Tag Archives: Zenunaj

Posted on 08/18/2018

By: Dylan Smith

Golden Boy Promotions put on a live event from the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. ESPN televised their card and it featured two entertaining bouts, including a bloody main event.

The following is a recap of their event.

Photo Credit: Tom Hogan-Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions

The co-main Event of the evening.

A 10 round war! It was a brutal display of heavy shots and relentless pressure by both boxers. Japanese Yoshihiro Kamega stayed true to his form by constantly coming forward and not giving young Vendetti a moment to breath. Greg being the younger guy by 7 years, he held his composure and kept pushing back the Japanese Warrior.

From the first round Kamegai pushed Greg Vendetti backwards to the ropes were he let loose heavy hooks to the body and head.
The first time for The Villain to go past 8 rounds is a testament the Kamegai’s toughness. Yoshihiro gained Vendetti’s respect form the start of the fight as Greg kept a nice tight guard. Until the 7th round where he seemed to lower his guard and become more relaxed into the fight. Vendetti’s corner was pumping him up in between each round to keep him motivated which was a stronghold to aid his performance.

The Villain managed to swell up Kamegai’s left cheek from continued right hands beating him down. Although a lot of heavy shots were thrown and landed, neither man was put down in the fight and it lasted the whole 10 rounds.

In Kamegai’s last 5 fights he has landed 24.6 punches per round 39% of them being power punches. But allowing 26 punches 43.8% of them power punches to land from his opponent. This fight was a lot closer in terms of what landed however as Vendetti landed 37% of power punches and Kamegai landed 36% of his. The total punches thrown was 629 for Yoshihiro and 826 for the Villain Vendetti so he was the busier man. A lot of punches were thrown by each man, only 1% difference in what was actually landed, which is closer than the judges had it scored however.

Both judges had Greg Vendetti winning by a unanimous points decision, one by 98-92 and the other by 97-93. Vendetti did seem to land the better shots but it was a competitive fight as both fighters didn’t stop throwing the whole fight.

Greg ‘The Villain’ Vendetti is at the early stage of his career and will go on to advance to the next stage, performing very well tonight against a seasoned vet in Yoshihiro Kamegai. With it being an entertaining fight, as it was, both boxers can come again I’m sure.

The main even of the Evening

An action packed fight with an aggressive fighter being charged by a juggernaut. Andrew Cancio has been working his day job up until the last week of his fight. Having managed to put in the hours in the gym as well. The hungry fighter had a great opening and towards the end of the 1st round he seemed to hurt Dardan Zenunaj with a big right hand. Cancio threw double the amount of punches as Dardan and landed 48%. Round 1,2 and 3 Cancio continued to throw double the amount of Zenunaj.

El Chango looked strong and composed even in moments where Dardan put pressure on him. Andrew was landing clean crisp counter punches on the inside and outside. Zenunaj absorbing a lot of punches he was relentless in charging forward. Both men utilised the jab well, Andrew however seemed to find his range better and, in some rounds was landing double the amount of punches than Dardan.

The key in this fight was the uppercuts thrown by Cancio. He seemed to be able to land at will to the centre gap in the guard of Zenunaj. El Chango utilised good footwork, evading punches and fighting on the back foot. Zenunaj did land shots of his own however and kept on working throughout the fight.

With great conditioning and mind of a warrior Dardan kept pushing forward. He seemed to get stronger as the fight went on, even when hurt he shook his head to allude he wasn’t. He boxed well, cut off the ring and forced Andrew to work. His work rate wasn’t diminished through the rounds but seemed to improved. His pressure was consistent and although behind on points came out in the 8th with a bounce in his step. With only 2 rounds left he and his corner knew they needed to finish Cancio to win. Wanting to finish the fight he carried on showing his massive heart.

They went at it in the 9th with beautiful left hooks and straight rights from Cancio but Zenunaj kept coming forward. Andrew was spitting blood which covered the face of Dardan. In the 10th Zenunaj had a lot of success and man handled Andrew. As the crowd cheered ‘El Chango’ Andrew stayed in there, his nose bloodied he bit down on the gun shield and water out until the bell.

The two fighters embraced on the final bell and gave it their all. They had a lot of respect for each other and both put on a wonderful performance. The crowd gave them a standing ovation and although not a native of California, Zenunaj seemed to win over the home town crowd of the Monkey.

It lasted the duration of the 10 rounds and went to a points decision. All judges in favour of Andrew Cancio.

Punch stats were Cancio three 994 and landed 356 (36% pct landed) and for Zenunaj 1062 only 278 landed (26% pct landed).

Andrew Cancio has earnt a deserved win, his 19th victory. It makes you wonder What could he achieve if he dedicated his time solely on boxing?

Another great fight from 2 tough fighters who displayed pugilist skills and entertained the crowd who were on their feet.

Posted on 12/15/2017

By: Ken Hissner

At the Fanasty Resorts Casino in Indio, CA, Thursday night over ESPN due to Diego De La Hoya’s inability to make weight for his fight against Jose Salgado it’s been replaced by Morales vs Zenunaj on a Golden Boy Promotions.

Photo Credit: Golden Boy Boxing

In the Main Event Super featherweight Carlos “The Solution” Morales, 17-2-3 (6), of Los Angeles, CA, defeated by technical decision over Dardan Zenunaj, 14-4 (11), of Pec, Kosovo but residing in Los Angeles, CA, for the vacant NABA title, after the fifth round.

The first round Zenunaj was the aggressor. A left hook from Morales to the chin of Zenunaj rocked him. Both boxers scored with right hands. A left hook from Zenunaj caused a cut above the left eye of Morales. In the second round Morales comes out throwing punches in bunches. Three jabs from Morales followed by a right to the head of Zenunaj. Zenunaj landed his best punch so far a lead right to the chin of Morales. Zenunaj finished well with a hard left hook having Morales off balance.

In the third round Morales used a countering jab keeping Zenunaj at bay. Morales landed a good combination to the head of Zenunaj. Morales countered Zenunaj who was walking into his punches.

Morales landed a hard chopping right to the head of an aggressive Zenunaj. Morales landed a solid left hook to the head of Zenunaj just prior to the bell.

In the fourth round Zenunaj landed a good right to the neck of Morales. Zenunaj landed a good left uppercut to the chin of Morales. Another head clash caused a cut over the right eye of Morales.

Zenunaj landed a solid left hook to the head of Morales. A 3-punch combination from Morales to the head of Zenunaj got the latter’s attention. Zenunaj ended the round with a 3-punch combation to the head of Morales.

In the fifth round Zenunaj chased and caught Morales with a good right to the head. Morales landed a solid left hook to the head of Zenunaj. A hard left hook to the body from Zenunaj had Morales hurt. Morales ended the round with solid head shots but too little too late. Morales also had a cut on the bridge of his nose.

Before the sixth round started the referee brought in the ring physician to check the cuts on Morales. Morales informed the ring physician he couldn’t see out of his right eye due to a head butt so they went to the scorecards.

Judge’s all have it 49-46 as did this writer. Unfortunately for Zenunaj he had a big fifth round. Zenunaj called Morales a quitter and Zenunaj said he saw double out of his right eye.

In the Co-Main Event 2016 Mexican Olympian Welterweight Raul “Cougar” Curiel, 2-0 (1), of Tamaulipas, MEX, stopped Israel Villela, 6-8 (2), of Cancun, MEX, at 2:31 of the fourth and final round.

In the first round Curiel was the aggressor working his jab followed by left hooks and uppercuts to the body and head of Villela. Villela countered with rights to the head. In the second round a solid right to the head from Villela got Curiel’s attention. Curiel’s body attack with hard left hooks made Villela clinch. Curiel landed a solid 3-punch combination to the body and head of Villela. Curiel landed a 3-punch left hook to the body of Villela. Curiel drew blood from the nose of Villela with solid left hooks to the face of Villela.

In the third round Curiel landed solid combinations to the chin of Villela drawing blood from the mouth. A 3-punch combination from Curiel with the final punch a left hook to the head of Villela hurt him. A double left hook to the body by Curiel dropped Villela. It looked like a kidney punch. In the fourth and final round a right, left from Curiel to the head rocked Villela. Villela showed plenty of heart countering Curiel but taking a body beating. Curiel landed a solid left hook and right to the chin dropping Villela with and a left while Villela was on a knee. The corner of Villela ended it to the disgust of Villela.

Curiel had a total of eighteen bouts in the World Series of Boxing that without head gear was good preparation for the professional ranks. At the Olympics food poisoning robbed him of his first round bout losing as a walk over.

Opening bout 2012 Olympic Bronze Medalist Super flyweight Marlen Esparza, 4-0 (0), of Houston, TX, shut out Karla Valenzuela, 3-17-3 (1), of Palacio, MEX, over six rounds.

In the first round Esparza stalked Valenzuela with a solid jab. Showed a good left hook and landed a solid one to the chin prior to the bell rocking Valenzuela. In the second round looking for her first knockout Esparza finally had Valenzuela opening up offensively until a clash of heads. Valenzuela was holding her left eye. She walked into the head of Esparza. Esparza ended the round with a solid combination to the head of Valenzuela. Both boxers landed left hooks at the same time. Another head butt warning from the referee.

In the third round Esparza rocked Valenzuela who looked to the canvas as it was the cause of her slipping. Esparza lands several good left hooks going to the body and head of Valenzuela. In the fourth round Esparza continued to outwork Valenzuela.

In the fifth round a good right hand off of a left hook by Esparza landed on the chin of Valenzuela. She was still looking for that first knockout over Valenzuela.

At the bell both boxers landed right hands with Valenzuela getting stunned by Esparza. In the sixth and final round Esparza landed a double left hook to the head of Valenzuela closing the bout winning all six rounds. The referee was Raul Caiz, Jr.

All three judges and this writer had it 60-54 for the winner.

In a swing bout Featherweight 18 year-old southpaw Ryan Caballero, 4-0 (2), of Coachella, CA, stopped Franco Gutierrez, 1-1 (0), of Agua Prieta, MEX, at 0:34 of the first of a scheduled four.

In the first round Caballero drove Gutierrez into the ropes with a possible shoulder injury from a Caballero flurry. Referee Raul Caiz, Jr. stopped the bout.