Oscar Duarte Stops Miguel ‘Explosivo’ Madueno in a Thrilling Slugfest
On a starry night at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, the boxing world witnessed a spectacular clash between Oscar Duarte and Miguel ‘Explosivo’ Madueno. The fight, a scheduled 12-round bout, was a true test of grit and endurance. Duarte, known for his relentless style, and Madueno, a former WBO Latino champion, both came out swinging from the opening bell. The first round set the tone, with both fighters landing significant blows, but it was Madueno who held his ground despite being a late substitute.
The second round saw the fight intensify as the two warriors engaged in a real slugfest. Madueno, showing no signs of backing down, traded punches with Duarte, each blow landing with a resounding thud. In the third round, a slight controversy arose when Duarte landed a low punch, though Referee Thomas Taylor deemed it acceptable. Madueno, however, seemed to lose a bit of his momentum, moving around the ring more and failing to counter effectively.
The fourth round was crucial as Duarte rocked Madueno with a powerful left hook to the chin, but surprisingly let him off the hook. The fifth round witnessed a dramatic turn as Duarte opened a cut on Madueno’s left eyebrow, which only added to the ferocity of the fight. The crowd was on the edge of their seats, cheering for the action. In the sixth round, Madueno, despite being a late substitute, held his own, though Duarte continued to take the upper hand.
The seventh round proved to be the turning point. Duarte, sensing Madueno’s fatigue, pushed him to the limits. With a series of relentless punches, he had Madueno on the ropes, and at 2:09, Referee Thomas Taylor stepped in, calling a halt to the fight. The crowd erupted in applause, recognizing the bravery and skill of both fighters in what was a true battle of champions.
Darius ‘DFG’ Fulghum Dominates Wilfred Harris, Jr.
In the co-feature, the super middleweight division saw Darius ‘DFG’ Fulghum, a fighter ranked #5 by the WBA, face off against Wilfred Harris, Jr. The bout, a scheduled 10-round match, began with both fighters showing little enthusiasm, with too much holding in the first round. The second round, however, saw a dramatic shift as Fulghum landed a jab followed by a right to the chin, dropping Harris for an 8-count from Referee Ray Corona.
Harris, despite being visibly hurt, managed to survive the second round, but the damage was significant. Before the start of the third round, the ring physician was called to check Harris. Fulghum, sensing his opponent’s vulnerability, continued to press the attack. In the third round, he had Harris hurt early, but the resilient Harris managed to make it through the round.
The fourth round proved to be the final stand for Harris. Fulghum, with a combination of devastating punches, had Harris hurt and not defending himself enough. At 2:18, Referee Ray Corona stepped in, calling a halt to the fight. Fulghum’s performance was a testament to his skill and determination, and he added another impressive win to his undefeated record.
Ricardo ‘El Nino’ Sandoval Triumphs in a Hard-Fought Battle
The WBC Silver Flyweight champion, Ricardo ‘El Nino’ Sandoval, faced off against NABF Fly champ Saleto ‘Mr. Personal’ Henderson in a scheduled 10-round bout. From the start, Henderson, despite being the underdog, showed impressive quick hands and held his own against the favored Sandoval. The first round was a close one, with Henderson surprising many with his skill and tenacity.
From the second to the sixth round, Sandoval began to assert his dominance. The much smaller Henderson, however, was doing much better than expected, showing resilience and skill. The seventh round saw both fighters having their moments, with the crowd firmly on Sandoval’s side. Sandoval, who had a small cut on his left eyebrow, had to work harder than anticipated against the much less experienced Henderson.
The eighth and ninth rounds continued to be a test of endurance, with Henderson still in the fight against all odds. The tenth and final round was a nail-biter, with Sandoval winning the fight but falling short of the expected stoppage. Henderson, despite the odds, hung in there, earning the respect of the crowd and the boxing community. The judges scored the fight 98-92, 100-90, and 100-90, a unanimous decision in favor of Sandoval.
Ken ‘Bossman’ Sims, Jr. Takes a Lopsided Decision
Welterweight Ken ‘Bossman’ Sims, Jr. faced Kendo ‘Tremendo’ Castaneda in a 10-round bout that, despite appearing competitive, ended with a lopsided unanimous decision for Sims. The fight began with both fighters showing their skills, but Sims quickly began to assert his dominance. In the second round, both turned southpaw, with Sims landing effective body shots and taking a close round.
The fourth round saw Sims hurt Castaneda with a powerful right hand to the body, but Castaneda managed to stay in the fight. In the sixth round, both fighters exchanged body shots, with Sims landing more effectively, but Castaneda never stopped coming forward. The seventh round was a turning point as Castaneda hurt Sims with a combination to the chin, taking the round and gaining momentum.
The eighth and ninth rounds saw Castaneda finishing strong, taking his third round in a row. The final round, however, was the best of the fight, with both fighters letting it all hang out. Castaneda landed six left hooks in the final seconds on Sims’s head, but it was not enough to sway the decision. The scores of 98-92, 99-91, and 99-91 seemed to favor Sims, despite the close nature of the fight.
Joel Iriarte and Yair Gallardo Deliver Early Knockouts
In the welterweight division, Joel Iriarte, undefeated at 6-0, faced Daniel Harris in a scheduled six-round bout. The fight was a quick one, with Iriarte landing a 3-punch combination, including a final chopping right on Harris’s head, dropping him for an 8-count just before the bell in the first round. In the second round, Iriarte landed a short left uppercut to the chin, knocking Harris into the ropes and forcing Referee Ray Armendariz to wave off the mismatch at 1:21.
Cruiserweight Yair Gallardo, also undefeated at 8-0, faced Carlos ‘Pupita’ Miranda in a scheduled eight-round bout. The fight was over almost as soon as it began, with Gallardo landing an uppercut right to the chin, followed by several more punches to the body, dropping Miranda as Referee Thomas Taylor counted him out at 1:41 of the first round. Both fights were a testament to the power and precision of these young fighters, setting the stage for promising careers ahead.
Emerging Talents Shine in Quick Stoppages
The card also featured several promising young talents who made their mark with quick stoppages. Lightweight Daniel ‘Junebug’ Garcia, undefeated at 11-0, faced Francisco Pacheco in a scheduled six-round bout. A clash of heads in the first round caused a cut on Pacheco’s head, but Garcia continued to dominate. In the second round, Garcia drew blood from Pacheco’s nose with a right hand, and in the third round, he out-landed Pacheco, dropping him with a left to the body as Referee Ray Corona counted him out on a knee at 2:40.
Super bantamweight southpaw Gael ‘El Terrorista’ Cabrera, undefeated at 7-0, faced Roberto ‘Escorpion’ Pucheta in a scheduled six-round bout. Cabrera outlanded Pucheta in the first four rounds, with Pucheta being the aggressor. In the sixth and final round, the 20-year-old Cabrera remained unbeaten, taking all six rounds with scores of 60-54, 60-54, and 60-54. Middleweight Fabian Guzman, undefeated at 6-0, faced Daniel Lim in a scheduled six-round bout, winning by decision.
Super lightweight Javier Meza, in just his second professional fight, faced Lyle McFarlane in a scheduled four-round bout. Meza had McFarlane out on his feet in the second round, causing Referee Raymond Armendariz to call a halt at 2:15. Bantamweight Kevin Gudino, in his second professional fight, faced Kenario Davidson in a scheduled four-round bout. In the third round, a combination from Gudino dropped Davidson, forcing Referee Chris Leben to wave it off at 0:35. These quick and decisive victories showcased the potential of these emerging talents, setting the stage for exciting futures in the world of boxing.
