Two Unbeaten Prospects Shine in San Antonio

Photo credited Clarissa Noyola Martinez

Two undefeated prospects continued their winning ways in San Antonio this past weekend. Javier Fernandez, of San Antonio, moved his perfect record to 11-0 (7), scoring a third-round TKO of tough veteran Rafael Reyes of New Mexico. Fernandez patiently stalked forward from his traditional wide base. He successfully forced Reyes backward and was able to find the distance, and began attacking the body. The Alamo City native stayed downstairs to the body, breaking Reyes down. By round two the body shots were taking their toll and the New Mexican began to slow. Fernandez started unleashing heavy shots on Reyes to the head and body. One particular uppercut caught his attention, and it became obvious that the veteran was breaking down. The San Antonian kept pressuring and digging body shots. One after another landed on the body of Reyes who was badly hurt and later deducted a point for holding. Fernadez put together another extended rally moments later that left Reyes unable to answer. Referee Gregorio Alvarez finally came in and waved off the bout giving Fernandez a 3rd TKO victory and extending his winning streak to 11.

On the undercard was 17-year-old featherweight phenome "Gatito" Felix Garcia of Laredo boxed beautifully in shutting out an overmatch Alexis Cardona. The Laredoan worked behind a quick and accurate jab. He was able to force Cardona backward and work on the inside. Scoring power shots that affected Cardona. Garcia mixed up head and body shots to perfection. He seamlessly cut off the ring, keeping his man backed up against the ropes. When he had his man's back to the ropes, he unleashed right hands and left hooks to the body of Cardona. "Gatito" gave his opponent no time to breathe or relax as stayed on the attack throughout the four-round affair. Garcia continued unleashing heavy artillery that had his opponents backed into the ropes and slowing down from the collection of body shots. One left hook in particular, in the third round, staggered Cardona. Leaving him defenseless as Garcia teed off with a whirlwind of power shots and gunned for a stoppage. Cardona survived the moment, but the writing was on the wall. Cardona, however, refused to go quietly and had his best moment just as the fourth round began. A left hook caught Garcia flush on the chain. However, the success was short-lived, as Garcia walked right through the shot and was unphased. The Laredo native stayed aggressive and continued coming forward. Closing the show like a seasoned veteran, the teenage sensation stayed on top of Cardona and buckled him with an uppercut in the corner. That led to another prolonged rally, as Garcia rolled to the UD victory, winning every round on every card, 40-36 x3. Moving his record to 4-0 (1).

War Machine Christian Romero Shines in San Antonio

San Antonio has long been one of if not the best boxing hot beads in the country. It is now putting out not just elite-level little men but extraordinary, special, talent. Bam Rodriguez jumped up two weight classes to capture the WBC Super Flyweight title on a week's notice, Dacisd Cardenas didn't just win the USA Boxing nationals in the 106-pound division but he dominated and cleaned out the weight class barely breaking a sweat in the amateur ranks. Now, this Christian "War Machine" Romero. He may be the brightest of all. The 17-year-old phenom packed the house at The Azafar Shrine Auditorium and delivered in sensational fashion.

Romero came out of the opening bell working patiently behind a jab. Firing it off and keeping his opponent Frank Boston on the back foot. He unleashed his first violent combinations late in the first round and battered Boston against the ropes. Boston seemed not to like the thudding power and choose not to engage with the hard-hitting teenage. Romero stayed calm stayed patient and unleashed a vicious right hand to the body that again backed his opponent up in the second round. Just moments later he scored with a picture-perfect left hook the against shook the bigger another left hook sent him into the corner and unleashed a barrage of power shots. The action continued into the third as Romero scored with a right  hand with about 20 seconds left that pinned Boston in the corner yet again and the " War Machine" Let bombs go for the final few seconds of the round 

In the final round, the youngster mixed head and body shots to perfection and closed out the scheduled five-rounder, yes you read that correct five-rounder, throwing a shut out on all three cards 50-45. It was a sensational performance against a worthy opponent. A sensational display of hand speed, angels, and thudding punching power. That led trainer Rick Nunez to say "I have the next Manny Pacquiao... he can go from 108 up to 118 or 122" 

In the co-main event Javi Fernandez, who trains alongside Romero at South Park Boxing Academy, showed no ring rust or side effects from should surgery that has kept him out of the ring since last October. He scored a knockdown of Michael Haynes, a very rough and rugged opponent, Haynes fought through the excruciating pain and actually put together a couple of good moments in the second. However, any limited success Haynes had in the second came to an end as Fernandez stayed downstairs and unleashed a barrage of body shots that ended the night in the third. Fernandez moved his record to 9-0 (6).

The undercard also featured two fairly touted contenders, in the opening bout Eridson Garcia scored a one-punch body shot knockout of a usually game and skilled opponent in Rafael Reyes to move his unbeaten record to 16-0 (10). In the second bout Eddie "The Hunter" Ortiz duplicated the feat scoring a first-round knockout of his own also via body shot bouncing back from his first career defeat in outstanding fashion moving his record to 12-1-2 (5). 

In the lone woman bout hard luck, but fan-favorite, Brittany Ordonez suffered yet another hard-luck draw, in which it appeared she did more than enough to win. Seemingly dominating the fight with a sharp right hand that found its mark throughout. Ordonez seemed to do enough to win every round in the eyes of the fans however the judges disagreed and scored it a majority draw by scores of 38-38x2 and an egregious 39-37 in favor of Leanne Calderon.

Javier Fernandez Moves to 7-0; caps off exciting San Antonio Card

San Antonio is quickly becoming the fight capital of the Lone Star State, Saturdays card at the Shrine auditorium is a prime example as to why. An electric five-bout card that featured live musical acts and was well attended by a cheering crowd as well as local celebrities such as 140-pound prospect Omar Juarez and Bantamweight contender Ramon Cardenas.  In the main event unbeaten 18-year-old Featherweight prospect Javier Fernandez, of San Antonio, improved his record to 7-0. Taking the first major test of his young career he put constant pressure on Darryl Hayes of Houston. Fernadez ripped body shots in the early going and kept Hayes, who was looking to move, kept getting caught in exchanges up against the ropes.

The card kicked off with a highly touted California native making his Texas debut Angel Chavez made quick work of his overmatched opponent Brushnell Robert who was making his pro-debut. Chavez moves his record to 4-0. on a seek and destroy a mission he scored with an overhand right to the side of the that ended the bout just 43 seconds after it started. By the third round, Hayes started to show signs of fatigue as the San Antonian started digging in and for the first time noticeably hurting Hays with a three-piece combination just prior to the bell sounding to end the third. The second of the half looked much the same, with Fernadez trapping and out-working his opponent and landing the heavier shots in the exchanges. Rolling to a clear points victory by scores of 59-51 and 58-52 while the third judge egregiously scored the fight 58-52 in favor of Hayes.

In the co-main event, Fan-favorite Crisanto Lucio entered to a tremendous roar from the crowd. He immediately got to work and gave the crowd what they wanted scoring a vicious second-round knockout via a thudding right hand followed by a body shot that put Corpus Christi, native Christopher Cantu down and out in his pro debut. The 21- year-old Lucio moved his record. 

in the next bout unbeaten welterweight, Luis Alberto Gallegos, of San Antonio put together a dominant opening round mixing up body shots and headshots perfectly. Which set up a vicious second-round KO over an overmatched Ruben Martinez, also of San Antonio. Moving onto a thrilling light heavyweight scrap between fan-favorite Enrique Neira, who originally hails from San Angelo, Texas, and received a massive roar from the crowd. He controlled the range rocked his opponent Michael Sanchez with a right hand and then staggered him badly moments later with a left hook double right hand getting back to boxing Enrique controlled his man with the jab in the second. With Neira likely taking the first two rounds Sanchez picked up the pace and exchanged on the inside landing his best shot early in the fourth. The two traded heavy leather for the remainder of the fairly even final round. However, the rally was too little too late for Sanchez as Neira took the majority decision by scores of  38-38 even and 39-37x2 in his favor to move his record to 8-1.