SoCal BOTB Undercard

A middleweight showdown kicked off the SoCal Battle of the Badges Saturday July 21^st, 2012 at Agua Caliente Resort & Casino. Logan Burns, U.S. Army National Guard vs Dustin Rodriguez, Santa Monica Fire Dept 155lbs was a crowd pleasing fast pace fight. Both fighters put their punches together nicely.  Burns ring experience showed, he would land beautiful combinations and get out before Rodriguez could return the favor.  Rodriguez stayed calm and waited for his openings. Throughout the fight Rodriguez would catch Burns with solid counter hooks and right hands.   Both guys were cranking out combinations but Logan was more effective.   Rodriguez held his own against the more experienced Burns but the difference in this fight was Burns craftiness, accurate punching. and edging Rodriguez out in the exchanges. Great technical fight.  Burns winner by decision

Anthony Gutierrez Orange Co Fire Dept vs Carlos Vega, CDCR Blythe, 160lbs, lived up to the hype. It was a high skill level action packed fight. Vega turned the boxing match into a fight. He never gave Gutierrez the space he needed to get off his combinations or use his footwork. Vega kept Gutierrez on defense by throwing a high volume of punches.  Vega made a statement to everyone in the middleweight division that he isn’t going anywhere. Vega winner by decision.

Jorge Salazar, RSO, Southwest vs. Mario Alonzo, CDCR Ironwood, 220lbs. The strategy for Alonzo was to make the more experienced Salazar fight his fight.  For three rounds Alonzo kept Salazar pinned against the ropes, throwing short uppercuts and hooks. There were moments throughout the fight that Salazar did find the space he needed to get off a nice combination.  It wasn’t long before Alonzo was backing Salazar to the ropes and smothering him with punches. Very close fight.  Salazar winner by decision.

Alan Rojas, LASD vs. Chris Dubiansky, U.S. Forest Service 205lbs.  Both fighters came out throwing punches looking to take control of the fight.  Rojas landed more and was most effective when he came forward.  Dubiansky did have his moments when Rojas would stand in front of him. Rojas did a good job of slipping Dubiansky’s right hands and countered with his own left hook and right hand. Rojas winner by decision.

Margaret Stewart, LA Fire Dept vs. Shannon Lopez, LAPD 170lbs. This was an evenly matched fight however the difference was the accurate punching by Stewart and her ring generalship. Stewart winner by decision.

Nate Lomeli, CDCR Donovan vs. Farris Hisle, ICE, 210lbs. Two homerun hitters with the mentality, “Win I live, lose I die.” This fight had everything, skill, speed and knockdowns. Both guys made it clear they did not want this fight going to the judges.  Lomeli was more precise with his power punches which turned out to pay dividends in the fight. Lomeli winner 3^rd round TKO. This fight was voted “Fight of the Night.”

Jeremiah Nelson, 290lbs CDCR Donovan vs. Albert Deleon, 260lbs CDCR, Ironwood.  From the sound of the bell these fighters traded punch after punch. Nelson was landing punches with scary power behind them. Deleon must have a granite chin because he was not affected. Both fighters pressed the action and had their moments. Nelson continued to attack with power punches but Deleon fended him off with stiff jabs and movement. Deleon’s jab was the difference in this fight. Deleon winner by decision.

Louie Lomboy, Cathedral City PD vs. Alex Garcia, EMT, Whittier, 147lbs.  For both fighters stepping into the ring for the first time they came out at a blistering pace. No feeling out period needed. One thing was clear early on, Garcia was well schooled in the sweet science. He was digging shots to the body like a veteran fighter. Lomboy knew he was in for a fight and was ready for the challenge. The mean body attack by Garcia proved to be too much for Lomboy. Garcia showed good ring generalship and put his punches together well, cut angles and seemed very relaxed in just his first fight.  Garcia really showed his potential. Credit to his coach Gil Nieves, aka Candyman. Garcia winner 3^rd rd TKO.

Chayin Osgood, 230lbs CDCR San Deigo vs. Ryan Hotchkiss, 210lbs Barstow PD.  A couple of gunslingers in this fight but Hotchkiss was faster on the draw. Hotchkiss winner by decision.

Joe Finch, U.S. Forest Service vs. Eddie Nunez, CDCR Ironwood, 185lbs.  Finch seemed to find the openings in Nunez defense to make the difference in this fight. Finch winner by decision.

Selina Velasquez, Morongo Reservation Public Safety vs. Janie Cozine, San Bernardino PD. Cozine put her undefeated record on the line to take on Velasquez. Cozine had the weight and experience advantage but Velasquez was a tough, game fighter. Cozine’s impressive performance definitely put her in line for a title shot. Cozine winner 3^rd rd TKO.