By: Sergio L. Martinez
Telemundo’s long running boxing series entered its 25th year of existence with an event live from Kissimmee, Florida, U.S.A. The televised portion of the card featured popular Puerto Rican Jonathan Oquendo along with two rising prospects.
The main event opened the broadcast as resurging super bantamweight Jonathan Oquendo (24-3-0 with 16 KOs) took on Mexican Guillermo Avila (12-2-0 with 9 KOs). The fight was scheduled for 12 rounds. Oquendo and Avila wasted no time as both men let the leather fly early and often. Avila, whose only loss was to world rated contender Wilfredo Vasquez Jr., was looking to end the night quick as he fired shots with evil intentions. Oquendo, a former Olympian for Puerto Rico, kept his composure and was able to pickoff the Mexican in spots. Avila found the canvas in the fifth, courtesy of an Oquendo left hook. The Mexican rose and fought ever harder in an attempt to salvage the lost point on the scorecards. As the fight went into the latter rounds, the Puerto Rican took control, landing blows and getting the better of the exchanges with his foe. Oquendo hurt Avila in the 11th and closed the 12th strong. The judges awarded Oquendo a unanimous decision.
TELEVISED UNDERCARD RESULTS:
Undefeated Arizona 140 pound prospect Luis Olivares (7-0-0 with 5 KOs) dismantled the overmatched Puerto Rican Jeffery Ramos (3-2-0 with 2 KOs). The fight was scheduled for four rounds but only went three as after a sustained beating, the fight was humanely stopped to ensure Ramos did not sustain further damage.
The final fight of the night was a quick one as Juan Carlos Castillo (1-2-0 with 1 KO) stopped hometown fighter Luis Garcia (1-0-0) in the opening round with a vicious right hand shot that sent Garcia crashing to the canvas. Garcia was not able to continue, leading Castillo to a knockout victory.
