By Ken Hissner: At the Madison Square Garden Theater Saturday night over ESPN+, Bob Arum (Top Rank) presented in the Main Event WBC Silver champion and No. 2 ranked by the WBC Jose “Chon” Zepeda stopping against Jose “The Prodigy” Vargas in the first round.
In the Main Event Jose “Chon” Zepeda, 35-2 (17), #139.4, of La Puente, CA, stopped Josue “The Prodigy” Vargas, 19-2 (9), #139, of PR and Bronx, NY, at 1:45 of the first round of a scheduled ten rounds.
In the first round, Zepeda dropped Vargas with a chopping left for an 8-count. He jumped all over him, causing referee David Fields to call a halt wisely.
Bantamweight southpaw Carlos “Yoyo” Caraballo, 14-1 (14), #117.6, of Ponce, PR, lost to Jonas “Zorro” Sultan, 18-5 (11), #117.6, of Cebu City, PH, over ten hard rounds.
In the second round, a short right uppercut from Sultan on the chin dropped Caraballo for an 8-count by referee Johnny Callas. He managed to fight back enough to get through the round. In the third round, a left from Sultan on the chin dropped Caraballo for an 8-count by referee Callas. Later in the final seconds, it was Caraballo dropping Sultan with a left hook for an 8-count.
In the fourth round, it went back and forth until the final seconds when Caraballo landed a 3-punch combination rocking Sultan. In the fifth round, Caraballo continued to outland Sultan, who never stopped coming forth. In the sixth round, Sultan countered a right from southpaw Caraballo with a right of his own on the chin, dropping Caraballo for an eight count from referee Callas.
In the seventh round, Sultan scored his third knockdown of the fight with a combination giving Caraballo another 8-count from referee Callas. In the eighth round, it looked like a body shot from Caraballo dropped Sultan, but referee Callas somehow called it a slip.
In the ninth round, a left hook from Sultan on the chin dropped Caraballo for an 8-count for the fourth time in the fight. He managed to get through the round. In the tenth and final round, Sultan won a close round.
Somehow all scores were 94-93 by the judges. This writer had it 95-89. Former IBF World Super Bantamweight champion Jonathan “Salomon King” Guzman, 24-2 (23), #123, of Santo Domingo, DR, was upset by split decision to Carlos “Action” Jackson, 18-1 (11), #123, of Atlanta, GA, over eight rounds.
In the first three rounds, Jackson kept coming forward, but Guzman countered him well enough to take the round. In the fourth round, Guzman suffered from a clash of heads. Later he got hit with a low punch from Jackson, who was warned by referee Claudio.
In the fifth round, Guzman cut Jackson on the bridge of his nose with a right hand halfway through the round. In the final seconds, Jackson landed a solid left hook on the chin, getting Guzman’s attention. In the sixth round, Guzman may have injured his right hand, being asked by referee Claudio if he wanted to continue. Jackson managed to outpoint the one-handed Guzman in the round, chasing him down.
In the seventh round, Jackson continued chasing Guzman, taking another close round. In the eighth and final round, Guzman started using his injured right hand to outland an oncoming Jackson.
Scores were 77-75 Guzman, 78-74 Jackson, and 77-75 Jackson. This writer had it 78-74 Guzman.
Super Lightweight southpaw Kasir Goldston, 4-0 (1), #142, of Albany, NY, defeated Marc Misiura, 2-2 (1), #142 ¼, of Scranton, PA, over four rounds.
In the second round, Goldston hurt Misiura with a body shot followed by a left to the shin as Misiura was backing up. In the third round, it was Misiura getting the best of Goldston chasing him around the ring.
In the fourth and last round, Misiura lost a point from referee Shawn Clark for an intentional head butt to the chin of Goldston. With a minute left in the fight, Goldston landed a left cross to the chin, hurting Misiura. In the final seconds, both let it all hang out. Eddie Claudio was the referee.
Scores were all 40-35. This writer scored it 39-36.
Super featherweight Raymond “the scientist” Cuadrado, 2-0 (1), #129 ½, of Ridgewood, NY, won a close decision over southpaw Michael Land, 1-4-1 (1), 129 ¼, of Cedar Hill, TX, over four action rounds.
In the first round, Cuadrado controlled until the final seconds when Land hurt him with a right to the chin. In the second round, both fighters had their moments in an action-packed round. In the third round, Land hurt Cuadrado in the final minute with a left on the chin. In the fourth and final round, Land hurt Cuadrado on several occasions with lefts to the chin.
Scores were 39-37 twice and 40-36 while this writer 38-38.
Welterweight Pablo “Pretty Boy” Valdez, 5-0 (4), #148 ¼, Lower Eastside New York City, NY, won a disputed majority decision over Alejandro “Thunder” Martinez, 2-2-1 (2), #148 ½, of Montbello, CA, over six foul-filled rounds.
In the first round, it was close with Valdez out landing Martinez. In the second round Valdez was warned by referee Eddie Claudio for hitting behind the head. Lopez hurt Martinez a minute into the round with a right on the chin. In the last thirty seconds, it was Martinez hurting Valdez with a left on the chin. In the third round again, referee Claudio warned Valdez for hitting behind the head without taking a point. Both fighters rocked one another before the round was over.
In the fourth round, Martinez hurt Valdez, driving him into the ropes, which should have been scored a knockdown, while Valdez retaliated by throwing him down to the canvas. Referee Claudio should have penalized him for that but didn’t. He warned Martinez that if he couldn’t continue finishing four rounds, it would be a no contest.
In the fifth round, Martinez got the better of Valdez, who did too much holding. In the sixth and final round once again, referee Claudio warned Valdez not to hold again or lose a point instead of giving him a deduction. Valdez, though almost exhausted, hurt Martinez seconds away from the end.
Scores were 57-57, 59-55 twice, with this writer 57-57.
Welterweight Jahi Tucker, 5-0 (3), #147 ½, of Deer Park, NY, stopped southpaw Jorge Rodrigo Sosa, 3-3 (3), #145 ¼, of Asuncion, PAR, at 2:18 of the second round of a scheduled six rounds.
In the first round, Tucker landed rights to the chin, hurting Sosa, who then grabbed him to the canvas. Tucker landed half a dozen punches halfway through the round before getting nailed by a Sosa left on the chin. In the second round, Tucker had Sosa on the defense hurt with a right on the chin driving him into a corner, landing a flurry of punches.
As Sosa was hitting back referee, Shawn Clark called a halt.
Super Lightweight southpaw Mathew “Lefty Gunz” Gonzalez, 12-0 (8), #143, of Ridgewood, NY, Dakota “Lone Wolf” Linger, 12-5-2 (8), #141 ¾, of Buckhannon, WV, over six exciting rounds.
In the first two rounds, it was Linger coming forward but getting rocked by Gonzalez’s uppercuts several times. It didn’t stop Linger from coming back fighting. In the third and fourth rounds, Gonzalez had his nose bleeding from the gutsy Linger, who was cut on the right eyebrow in a brawl. It’s the skill of Gonzalez against the will of Linger.
In the fifth, the action continued with Gonzalez landing more but Linger all over him. In the sixth and final round, the fans were on their feet the entire round, with both fighters bleeding and punching non-stop. Gonzalez spent most of the round against the ropes countering the oncoming Linger, who held his own but was out-landed for the most part. What a fight!
Scores were 58-56 Gonzalez, 57-57 twice with this writer 58-56 Gonzalez.