Najmitdinov Spoils Hatley's Homecoming on Great Night of Dallas Boxing

Michael Montaya and Kingdom boxing hosted another night of exciting, can't miss fights, in Dallas. A crowd that was filled with legendary hall of farmers such as Heisman winner Tim Brown, former four-division world champ Roy Jones Jr and Christy Martin as well as former world champions such as Paulie Ayala and Jesus Chavez. It was the perfect crowd, the perfect atmosphere for a card loaded with so much Dallas talent. Unfortunately, former WBC 154-Pound silver champ and world title challenger Charles Hatley had his homecoming fight spoiled by Jamshidbek Najmitdinov, of Uzbekistan via second-round KO. After a fairly impressive opening round that saw Hatley moving well and outboxing and out moving his Uzbeki opponent. The second round was filled with combustion and ended with a massive left hook that landed on the chin of Hatley, during a heated exchange that sent the former champ tumbling to the ground and left him unable to beat the count. Dropping the 36-year-old Hatley's record to 30-3-1. Najmitdinov Improved his record to 19-3 and secured the biggest win of his career.

In the co-main event, Dallas native, Shurretta "Chiccn" Metcalf came up short in a very controversial decision in which it appears that she had certainly done enough to secure a points victory. She worked well behind her rangy jab, and controlled the distance. She was able to move away from Danielle Bennett's shots and was able to close the distance at times. In a fight that did seem extremely close, it did appear to most at ringside and in the crowd that "Chiccn" did enough. Scoring with often more with her jab, and then followed up right hands to secure most of the rounds. One particular straight right stunned Bennett in the second round. However in the end it was Bennett who two of the three judges preferred scoring the bout 79-73 and 78-74 overruling the third judge who scored the bout 76-76.

It wasn't all bad for Dallas fighters, as Ray Ximenez scored his second consecutive win in his comeback, following a three-year-layoff. Ximenez outboxed a rugged and determined Eric Manriquez of Houston over six rounds. After a bit of a feeling-out process in the opening stanza, the Dallasite got to work in the second. Switching in and out of both the conventional and southpaw stances and working his way onto the inside. Firing off combinations, staggering him with a 3 punch combo midway through the round. The two combatants finished the second round slugging toe to toe. Ximenez stayed on the attack, ripping body shots downstairs, which he he mentioned was part of the game plan going into the fight.  A determined  Manriquez stayed aggressive and kept coming forward keeping Ximenez honest but ultimately it was the Dallas native landing the better shots and winning the exchanges. Scoring with lead right hands caught the attention of the Houston native. One particular right hand rocked Manriquez late on the 5th and Ximenez followed up and appeared to hurt a resilient Manriquez. Manriquez scored with a big right that caught his opponent's attention in the sixth and final round. However, Ximenez answered right back with a massive right that sent his opponent's mouthpiece flying across the ring. Like two determined warriors the two stood toe to toe and slugged out the final 10 seconds of a highly entertaining and competitive but clear-cut victory for Ximenez, who took the UD  by scores of 58-56 59-55x2. Ximenez moved his record to 20-2 (4) and expects to be back in the ring in July to continue his comeback.

Also on the card was Edwin Pena, who trains and fights out of the Montoya Boxing Gym and scored a dominating third-round knockout of Waldo Zamudio. Scoring a total of three knockdowns and stopping Zamudio just past the midway point of the third round. Pena improved his record to 1-0-1 (1) and Zamudio fell to 0-6.

Charles Hatley Continues Comeback "To be back home on a big card it feels good"

Former 154-Pound WBC Silver champ and world title challenger Charles "The Future" Hatley continues his comeback Saturday night at the Bomb Factory in his home city of Dallas. Hatley sports a 30-2-1 (21) record and is now 36-years-old but appears to have plenty left in the tank. He suffered his second career loss to two Houston Native Jermell Charlo back in 2017 in a scrap for Charlo's WBC 154-pound world title. After taking a year off from the ring, he came back in 2018. The Dallas native has put together four consecutive wins since the loss to Charlo. Fighting once a year from 2018to 2021. He looks to continue that streak Saturday night when he clashes with the battle-tested and very durable Jamshidbek Najmitdinov, 18-2 (14), of Uzbekistan. This bout marks the biggest challenge of Hatley's comeback and is the main event of a card that features Shurretta Metcalf fighting for the NABF Super Bantamweight women's titles and Ray Ximenez in the second fight of his comeback.

It's a big moment for Hatley, whose career has taken him all over the world, including beating Anthony Mundine in Australia. It's a big fight on a big card back home for Hatley who said "To be back home on a big card it feels good, I got all the support I need" Back home in Dallas, there is no shortage of world-class welterweights, the city of home to not only unified champ Errol Spence, but all world undefeated prospect of the year Vergil Ortiz and former 140-pound world champ Maurice Hooker. Fights that Hatley is open to in the future. However those all Dallas showdowns are dependent upon Hatley winning Saturday night. Despite being 36, Hatley is in incredible shape and appeared sharp and as lightning-fisted as ever. He could make the dream of becoming a world champion at 147-pounds a reality. A weight that seems more fitted for Hatley, who said "I am happy to be at 147 I knew if I could make the weight they were gonna be in trouble... and I am making it easy."

That's not great news for the rest of the 147-pound division as Hatley appears to be at his best weight with plenty left in the tank. The next stop is Saturday night at the Bomb Factory in Dallas. Should he defeat Najmitdinov and look impressive in doing so, he could find himself in the world title picture again and this time at his more natural weight of 147.

Charles Hatley Returns on Massive Dallas Card

Michael Montoya and Kingdom Boxing Promotions announced they are bringing a sequel to their premier boxing event in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex. Royal Roundz II is back in Dallas on May 14th at the Bomb Factory. The card is a talent-loaded, action-packed card that will showcase some of the best fighting talent in Metroplex. In the main event, Charles Hatley, now 36, looks to get back in the world title picture as he takes on Uzbeki knockout artist Jamshidbek Najmitdinov. Hatley, a Dallas native sports an impressive 30-2-1 (21).  Hatley's best win came back in November of 2015 when he stopped former world champ, Anthony Mundine, in 11 rounds. Hatley next fought for a world title in April of 2017 and came up short, falling to fellow Texan Jermall Charlo. He captured the WBC (USNBC) Welterweight strap in his last outing when he stopped Frederick Lawson back in September of 2021. 

In the co-main event is fan-favorite, woman's fighter, "Chiccn" Shurretta Metcalf, who puts her 9-fight unbeaten streak on the line against Danielle Bennett for the NABF Female Super Bantamweight belt. The lone blemish on Metcalf's record in her last nine fights is a draw with Jamie Mitchell back in 2018, at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas. Mitchell has since gone on to win a world title traveling over to Liverpool, England, outpointing Shannon Courtenay, and then defended that title successfully over Carly Skelly. Chiccn last fought back in February as well and outpointed Karen Dulin over six one-sided rounds taking a 60-54 decision on all three cards.

Also on the card is resurgent featherweight contender, Ray Ximenez, who is fresh off his dominant victory over Houston-based tough guy, Darryl Hayes back in February. He will battle another Houston-based tough guy in Eric Manriquez. Manriquez has been in the ring with elite-level prospects like Otha Jones III, who he arguably beat, as well as fellow Dallas-based prospect Angel Alejandro. Plus other elite fighters like Ray Ford and Malik Warren.  He should offer a good test for the lightning-quick, highly-skilled, Ximenez in his second comeback fight. 

He’s Back!! Ray Ximenez shines in Comeback

Michael Montoya, as well as Kingdom Boxing, put on a sensational card in Dallas at Gilley's. A spectacular event from a gathering of DFW ring legends included Errol Spence, Derrick James, Maurice Hooker, Donald Curry, and others to the spectacular return from Ray "Valentino"  Ximenez. 

Ximenez of Dallas returned in the evening's main event and returned in spectacular fashion after a three-year layoff from the ring. The quickness, speed, reflexes, and style that made Ximenez a blue-chip prospect were all still on display after the extended layoff. Ximenez who switches out of the southpaw and conventional stance caught his opponent, Darryl Hayes, of Houston, with a perfectly placed left hand, out of the southpaw stance, that dazed Hayes towards the end of the opening round. Ximenez got going in the second. Backing his man into the ropes and unleashing a series of violent, accurate hooks. The Houstonian fought back valiantly, scoring with a few sharp right hands of his own and making a fight of it, particularly in the early going. However, it was Ximenez scoring with the sharper and harder shots. Valentino again battered his man against the ropes in the fourth mixing up head and body shots to perfection. He seemed to have Hayes in a bit of real trouble for the first time, beating him up on the inside. The fifth round saw Ximenez switching to the conventional stance and scoring with a sharp right and again stunning Hayes. Ximenez, able to keep his opponents trapped against the ropes closed out the show in professional fashion. Dominating the 6th and final round. ripping body shots and dominating with hand speed and combination punching and taking the hard-earned by clear-cut unanimous decision by scores of 59-55 on all three cards.

In the co-main event, Adrian Taylor, of Dallas,  bounced back nicely from the only a controversial draw to Rafayel Simonyan back in September. After a feeling-out process in the first round that saw the shorter Taylor try to time and get on the inside of his opponent, Dennis Williams, The Dallas native was able to close the distance in the second round. Scoring with a massive right hand stunned Williams for the first time.  Taylor followed up with a right hand upstairs and clearly had Williams in a bit of trouble. He was again able to close the distance in the fourth, as Taylor set things up beautifully with the jab and was hitting on all cylinders. Working his way onto the inside with jab and scoring thudding right hands while in close range and had Williams on the ropes. Taylor was in complete control to close out the fourth. The fifth picked up where the fourth left off, the writing was on the wall and another straight right caught the attention of Williams and worsened the cut above his eye causing referee Robert Chappa to waive a halt to the bout giving Taylor a fifth-round TKO. Taylor moved his record to  12-1-1 (5)

Also on the card was the return of fan-favorite "Chiccn" Shurretta Metcalf of Dallas. After a two-year layoff, she displayed incredible footwork, a lightning-quick jab, and slick defensive skills in dominating her opponent, Karen Dulin. Metcalf worked behind the stick, using her reach to her advantage and controlling the action throughout. She capitalized on outstanding head movement making her opponent miss over and over again. She mixed in right hands as well as a barrage of well-timed combinations that seemed to hurt her opponent in the fourth. She fought off a brief rally from Dulin in the fifth and quickly regained control. Well ahead on the scorecards Metcalf didn't let off the gas in the sixth and final stanza. She dominated the final round and staggered her outmatched opponent with just seconds remaining to cruise to a unanimous decision victory 60-54 on all three cards.

The card also featured what was perhaps the performance of the night from St Louis born Samuel Arnold, who now fights out of DeSoto. Arnold, a 6'3, 18-year-old middleweight put on an incredible display of power and speed, scoring multiple knockdowns of  Travaslo Talley on his way to scoring a second-round stoppage victory to move his record to 4-0 (2). In what was perhaps the fight of the night. Edwin Pena, of Dallas, making his pro debut fought Orlando Collins, of Euless, tooth and nail in a four slugfest. Collins seemed to control the first two rounds and Pena rallied to apparently win the last two rounds to earn a unanimous draw.

Ray Ximenez Returns to the Ring

After a sensational amateur career that started at the age of 10 and included a 120-9 total record. Was highlighted by National P.A.L. Championships, Ringside World Championships. 2009 Silver Gloves National Championships and Junior Olympic National Championships, representing and being Team USA Captain at the 2009 Youth World Junior Olympics. Plus loads of local success including six-Dallas Golden Gloves championships. Ray "Valentino" Ximenez turned pro making his debut on September 25th on the undercard of Charles Hatley vs Emmanuel Augustus in his hometown of Dallas Texas. Valentino took on  Cristoval Larrazolo, dominated him, beat him up, dropped him twice, and scored a unanimous decision victory. It was a highlight performance that made everyone in the Quick Trip Ball Park think, "wow there's a kid with world champion talent." That was the beginning of a sensational start to Ximenez's career who scored 13 consecutive victories including four by way of knockout.  He fought on ESPN and had garnered national attention. 

That set up the biggest moment of his career. The Texan traveled to Puerto Rico in 2016 to take on highly touted prospect and future world title challenger Christopher "Pitufo" Diaz in Diaz's backyard in a battle of highly touted undefeated Featherweight prospects. Ximenez accounted well for himself and appeared to outbox the Puerto Rican. When the judges did the unthinkable and stole the fight from Ximenez and scored it for the hometown fighter.  It was the first blemish on Ximenez's record. However, it was not about to hold him down.

The Dallas native bounced back nicely from the controversial decision lost and just six months later scored an impressive UD victory over John Herrera, in Midland, Texas. He scored two more victories in Dallas looked highly impressive. Which set up his  February 2019 showdown with Eugene Lagos on the main event of a big card that aired on national TV on beIN Sports. Ximenez brought the has down with a career-best performance dominating his Filipino foe over eight violent one-sided rounds.  

Ximenez picked up another UD victory and was rewarded with a promotional contract with Roy Jones Jr Promotions and looked to be on a path to a world title! Ximenez displayed his confidence by saying  “I plan on showing everyone that I will be the next world champion from Dallas." Everyone who had seen the Lagos fight seemed to believe him as well. In January of 2019, he took on an unknown and awkward Mexican prospect named Luis Alberto Lopez in what was supposed to be a test for the Texas prospect but one he was expected to pass. Ximenez ended up losing the first few rounds, being cut from an unintentional headbutt before rallying in the seventh and eighth rounds getting him back in striking distance. When the bout was waved off because of the head-butt and Ximenez dropped a technical decision after just eight rounds. A loss that looks not that bad in retrospect as Lopez has gone on to defeat several prospects since and has fought his way into a position to fight for a world title and a Top Rank promotional contract.

That was three years ago and due to promotional issues a global pandemic and a litany of other issues Ximenez has been out of the ring since. The now 29-year old is set to return for the first time and make one last run at that featherweight title he seemed destined to win. He will battle a rugged veteran from Houston called Darryl Hayes at Gilley’s in Dallas. Hayes has been durable and has been in with highly touted prospects such as Javi Fernandez and Joseph "Mongoose" Rodriguez of San Antonio, Floyd Schofield of Austin, and Angel Alejandro of Dallas. He has battled each man tough and valiantly but came up short in each fight. It's a scheduled six-rounder and Ximenez should get past Hayes in a bout that will serve as a metric to see how much ring rust he has gathered and how much he has left in the tank.