Michael Montero – In what will likely be the last boxing event ever held at LA Sports Arena, Mauricio Herrera took on Hank Lundy Saturday night in a junior welterweight match scheduled for twelve rounds. In the co-feature to the HBO Latino broadcast, Michael Perez took on Luis Sanchez in a ten round lightweight context. It was all part of a Golden Boy Promotions card that kicked off with a special “fan fiesta” earlier in the afternoon where fans could hang out with their favorite fighters to get photos and autographs. Indeed it was a great Saturday to be a boxing fan in Los Angeles.
Hank Lundy entered the ring donning a Mexican sombrero, which drew boos from the partisan crowd. Herrera received nothing but love from the crowd during his ring walk, this was indeed his house. Referee Jack Reiss gave the fighters their instructions and the last opening bell sounded at the LA Sports Arena forever. The opening round was measured, with orthodox Herrera and southpaw Lundy circling each other, working off nerves. A clash of heads toward the end of the first opened a small cut around Herrera’s right eye, and another head-butt in the second round caused another gash. “El Maestro” was fighting an uphill battle and Lundy was building an early lead. But the fighter out of Riverside California gathered himself and fought his way back into the fight, and things looked even heading into the middle rounds. In the fifth round after yet another head-butt from Lundy ref Jack Reiss called a halt to the action, examining a horrible gash over Herrera’s eye where skin was missing. Skull appeared to be showing, giving Reiss no choice but to wave the fight off. The judges scored it 48-48 and 48-47 twice for Mauricio Herrera, who scores the majority decision win and was finally on the favorable end of a close, controversial decision. Herrera improves to 22-5 (7KO) and Lundy falls to 25-5-1 (12KO).
In the co-feature, Newark New Jersey native Michael Perez entered the ring as the favorite against Mexican Luis Sanchez. The bigger man attempted to use his height and reach to control the distance, and it worked early on. But it soon became an ugly scrap with a lot of holding and grappling, which drew boos from the crowd who had been entertained with exciting action throughout the undercard. Perez suffered a cut from what looked to be a head butt and blew throughout the fight, but Sanchez could not capitalize. In the sixth round the Mexican walked right into a stiff jab from Perez and feel to the canvas. It was an awkward, delayed reaction but it appeared he may have broken his nose or suffered some other injury. Either way, the fight was called off and Perez scored a TKO win, improving his record to 23-1-2 (11KO), while Sanchez drops to 17-4-1 (5KO).
In the TV opener, prospects Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz Jr faced his sternest test to date as a professional, going the distance with Nicaraguan Rene Alvarado. After a tough bout fought at a grueling pace, the judges scored it 98-91, 95-54 and 96-93 for Diaz, who improves to 17-0 (10KO). The 98-91 score was horrible, as this was a close fight, but the right man won. It was great experience for Diaz and should pay off later in his career as he moves up the ladder. “I knew Alvarado was going to bring it and we fought ten hard rounds”, he said. “But I landed the bigger shots, the harder shots, and that made the difference.”
Other prospects Jason Quigley (7-0, 7KO), Nick Arce (4-0, 4KO), Zachary Ochoa (12-0, 5KO) and Jesus Delgado (6-0-1, 2KO) all remained undefeated with victories against overmatched opponents.
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