Roman defeats Espinoza!

April 8, 2008

By Francisco Salazar at ringside
Photos: Big Joe Miranda

Flyweight Manuel Roman may have had critics who felt he was in way over his head against the talented and experienced Sergio Espinoza. However, he showed he belonged and made a statement that he could fight at the next level.

Roman controlled the last two rounds of the fight, earning a hard-fought 10 round majority decision over Espinoza before 1,275 fans at the Doubletree Hotel Events Center in Ontario, CA. With the victory, he claims the vacant WBC Continental Americas Flyweight title.

The bout headlined a five-bout "Ultimate Battle" card, presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions.

Roman had the height and reach advantage over Espinoza and was able to take control of the action in the early rounds.

Espinoza pressed the action, attempting to get to the inside of Roman and work the body. He did find success in landing counter right hands to the head of Roman. The more Espinoza threw punches on the inside, the more he was able to land.

Roman was at his best on the outside, allowing Espinoza to come in, and then landing hooks and uppercuts onto Espinoza.

There were rounds that were close and difficult to score. Espinoza did not help his cause at times as he pressed the action and flailed away at Roman. Then there were times when Espinoza would set up his punches and catch Roman with more counter right hands to the head.

Roman was the fresher and accurate puncher of the two in the final two rounds of the fight. Roman connected more to the head and body as he outboxed Espinoza. He finished strong, effectively countering Espinoza as Espinoza would come towards his opponent.

One judge scored the bout even at 95-95, while the other two judges scored the bout 98-92 and 97-93 in favor of Roman. Fightnews.com scored the bout 96-94 in favor of Roman.

"My boxing style gave me the fight," said Roman, who has won four bouts in his career by split or majority decision. "What gave me the win was my lead right hand to the head."

Espinoza was visibly upset with the decision.

"I pressed the fight the entire time," said Espinoza, who has lost two out of his last three fights. "The judges made the wrong decision. If we were in Vegas, I would have won the fight. The judges didn't know what decision to make."

Roman, from Paramount, CA by way of Tijuana, Baja California Norte, Mexico, improves to 12-0-2, 5 KO's. Espinoza, from National City, CA, falls to 15-5-1, 5 KO's.

Lightweight Heavyweight Jason Douglas won a hard-fought six round majority decision over previously-unbeaten Jesus Berrelleza.

Douglas outworked Berrelleza in the first two rounds of the fight, landing counter left hooks and straight right hands to the head and body. He was faster to the punch while attempting to keep Berrelleza on the outside.

Berrelleza applied more pressure in the third and was rewarded by landing more to the head, momentarily stunning Douglas to the head.

Douglas went back what worked for him in the earlier rounds. Douglas moved side-to-die, countering to the head of Berrelleza. Although Berrelleza pressed the action, he would get outhustled by Douglas during most exchanges.

To his credit, Berrelleza who was bruised and cut over his left eye, still pressured Douglas in the sixth round. He mounted a late rally in the final 30 seconds of the round, but it was too late.

One judge scored the bout even at 57-57, while the other two judges scored the bout 60-54 and 58-56 in favor of Douglas. Fightnews.com scored the bout 59-55 in favor of Douglas.

Douglas, from Las Vegas, NV by way of Ontario, Canada, improves to 3-0, 2 KO's. Berrelleza, from Riverside, CA, falls to 5-1, 4 KO's.

Junior Middleweight Rafael Lopez remained unbeaten with a first round stoppage over Shawn Purdy in a scheduled four round bout.

The southpaw Purdy figured to give Lopez difficulties. However, Lopez went right at Purdy, hurting him with a barrage of punches. Purdy backed up against the ropes on shaky legs and fought back. However, referee Raul Caiz, Sr. stepped in and stopped the bout at 29 seconds. Purdy was visibly upset with the stoppage.

Lopez, from Riverside, CA, goes to 5-0, 5 KO's. Purdy, from Detroit, MI, falls to 3-4, 3 KO's.

Jesus Antonio Hernandez scored a fourth round stoppage victory over Jesus Hernandez.

This was the first fight in recent memory where two fighters with the same full name fought each other.

Jesus Antonio Hernandez was effective in countering to the body and head as Jesus Hernandez went forward towards his opponent.

During most exchanges, Jesus Antonio Hernandez landed the more effective punches. Jesus Hernandez did have success in landing counter right hands to the head of his opponent. However, Jesus Antonio Hernandez used his stronger ring generalship to outbox Jesus Hernandez from the outside.

In the fourth, a counter left hook to the head dropped Jesus Hernandez to the canvas. Hernandez stood up and wanted to continue, but referee David Mendoza waved the fight over at 1:33 of the round.

Jesus Antonio Hernández, from Los Angeles, CA, improves to 6-0, 1 KO. Jesus Hernandez, from Riverside, CA by way of Mexico City, DF, Mexico, falls to 2-3, 2 KO's.

In a battle of fighters making their professional debuts, Junior Welterweight Danny Escobar stopped Ricardo Sanchez in the first round of a scheduled four round bout.

Escobar, from Riverside, CA, was taller and had the longer reach of the two fighters. Escobar's punches began to take a toll on Sanchez during the middle of the round. A barrage of punches backed Sanchez up against the ropes where Escobar landed at will. To his credit, Sanchez stayed in there and attempted to fight back.

Escobar then trapped Sanchez in a corner and landed hard punches on a defenseless Sanchez, prompting referee Raul Caiz, Sr. to step and stop the bout at 2:26 of the round.

Notes: - Faces in the crowd: WBC Super Bantamweight champion Israel Vazquez, former world champion Robert Garcia, Lightweight contender Jose "Josesito" Lopez, Heavyweight contender Chris Arreola, undefeated Super Featherweight Dominic Salcido, and Junior Middleweight contender Carlos Bojorquez, former world champion Rodolfo Gonzalez, Super Middleweight prospect Ivan Stovall, legendary promoter and manager Benny Giorgino, female contender Kaliesha West, unbeaten prospect Charles Huerta.

- The next Thompson Boxing Promotions event will take place on Friday, June 27th at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario. For tickets and information, contact Thompson Boxing at (714) 935-0900. To check out their new and updated website, go to www.thompsonboxing.com

- Rig announcer was Michael Vale.