Fort Worth Native and undefeated jr welterweight Benjamin Gurment gets the opportunity of a lifetime Thursday night at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. He will have the opportunity to get some Texas redemption and catapult himself up the 140-pound rankings as he battles 2023 Prospect of the Year Abdullah Mason, 11-0 (9) of Cleveland, Ohio. Mason, a 19-year-old phenom, went 5-0 (4) in 2023, with his most recent win a second-round KO of Laredo Native Jose Cardenas last November. Gourmet, 8-0 (3), a rugged, hard-hitting, up-and-comer, is looking to bounce back from his disputed draw with Donte Strayhorn this past November in Mesquite. Its not been an easy path for the Fort Worthian, who trains with Ray Barrera at FHG Gym. In two of his first three fights Gourmet took on both Jordan Jones, an extremely successful amateur and Darius Bagley, a highly touted Dallas fighter. Gourmet was supposed to be the sacrificial lamb for each of these two men who were destinedto go on to bigger and better things. Gurment, a US Armey veteran, derailed the plains of both fighters, fighting each one to a draw. Gurment then went on to win seven fights in a row and capture the WBC Four-round belt by knocking out Yainiel Alvarez Telemaco of Cuba in 2022. The Fort Worth native will now look to derail the career of perhaps the sports brightest prospect. Gurment will look to do Mason what he did to both Jones and Bagley. The action will be on ESPN, and the card starts at 5:30cst on the ESPN+ app.
Fort Worth's Edward Vazquez Finds Himself in Top 10!
It's been an exciting few weeks for Fort Worth native Edward "Kid" Vazquez. He first signed a multiple-fight deal with Hall of Fame promoter Lou Dibella and now "The Kid" finds himself in the top 10 featherweight rankings by the IBF. It's the first time in the top 10 for Vazquez, meaning he can now be considered for a world title shot at any time. To be considered for a title fight by the IBF, you must be ranked somewhere in their top 15 and at number 10, Vazquez is comfortably in that wheelhouse. The IBF featherweight title is currently held by Luis Alberto Lopez, who captured the title in late 2022 by outpointing Josh Warrington. The number one challenger according to the sanctioning body, is Japanese KO artist Reiya Abe, the #2 spot is vacant.
Vazquez currently sports a record of 14-1 (3) and is coming off of a highly impressive points victory over Misael Lopez in February. Ahead of Vazquez in the rankings is #5 ranked featherweight Raymond Ford, who Vazquez, was robbed of a victory over last year. Ford was gifted a split decision victory in the "2022 Robbery of the Year." It is the lone blemish on the resume of Vazquez.
The Fort Worthian has had no easy path to the top that included being sidelined by a former promoter, having four fights in a row canceled during the height of the covid pandemic, and being the victim of one of the worst decisions in recent boxing history. Despite all of that, all of those distractions, Vazquez has stayed focused and gotten himself here, along with coach Ray Barrera owner of FHG Gym in Forth Worth, are now on the verge of getting a world title shot.
Joel Martinez Shines in Epic Night for Fort Worth Boxing and FHG Gym
6ft tall southpaw Featherweight Joel "The Owl" Martinez of Fort Worth said before Saturday's fight at the Southern Junction in Irving that he has been inactive lately due to no one wanting to fight. Apparently, no one wants to fight the freakishly tall and long southpaw with incredible one-punch power. If Martinez found it hard to find a willing opponent before Saturday night, he did himself no favors in destroying unbeaten Xzavier Jackson. After a quick start in the opening round, a beautiful straight left from the long rangey southpaw put Jackson on the canvas to the surprise of most in attendance and to "The Owl" who said, " I am surprised he got up." Martinez got backed to work and swarmed a wounded Jackson, who was somehow able to survive the round. However, in the third round, Martinez unleashed violent shots from the opening bell and put the finishing touches on his opponent. This time a body shot put Jackson down and out early in the third. Securing Martinez his second professional win in two official bouts. "I kept my composure the whole time. I took my time, I fought my fight." Martinez said of his performance. It was also the third win for the guys from FHG gym in Fort Worth. Gary Hampton Jr ran his record to a perfect 3-0 with a one-sided unanimous decision victory over the previously unbeaten Rensley Washington of Cincinnati by scores of 40-36x2 and one score of 39-37. In the evening's opening bout, Desmon White put on a master-class performance and dominated Devon Jones of Tyler. Scoring a unanimous decision to move his record to 1-0-1.
Fort Worth-based amateur standout and Regional and State Champ Sammy "Cobra" Brown made his highly anticipated professional debut, a successful one in scoring a unanimous decision victory over a rugged and determined Austin Dulworth of Dallas. Brown got going with a big right hand that hurt Dulworth just a minute into the fight. A punch Brown would have success with throughout the fight. A punch that seemingly hurt Dulworth every time it landed. Brown found the mark with that shot again a minute into the second round and then would again double up with it later in the round. The Cobra also sported excellent movement and was able to avoid much of his opponent's artillery. Brown continued outboxing and outworking his opponent, building a lead on the cards. With the fourth and final round still in doubt, the Fort Worthian saved his best for last and put together his best rally of the night late in the final stanza. Brown scored with a body shot that slowed Dulworth down and then scored with a big right hand that snapped his head back and put a left hook behind it for good measure. The cobra would strike again with two more big right hands just before the bell sounded to end the fight. Putting an exclamation point on his pro debut and sealing the victory. All the judges scored it in favor of Brown 39-37. Brown fought this fight at 168 pounds, but plans on moving down to 154 in the future, He said he potentially could go as low as 147. Post-fight, a victorious Brown said, "It felt good... All the hard work finally paid off." Sporting the nickname Cobra carries a lot of weight in Fort Worth. It's the nickname of the legendary hall of Famer Donald Curry. While Brown has a long way to go to get to the level, he got his career off to a great start Saturday night in Irving.
In the main event, Dallas native Edgar Ramires improved his record to 6-1 (4) in pulling the upset over Rashad Coulter. Ramirez was able to overcome Coulter's reach advantage and was able to get on the inside and fire heavy artillery while in there. Outworking and outlanding Coulter. Ramirez was able to slide onto the inside and land the cleaner blows, and it was clearly breaking his opponent down. Ramirez carried the middle rounds for him. Fighting off the ropes in the sixth round, Ramirez put together one last brilliant rally that secured the upset for him as he rolled to the unanimous decision victory. A combination resulted in a cut above the eye of Vargas in the third as Foster was in complete control.
Edward Vazquez Caps off a Breakout night for FHG & Fort Worth Boxing
It was an incredible night for the young up-and-coming fighters of Fort Worth, Texas. Four promising fighters, of all who train out of Ray Barrera's FHG gym handed in spectacular performances. The foursome went 4-0 with all but one coming by way of stoppage and one of which was an unimaginable come back.
The night dominated by the Fort Worthians, that was dubbed "Homecoming" and took place in nearby Irving, Texas at the Southern Junction nightclub was capped off by a 93-second knockout victory by Edward "Kid Vazquez. The undefeated and highly touted featherweight who owns the WBC (USNBC) belt moved his record to 11-0 (3) and scored his second consecutive stoppage victory and the third in his last five fights.
Vazquez came out strong working behind the jab with slick head movement. Just moments into the fight he saw his opening and scored with a left hook to the body of his opponent Ezequiel Alberto Tevez that dropped him to the count of about 8.5. Tevez bravely made it to his feet but the writing was on the wall as an aggressive Vazquez stayed poised and kept coming forward. Moments later he landed a right hand right on the button that again dropped Tevez and this time brought in the referee to wave off the bout just 93 seconds after the opening bell.
The co-main event saw "The Wolf" Return home. "The Fort Worth Wolf " Tony Lopez has had boxing take him around the world. Having fought in Las Vegas, in the Staples Center in Los Angeles The Punch Bowl in Carson California, the Alamodome as well as many other venues, finally returned him. He made his homecoming a triumphant one. Staying patient the veteran Lopez threw a barrage of body shots that hurt his opponent, Diuhl Olguin, in the early stages. Lopez, a southpaw, worked behind his jab and with a major hand speed advantage flurried throughout the fight. He was able to work his opponent into the ropes and unleash four and five punch combinations against his rugged but overmatched opponent. With a loud cheering section behind him, Lopez taunted his opponent waving him in to come and exchange. In control throughout the scheduled six-rounds, Lopez stepped on the gas in the final round in an attempt to unload everything under the kitchen sink. Staggering Olguin several times but his tougher-than-nails opponent stood the test and heard the final bell. The verdict was academic as the "Fort Worth Wolf" picked up the win taking a UD by scores of 59-55, 60-55, and a much too close 58-56.
The two other FHG-based Fort Worthians on the card were Ben "Hill" Gurment, who scored the most unthinkable of knockouts. After getting knocked down in the opening stages of the first round from a stiff right hand from his then-unbeaten opponent Alan Rosas of Mexico. Gurment was stunned and rolled his ankle on the knockdown. He rose to his feet just before the ref reached the count of eight and fought on without his feet behind him an off-balanced Gurment was sent down yet again. Twice down in the first round, the Texan would likely need a knockout to win the fight. Behind the instructions of his trainer, Coach Barrera, "to stay locked in" Gurment stayed composed and fired his jab from the southpaw stance and began out boxing his opponent. Seemingly winning the second round and being the superior boxer Gurment seized control of the fight in the third, but winning rounds was not going to be enough. Gurment had to go for the stoppage, and after an apparent knockdown was rolled a slip, Gurment landed a thudding left hand to the body of his hurt opponent that severely slowed him down. Seizing the moment Gurment unloaded a barrage of power shots a left hand landed cleanly that buckled Rosas and a relentless Gurment did not let off the gas and unloaded on his wounded opponent bringing in the referee to wave off the bout at the end of the third round giving Gurment the TKO victory and moving his record to 5-0-2 (3).
Also on the card was Joel Martinez, a 6-foot tall hard-hitting southpaw Featherweight, who has a successful amateur career of over 150 fights. Saw him secure a second-round knockout in a fight that was allowed to go on way too long. Martinez, who is expected to be moved along quite quickly, was matched with a 2-0 (2) fighter for his pro-debut by the name of Bryan Macias. Macias was completely overmatched and hit the canvas a total of five times in less than two full rounds, A straight southpaw left from Martinez down the pipe dropped his man 1:20 into the fight. Macias was dropped again a second time right at the end of the first round from a right hook, left-hand combination that should have ended the fight right then and there. However, Macias was allowed to continue and was dropped twice more with the left hands in the first minute of the second stanza and then moments later with a sweeping left collapsed him like a building imploding on itself is 1:50 into round two secured the victory for Martinez in his pro debut to move his record to 1-0 (1).