Callum Walsh KOs Carson Jones

Callum Walsh Kos Carson Jones at Commerce Casino

By Lauren Rodriguez

Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions held their “Hollywood Fight Nights” at the Commerce Casino Friday night. The sold-out event had fans eager to get in as they waited in the long line to enter.

The main event was led by rising Irish fighter Callum Walsh (7-0, 6 KO’s) in his 10-round bout against Carson Jones (43-16-3, 31 KO’s). With Freddy Roach in his corner, fighting out of world famous Wild Card Boxing, Walsh was bound to bring impressive skills to his latest match. Dressed in the colors of the Irish flag, Callum made his introductory walk to an EDM mix of “Heads Will Roll” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, a foreshadowing entrance. 

Carson Jones, in metallic psychedelic print shorts was eager to match hands with his fierce competitor but was quickly stunned by Walsh's quick combinations. A speedy left hook and right overhand momentarily deterred Walsh but the Irish fighter was quick to throw Jones off.

By the second round, Jones found his pace but was unable to get in more than one punch at a time. Walsh’s heavy-handed combos kept flying at Jones who struggled to weaken his opponent. Walsh continued looking for a knockout, bombarding Jones with a flurry of heavy hitters that had the crowd screaming. Jones attempted to hinder Walsh but was unable to retaliate much without clenching.

It was in the third round that Jones began bleeding as Walsh pushed him to the corner with his fists before Jones fell to his knees. Jones rose to finish the final seconds of the third round. In the fourth round, Jones hunched over, falling in between the ropes before the referee called the fight to a final halt. At 2:59 of the fourth round, Walsh was able to secure another knockout to his undefeated record.

Co-main event:

The co-main event of the night was an 8-round match between light heavyweights Umas Dzambekov (5-0, 4 KO’s) and Crispulo Javier Andino (24-15-1, 12 KO’s).

The two sparkled in the ring, Dzambekov in red metallic shorts and Andino in sequined blue. Dzambekov had a clear height advantage over his Argentinian opponent. Within moments of the first, Andino appeared to weaken in the knees and began using the corner backboard as support. Dzambekov jabbed his way through Andino’s earmuff stance before trying to move down the body. By the second round, Andino was trying to get overhand shots but his distance was off.

Dzambekov kept pounding  body shots with his right jab but Andino was able to momentarily rebut. After two uppercuts to the body Andino fell down along the ropes. After resuming, Dzambekov gunned for another heavy blow to Andino’s torso.

By the third round, Dzambekov was on the tip of a knockout as Andino winced through the round. Andino attempted an overhand right despite the pain in his body. It was one final heavy hitting shot to the body that knocked Andino down for the final time.

The match was brought to an early close at 1:57 of round three.  Dzambekov remains undefeated.

Other bouts:

In the female flyweight division, a 4-round bout between Los Angeles native Gloria Munguilla (4-0) and Lilian Almarez (0-3) of Sacramento kept scores close. Munguilla seemed like an impenetrable wall, sturdy and quick to lunge a heavy hand. Almarez was floored by a counter right by Munguilla in the first round but resumed with a vengeance.

By the second round, Munguilla’s left hand led the round. Almarez got her blows in, catching Munguilla with uppercuts. Mungillas attempted an overhand, missed and Almarez caught her with her left. The two went blow for blow the entirety of the four rounds as they fought to get more hits. The close match was scored 39-36, a unanimous decision in favor of Munguilla.

In the super lightweight division, a 6-round bout between Israel Mercado (9-1, 7 KO’S) and Jesus Silveyra Carrillo (11-7-2, 4 KO’s). The two took turns feeling each other's rhythm, using their jab to break the barrier. Immediately in the second round, Carrillo dropped to his knees.

After resuming, the two brawled along the ropes. Firing back at the body, Carrillo was able to corner Mercado who escaped to the ropes but quickly fell from a blow. After resuming Carillo tried to finish him off but Mercado aimlessly fired back.

The crowd cheered for Mercado as he kept busy firing combos. By the fourth round, Carrillo threw more power into his body punches while Mercado exhaustedly fired back. The two dug deeper into their energy reservoir, going hit for hit. Carrillo began bleeding from above the eye but continued on.  In the sixth and final round Mercado fell but rose once more. The two brawled as the final seconds progressed, an uncertain fate for the two who kept scores close. The judges scores were 58-56, 59-55, 57-57 a split draw.

In the welterweight division, an 8 round match between Gustavo David Vitori (28-15-1, 12 KO’s) and Gor Yeritsyan (15-0, 13 KO’s) from Los Angeles.

Gors lengthy arms were a trap for Vitori who easily found himself along the ropes, trying to find an entrance inside. Vitor was hesitant to throw his jab as he finished the round in the red corner. Vitor was forced to take a knee in the second round but resumed. Soon after, he was put on the ropes before going down again and once more a third time.

The knockout came at 50 seconds of round two. Gor improves to 15-0, 13 KO’s.

Esli Cervantes (1-4) and Stefi Cohen (4-1-1, 1 KO’s) went four rounds in the flyweight division.

Cohen was a heavy hitter but Cervantes was quick to bob and weave while throwing a few solid counters. Cervantes seemed tired by Cohen's solid blows but she kept moving forward, using the little energy she had left in the tank.

Working with her jab, Cervantes tried to get as many punches in as she could in the last round while Cohen clinched to save energy. As the final seconds finished, the two struggled to get their last blows in. The judges scored 39-37 in favor of Cohen.

The opener for the UFC fight pass broadcast was a 4-round fight in the super welterweight division between Kalyl Gustavo Martins Da Silva (2-0,2 KO’s) and Peter Emanuel Gonzalez (0-1). Gonzalez’s pro debut was short-lived as Silva quickly knocked him down in the first and second round.

The pre-televised fight between David Romero (5-0-1, 1 KO) and Columbian fighter Andres Figueroa (9-6, 5 KO’s) was in the super lightweight division. Romero cornered Figueroa and battered him with heavy hitters. Romero fought from the center of the ring as Figueroa struggled to keep him off.  The bout was scored 60-54, David Romero as winner.

Post broadcast fight

In a 6-round post main event fight, Pablo Melgar (6-3-1, 4 KO’s went up against  Michael Bracamontes (7-1, 4 KO’s) in a super featherweight match. Although a fan favorite, Melgar met his match with a speedy Bracamontes. The two weaved around the ring, Melgar pushing forward against his quick opponent. The judges scored 60-54, a unanimous decision in favor of Bracamontes. .