Arreola destroyed Mitchell in one; Esquivias finishes Marquez

In an important heavyweight crossroads fight, WBC #3 Chris Arreola (36-3, 31 KOs) destroyed WBC #2 Seth Mitchell (26-2-1, 19 KOs) in the first round on Saturday night at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. Arreola hurt Mitchell early, then battered Mitchell to the deck and got the stoppage with his follow up barrage. Time was 2:26. With the win, Arreola claims the WBC International heavyweight title.

Former two-division world champion Rafael Marquez (41-9, 37 KOs) was made to look every one of his 38 years as he was KO’d by Efrain Esquivias (17-2-1, 10 KOs) in round nine of a featherweight bout. A straight right hand floored Marquez and the bout was waved off by referee Raul Caiz Jr. Esquivias outworked the future Hall of Famer for most the fight.

Santa Ana’s Ronnie Rios (21-0, 10 KOs) dominated veteran Angel Beranza (36-27-2, 28KOs) for eight rounds in a junior lightweight bout. Rios carried the tough veteran Beranza who did not take a step back throughout the fight. Rios displayed good hand speed, combinations, and work on the inside giving Beranza everything through eight rounds. In the end two judges scored the bout 80-72 and one scored it 78-74.

Former world champion Rico Ramos (22-3, 12KOs) scored a spectacular knockout over previously unbeaten Carlos Velasquez (15-1, 11KOs)in a thrilling ten round featherweight bout. Velasquez scored a knockdown in the fifth round with a straight right, left hook combination as Ramos took a knee but continued to fight on. Going into the last round Ramos landed a huge left hook that knocked out Velasquez as referee Lou Moret stop the fight at 1:36 of the tenth round.

In the opening bout from the Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino Events Center in a junior lightweight bout Oxnard’s Ricky Lopez (10-2, 4KOs) survived an early knockdown against Pablo Batres (3-7-1) of Sonora, Mexico. A right hand by Batres floored Lopez in round one, the Oxnard fighter Lopez however was able to outbox Batres en route a unanimous decision as one judge scored the bout 39-37 and two judges scored it the same 38-37.

Houston’s Justin DeLoach (4-0, 2KO) scored a third round stoppage over Carl Hill (1-7, 1KO) in a junior middleweight bout. DeLoach landed a series of right hands as Hill went down but got up and continued. A vicious body attack by Deloach forced referee Jack Reiss to stop the contest at 2:50 of round three.
Joet Gonzalez (5-0, 1KO) was dominant as he won a unanimous decision over David Reyes (2-5-1) in a scheduled four round junior featherweight bout. 

Gonzalez boxed away and was the more skilled fighter en route to a decision win the tough and rugged Reyes who fought with Gonzalez here to fight. Two judges scored the fight 40-36 and one judged scored the fight 39-37.

Lightweight Maurice Lee (3-0, 2KOs) of Van Nuys, California won a unanimous decision over Mexico City’s Juan Carlos Sanchez (1-2). Lee the taller fighter used his distance tagging Sanchez with straight lefts set up by the jab for four rounds. All three judges scored the bout 40-36 as Maurice Lee wins a unanimous decision.

Coachella’s Ryan Caballero (1-0) the younger brother of Randy, won a four round unanimous decision over Compton’s Lyonell Kelly (0-1). Caballero was too much for Kelly as all three judges scored it 40-36.