Golden Boy Promotions’ finale show for 2010

“Fight Night” at Club Nokia

The popular “Fight Night Club” series, presented by Golden Boy Promotions and AEG, hosted their 2010 finale show Thursday night at Club Nokia. Held in the nightclub atmosphere in the L.A. LIVE entertainment complex, the crowd was treated to six professional bouts along with three amateur fights that opened the evening in downtown Los Angeles.

This club atmosphere is great for the fans; they can catch the action up close watching the rising stars in the game while mingling in a nightclub setting. Fight-goers could either stand near the ring or take in the bouts from the balcony section all while a local DJ entertained the crowd between matches.

In the main event, it was an eight round “birthday present” for Norwalk’s Carlos Molina (14-0, 7 KOs) vs. John Figueroa from Puerto Rico (7-8-3, 3 KOs). This battle of light welters had Molina carefully picking his punches after the opening bell against replacement fighter Figueroa after original opponent David Rodela was beset by a car accident. With precision, power and more accuracy from Molina, Figueroa was wobbled around the ten second mark but survived the round. Fans expected an early knockout from the “Birthday Boy” but his Puerto Rican foe hung in there round after round. As hometown favorite Molina continued to unleash a barrage of punches, Figueroa was game, aiming to keep it competitive. The Boricua did eventually find more success on the inside, but again the tattooed Molina proved to be too strong and skilled for him.

In middle rounds, with the audience chanting “Molina! Molina! Molina!” the unbeaten boxer proceeded to find his target shooting both upstairs and downstairs with nice uppercuts and body work. Figueroa proved he had a good chin and a lot of heart, fighting back trying to keep on the inside against the ropes. With the crowd cheering, the two combatants rocked each other in rounds seven and eight with Molina landing the more solid punches with a flurry of combinations. With the final bell, the star prospect’s birthday wish comes true–he remains undefeated in 14 fights. Scores were: 78-74, 79-73, 79-72. And hopefully Molina, managed by Frank Espinoza, and Rodela will be able to fight each other in the future.

In the co-feature between Ukraine’s Ivan Redkach (5-0, 4 KOs) and Carlos Hernandez (3-4-2) by way of San Fernando, it was a scheduled six-round contest that ended up being halted early in a DQ by referee Jose Cobain. This lightweight bout was a sloppy affair with Hernandez wanting to make it a messy brawl with both sluggers falling down in a heap in the first round. In the second stanza, Hernandez received a low blow as Cobian gave him time to recover. As he stood stood in a neutral corner, the crowd booed its disapproval when Redkach was deducted a point. When action resumed, the Ukrainian southpaw wasted no time in attacking his foe, pummeling his body once again with Hernandez saved by the bell. In the third frame, Hernandez was warned for excessive holding and just a few seconds later referee Cobian had seen enough and declared a disqualification for repeated fouls.

New Golden Boy signee Fidel Maldonado Jr (6-0, 5 KOs) from Albuquerque faced Luis Sanchez (1-4) out of Guadalajara in a four rounder. The lightweights had fists flying nonstop in the beginning rounds. Fidel dropped Sanchez with a body shot in the first round. With some vicious exchanges, the southpaw then received a knockdown by the much taller Sanchez when Maldonado’s glove grazed the canvas. A little more caution by both boxers followed until Maldonado flashed his power. The New Mexico fighter, outfitted in bright purple and gold along a goatee and a small rat tail hairstyle, just shook his head any time his challenger connected. Maldonado gets his sixth victory when scores of 39-37 (twice) and 39-36 were read.

In a spirited four-round scrap, the fans were treated to a featherweight war between two debuting fighters. Manuel Avila of Fairfield squared off against Alexis Hernandez from Las Vegas. With the crowd shouting their nicknames of what sounded like “Chino” and “Chavo,” these two warriors really let their hands fly. Avila had his challenger against the ropes weakening him twice in the opening round but Hernandez held his ground making it through to the second stanza. In the following round, Hernandez’ nose was obviously bothering him as he pawed at his nose with his glove while having difficulty breathing. But the courageous kid fought on, even though his breathing became noticeably labored and his hands were kept low at times. The game and brave boxer never gave up even as Avila’s jab, speed and movement kept him in the lead with the crowd roaring for the young gladiators. Hernandez’ face was bruised by the final bell but fought till the end and stayed on his feet. Avila received scores of 40-36 for a unanimous decision in his first pro bout.

Other results:

4 Round Lightweights

Ramon Valadez (4-1, 1 KO) vs. Ramon Flores (3-9-1, 3 KO’s) Wilmington: Valadez by unanimous decision 40-36

4 Round Welterweights

Salvador Rios (2-1) Santa Ana vs. Gerardo Melendrez (0-2-1) Santa Fe Springs: Split decison for Rios 38-37 (twice) for Rios, 38-37 Melendrez

Also in attendance were Oscar De La Hoya with wife Millie Corretjer, new Golden Boy fighter Paulie Malignaggi and actor Mario Lopez.

The rousing “Fight Night Club” series is scheduled to return in February 2011–See you at the fights!

Photos by Marlene Marquez