Golden Boy Boxing Undercard Results Recap

Oscar Negrete (16-0) and Victor Ruiz (21-7) went to work for all of the 8 rounds scheduled in their super bantamweight match. Both men were very evenly matched as far as aggression and conditioning but it was the more technical fighter that got the nod from the judges in Negrete with scores of 80-72 all across the board.

When he backed his man up into the corner, Negrete was more affective and frugal with his punch selection while on the other hand Ruiz tried to roll and slip shots back wound up along the ropes where he was a sitting duck for Negrete’s left hook. The 5th round saw it showcased masterfully as the Los Angelino jabbed and jabbed then threw the punch snapping his man’s head back with a loud thud. Ruiz became wilder as the rounds progressed, becoming off balance by throwing so wide and hard. Negrete stayed composed and his crisper jab, straight right and right hook found their mark as he picked up the unanimous decision triumph.

Photo Credit: Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions

Horacio GARCIA ‎(31-2-1) defeats Fernando Vargas (32-14-3) by majority decision with scores of 75-75, 76-75 and 78-73.

Garcia ‎worked the head and body as he forced his man along the ropes for a good portion of the fight. Vargas did his best to operate off of his back foot or with his back along the ropes but his approach to be a counter-puncher backfired when he let himself be mowed down by Garcia’s offense which was uppercut and left hook heavy. In the 3rd Round, the Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico native ripped away at his man with a barrage of punches that sent Vargas down to a knee unto the canvas. He beat the count and let Robert Byrd know he was fine as he nodded his head but he returned to his backfoot defense giving up too much real estate. Garcia bent over and hid behind his guard the following couple of rounds before launching clean left hooks to the body of his man slowing him down round by round.

The plan worked well as Horacio Garcia nabbed the decision verdict using his better hand speed, slicker offense and great body work keeping his man at bay and wearing him round over the course of 24 minutes.

Carlos MORALES (16-1-3) defeats Cesar Valenzuela (14-5-1) via split decision with scores of 78-74 and 78-74 and one judge seeing 77-75 for Valenzuela.

The scheduled lightweight battle of 8 rounds‎ went the distance as Morales hunted his man from one side of the ring to the other. Valenzuela returned fire with the more reaction-drawing blows but they were not as powerful in the match as his foe’s. Morales constantly pressed the action and came foward with combinations as well as a strong willingness to slug it out in the trenches. Valenzuela’s retreat and movement backwards in a straight line made the Los Angelino’s pressure look allot more impressive, likely swaying the two judges who saw it for Morales.

Alexis SALAZAR (8-4) defeats Even Torres (6-3) via split decision with scores of 58-56 and 58-56 in their 6-round super middleweight bout. One judge had it for Torres with a score of 58-56.

Salazar slipped, ducked and side-stepped his way to a split verdict victory over Torres. His defense was tighter and his punches landed cleaner and at a higher rate. Torres chased him too much and wasn’t as effective on the inside when the two traded blows. In the pocket, Salazar’s work rate was more efficient and his footwork kept him off the hook or near any trouble when Torres was looping his shots in hopes of landing a game changer which never came.
Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena , MGM Grand
When: Friday May 5th, 2017