Martinez-Gasparyan tech draw!

August 18, 2007

By Francisco Salazar / Photos: Big Joe Miranda

The welterweight clash between Aaron Martinez and Vardan Gasparyan ended in a sudden instant.

No, it was not a powerful punch that ended the fight, but an ugly clash of heads that produced a cut above the right eye of the unbeaten Martinez.

The nasty cut brought an end to the scheduled eight round bout at only 2:06 of the first round, much to the chagrin of about 850 at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello, CA.

The bout headlined a five-bout "Battle of the Rising Stars" card, presented by All Star Boxing.

On paper, the bout was an evenly-matched fight between two boxer-punchers. It would also have been another strong war between an Armenian fighter in Gasparyan and a Mexican fighter in Martinez, which have been take place more frequently in recent years in Southern California.

Both fighters looked eager to get the bout started during fighter introductions. Their respective fans attempted to shout over one another, but nothing violent.

Both fighters went at one another after the opening bell. Martinez took control of the first minute as he was able to counter Gasparyan's aggressive style. As the round progressed, Gasparyan was able to keep Martinez in front of him, landing to the body.

However, as Gasparyan moved forward, both fighters clashed heads that opened a nasty cut above the eye of Martinez. After another 30 seconds, referee Ray Corona motioned for the ringside physician to look at the cut. After being consulted by the physician, Corona waved the fight over.

Gasparyan thought he had won the fight and Martinez' title. However, the correct ruling was a technical draw because the fight had not gone at least four complete rounds as is stated in the California commission rules.

After the fight, both spoke and raised each other's hand and walked around the ring as a sign of respect in front of their fans.

Martinez, from East Los Angeles, CA by way of Mexico City, DF, Mexico, goes to 7-0-1, 2 KO's. Gasparyan, from Glendale, CA by way of Yerevan, Armenia, goes to 8-1-3, 4 KO's.

Super Lightweight Art Hovanessian scored two first round knockdowns to win a four round unanimous decision over Francisco Zepeda.

Hovanessian was able to score a knockdown with a left hook to the head in the first round. After Zepeda got up and recovered , a combination dropped Zepeda again to the canvas. Zepeda complained that he was pushed down. Zepeda survived and was able to finish the round.

Hovanessian was able to put his combinations together. He would attempt to counter Zepeda with hooks or right hands.

In the third round, Hovanessian looked like he hurt Zepeda with a right hand to the head. Just like in previous fights, Zepeda was gutsy and came forward in an attempt to win a round.

Hovanessian finished the bout strong, boxing and countering with a single shot as Zepeda continuously pressed forward in the final round.

All three judges scored the bout 40-34 in favor of Hovanessian, including Fightnews.com.

Hovanessian, from Yerevan, Armenia, improves to 3-0-1. Zepeda, from Los Angeles, CA by way of Michoacán, Mexico, falls to 4-6-3, 2 KO's.

Super Bantamweights Frank Gutierrez and Jose Pacheco fought their way to an action-filled four round unanimous decision draw.

It was an all-out war between two fighters, in which the fight could have ended in the first round. It looked as though Gutierrez was going to have an early night as he scored two devastating knockdowns in the first round.

The first knockdown was a left-right combination to the head that dropped Pacheco. After getting up, Pacheco was knocked down again, this time a right-left combination to the head by the southpaw Gutierrez.

With Gutierrez working from the outside, Pacheco began to pressure his opponent and found a home for straight right hands to the head. Gutierrez would back away, but stayed on the ropes too long, allowing Pacheco to score.

Pacheco picked up the intensity in the third round and was rewarded for his persistence. Pacheco was able to land more overhand right crosses to the head of Gutierrez. Beginning to slow down, Gutierrez was unable at times to get out of the way of wild Pacheco right hands that found their mark.

Pacheco had Gutierrez momentarily stunned at the end of the third round and picked up where he left off to start the fourth round. Pacheco pressed the action, but Gutierrez was able to counter with left hands to the head. Both began to slow down considerably from exhaustion, but poured it on in the closing seconds of the fight.

All three judges scored the bout 37-37. Fightnews.com scored the bout 38-36 in favor of Gutierrez.

Gutierrez, from Highland, CA, goes to 1-0-1, 1 KO. Pacheco, from Huntington Park, CA by way of Guanajuato, Mexico, begins his professional career with a draw on his record.

Super Welterweight Nam Phan stopped Ivan Diaz in the second round of a scheduled four round bout.

Phan threw continuous combinations that always ended with a left hook to the body. Phan would move in and out of Diaz' reach. Diaz did find success in countering Phan, finding success in landing overhand right hands to the head of Phan.

In the second round, Phan became more aggressive and attacked the body more. He scored a knockdown with a right hand to the body in which Diaz took a knee. Diaz got up and fought back, but took another knee when he was knocked down a second time due to a left hook to the body. After grimacing in pain, Diaz got up and fought back.

However, Phan scored a third knockdown in the round as he landed another left hook to the body, dropping Diaz to a knee for the third time in the round. Referee Ray Corona immediately stopped the bout at 2:35 of the round.

Phan, from Garden Grove, CA, improves to 3-0, 2 KO's. Diaz, from Whittier, CA by way of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, falls to 1-2, 1 KO.

Bantamweight Sergio Herrera remained unbeaten as he outboxed Rojillio Valenzuela throughout four rounds of boxing.

Both fighter went at one another throwing wild punches. Herrera landed the more effective punches as Valenzuela began to slow down. Had Herrera had more punching power and was able to go to the body, the fight have ended sooner. Instead, it progressed and even Valenzuela was able to land a series of lead right hands to the head of Herrera.

All three judges scored the bout 40-36 in favor of Herrera. Fightnews.com scored the bout the same.

Herrera, from Oxnard, CA, improves to 2-0. Valenzuela, from Highland, CA by way of Las Vegas, NV, loses his professional debut.

Notes: - WBO Super Bantamweight champion Daniel Pone De Leon, Heavyweight contender Damian Wills, and Junior Welterweight Freddie Barrera took in the action from ringside. During an intermission, All Star Boxing promoter Ed Holmes and matchmaker Pete Hironaka presented Ponce De Leon with a statue for his successful title defense last week in Sacramento.

- All Star Boxing returns to the Quiet Cannon on Friday, September 28th with another stellar card. Tickets are valued at $50 and $100. For information and tickets, contact All Star Boxing at (323) 816-6200 or (323) 781-4871

- Ring announcer was Jim Fitzgerald.

- The start of the card was delayed a few minutes to sweep debris out of the ring with a broom.