sammon.

In undercard action:

Jr. Flyweights: Wendy Rodriguez, Los Angeles, improved her record to 10-2-3 (1KO) with a 6 round split decision over Anastasia Toktaulova, 9-5 also of Los Angeles via Moscow, Russia. Rodriguez was effective with her aggressiveness, right hands, and success in fighting out of the corners. Toktaulova held a bit too much in the clinches. The scores: 58-56 Toktaulova, 58-56 and 58-56 Rodriguez. Fightnews had it 59-56 Rodriguez. The referee was Ray Balewicz.

Jr. Welterweights: Alfonso Garcia, San Diego, defeated Carlos Espinoza after he refused to come out for round two. Garcia, now 4-2 (2KOs), took the first round by being busier with more accurate punches. Despite not appearing to land any significant punches, it appeared that Espinoza mentioned that his left hand was hurt and that’s why he couldn’t continue. Ringside word was that these two were sparring partners / friends to begin with. So that is that.

In the opening bout of the evening we had Jr. Middleweights Justo Almacan and Francisco Maldonado fight to a four round majority draw in a bout that had some really good action. The judges’ scores: 39-37 Almacan, 38-38, and 38-38. Fightnews also had it 38-38. The referee was Ray Balewicz.

Questions? Comments? Email Tom Hatheway