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Two brothers fighting does not always make it a sibling rivalry. Instead, it produces two impressive victories that could open the gates for more.
Brothers Nonito and Glenn Donaire scored impressive victories over their respective opponents before a sold out crowd of 1,275 at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello, CA.
The bouts headlined a five bout "Battle of the Rising Stars" card, promoted by All Star Boxing.
In the main event, Bantamweight Nonito Donaire faced Ricardo Barrera, who had faced more competition and had power in both hands.
That did not deter Nonito, who from the opening bell displayed a dominating performance over his veteran opponent.
By the end of the first round, Barrera's face had swelling underneath his left eye that made it difficult to see. It was the result of Donaire's strong right hands that found their mark. Donaire also set up a three-punch combination by landing hard left hooks to the body.
In the fourth, Barrera trapped Donaire in a corner and began to land hard shots, but a majority were blocked. Later in the round, Donaire established his dominance over his opponent by using his speed to land first.
At the end of the fourth, the ringside physician, Pearlman Hicks, advised referee Jerry Cantu to stop the bout because of the swelling underneath Barrera's right eye, which by that time was almost shut. Donaire's technical knockout victory allows him to be the second person to ever stop Barrera, the first being IBF Bantamweight champion Rafael Marquez.
After the fight, Donaire gave credit to his opponent.
"He is a tough guy with a big heart," said Donaire, who was signing autographs for the Filipino crowd who were in attendance after the fight. "I was surprised he didn't go down from my punches. To be the second person after Rafael Marquez to score a knockout over Barrera is an honor because Marquez is such a great fighter. I am very happy with my performance tonight.
Donaire, from Castro Valley, CA by way of General Santos City, Philippines, improves to 8-1, 6 KO's. Barrera, from Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, drops to 16-5-1, 13 KO's.
In the co-feature, Welterweights Jorge Aguilar and Francisco Zepeda fought to a six round majority draw.
It was back and forth action between the two fighters. Both fighters had fought before last May, fighting to a four round draw in that fight.
Aguilar controlled the first round by being more aggressive and landing effective punches. After Zepeda won the second round, Aguilar controlled the next two rounds by being the first to land and countering effectively.
Zepeda controlled the last two rounds, effectively landing to the body and head with hard shots, while Aguilar seemed to slow down significantly.
One judge scored the bout 60-54 for Zepeda, while the other two judges had it 57-57. Fightnews.com scored the bout 57-57.
Aguilar, from Santa Fe Springs, CA by way of Mexico City, DF, Mexico, goes to 3-3-3, 2 KO's. Zepeda, from Los Angeles by way of Michoacan, Mexico, goes to 1-2-2.
Flyweight Glenn Donaire dominated Leonardo Castillo to win a six round unanimous decision.
During a competitive first round, Castillo landed hard left hooks to the head of the taller Donaire. Both would throw good combinations in the center of the ring. Towards the end of the first, a hard left hook to the head by Donaire knocked down Castillo. Castillo would survive until the bell.
Donaire would use the second to find his range and began to rip had shots to the head and body of Castillo. Donaire would be patient enough to wait for any opening and land hard right hands to the head of Castillo.
Castillo stayed competitive in the bout, bloodying the nose of Donaire in the third. Castillo would attempt to do whatever it took to get inside of the reach of Donaire.
The pace slowed down in the latter half of the fight, although Donaire continued to dominate the fight. Donaire attempted to break down Castillo further, but the resilient Castillo still pressed forward.
All three judges scored the bout 60-53 in favor of Donaire. Fightnews.com scored the bout 59-54. After the fight, Donaire was neither impressed or disappointed in his performance.
"I wish I could have down better tonight," said Donaire after the fight. "I wasn't tired, but I couldn't react the way I wanted to in this fight. I had to lose seven to eight pounds in the last two days. Maybe that was what affected my performance."
Donaire continued, "I weighed 114 in my last fight. Tonight, I weighed in at 109. His (Castillo) style didn't bother me, but I really feel that the drop in weight affected me. The punch I knocked him down with wasn't even a hard punch. All I have to say is that it will be a different performance for my next fight."
Donaire, from Castro Valley, CA by way of General Santos City, Philippines, improves to 12-1, 7 KO's. Castillo, from Celestun, Yucatan, Mexico, drops to 4-1, 3 KO's.
Joey Aragon scored a hard fought four round unanimous decision over Mike Figueroa in a four round Middleweight bout.
After a tactical first round dominated by Aragon, the bout became a hard struggle for fighters. Aragon was knocked down in the second round by a counter right hand by Figueroa. Aragon got up and dominated the action, as if he wanted to even the round by knocking down Figueroa.
Aragon did just that in the fourth round, knocking down Figueroa with a hard counter right hand to the chin. Figueroa got up and looked winded, but survived the round.
In the fourth, Aragon was taking the fight to Figueroa, punishing him with shots to the head and body. All looked well for Aragon until he ran into a hard right hand that wobbled him. Figueroa could not land the decisive blow as Aragon held on. The crowd was on its feet as Aragon controlled the end of the round and had Figueroa reeling.
All three judges scored the fight for Aragon, 38-36, 38-36, and 39-36. Fightnews.com scored the bout 38-37 for Aragon.
It was no walk in the park as Aragon can attest to after the fight.
"I was dizzy from the knockdown," said Aragon after the fight. "I think I knocked him down harder, but he is a tough guy.
Dean Lohuis, Chief Inspector for the California State Athletic Commission, put in his two cents about Aragon, a former professional baseball player in the Minnesota farm system.
"I have seen him improve a lot since his professional debut. He is more relaxed and his energy is not wasted."
Aragon agreed, "It's all mental. I know I still need to work on a lot of things, but I am more confident in my abilities. Each fight is a progression."
His trainer Charles Williams added, "He is getting better. He is more relaxed and does not get as tired."
Aragon, from Rosemead, CA, improves to 2-1. Figueroa, from El Monte, CA by way of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, drops his professional debut.
In an entertaining four round female fight, Super Featherweight Heather Percival defeated Tracy Carlton by a four round unanimous decision.
Although Carlton landed the hard punches, Percival was more active by throwing and landing more punches. Percival had good defense and countered well any offense from Carlton.
All three judges scored the bout for Percival, 40-36, 40-36, and 39-37. Fightnews.com scored the fight for Percival 39-37. Percival, from Fontana, CA, wins her professional debut. Carlton, from Compton, CA, drops to 1-3.
Notes:
- Former world champion Bobby Chacon, WBA interim champion Martin Castillo, and undefeated Jose Navarro took in the action in the Quiet Cannon.
- Next fight card for All Star Boxing will be on Friday, August 6th. Call them at (323) 837-0038 for information and tickets for that card.
- Actor and singer Alex Solis sang the national anthem.
- Current IBF Super Bantamweight champion Israel Vasquez was honored in between fights. He was given a statue by All Star Boxing.
- Matchmaker Pete Hironaka was kicked out of his own show by security for protesting the venue's decision to confiscate the bottled water that was made available to the fighters and reporters. He watched the card from a satellite truck that was taping the fights for future broadcast.
- Ring announcer was Jim Fitzgerald.
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