ESPN 2 Wednesday Night Fights from Sacramento

June 18, 2008

By TomH

LOCK STOPS GONZALEZ IN 10TH

ESPN2 returned to the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California for this week’s edition of Wednesday Night Fights. The Don Chargin promoted card consisted of four bouts.

The bout start with Lock coming out jabbing and circling with Gonzalez in pursuit. Lock, 127, Detroit MI, was the taller, speedier boxer despite Roger Gonzalez’ nickname (Speedy). After nearly getting floored by a straight right, Southpaw Lock came back strong and landed two good lefts to the chin to put Speedy on the canvas.

Rounds two through four belonged to Lock as well as he was the bigger, quicker fighter who was able to control the pace and land the better punches.

Gonzalez, 127, Chino CA, came back and took rounds five through eight. He was basically more aggressive, more effective than Lock. He also landed many combinations along with some good body work.

Round seven actually saw Lock, 18-3-1 (11kos), ready to go. It was all Gonzalez, 27-2 (18). A big flurry stunned Lock, after which his legs were gone. Fortunately for him he was able to turn things around in the last 45 seconds of the round. Lock continued to look fatigued in the eighth.

Round nine saw Lock turn things around again and land two big rights to stun Gonzalez who spent the remainder of the round plodding, trying to slowly counter his opponent. A four punch combo put Gonzalez into the ropes near the end of the round. Gonzalez looked spent.

Early in round ten Lock landed two glancing blows to a shot Gonzalez that put him on the canvas for a seven count. These were not hard shots. Gonzalez struggled up and looked very tired. Another single left to the body put him down again and this was enough for Referee Jon Schorle to stop the action at the 1:27 mark.

Television announcer Teddy Atlas had it 86-85 for Gonzalez, while I had it 86-84 for Lock. A very close and entertaining fight that saw the momentum switch several times.
Gonzalez’ previous lone loss was to former WBO Bantamweight Champion Jhonny Gonzalez.

In the semi-main bout:

2004 Olympian Vincente Escobedo, Woodland CA, took a unanimous 8 round decision over Christian Favela, Los Mochis MX. Even though Escobedo, 18-1 (11), was effective with the jab and able to control the durable Favela, 15-16-4 (9), he will have some problems with the upper echelon of the division with his wide open style. He has a tendency to fight short and not use his height to his advantage. The judges’ scores were: 78-74, 80-72, 80-72. The referee was Ray Balewicz.

Under card Action:

Christopher Martin, 123 ½, Majority Draw 4 with Gregorio Torres also 123 ½. The judges’ scores were: 39-37 Martin, 38-38, 38-38 Draw. Martin, a 2004 California Golden Gloves Champ goes to 10-0-2 (2) and Torres 5-1-2 (4).

Heavyweights: Ashanti Jordan TKO 2 Eric Pippen. Jordan, Fairfield CA, moves to 4-0 (4) while Pippen, Little Rock AR, dips to 3-2 (3). Jordan had about a 30 lb weight advantage.

Tom Hatheway
hathewayboxing@yahoo.com
Link To Article:http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=16181&more=1