Raul Curiel Wins at Commerce

Raul Curiel, De La Hoya and Braekhus Win at Commerce Casino

By Lauren Rodriguez

(Photos by Al Applerose)

COMMERCE, Ca.- Golden Boy Promotions closed the year for boxing in Los Angeles Saturday night. The event, presented by DAZN, Hennessy and BET Online, was hosted at the Commerce Casino.

The main event, a scheduled 10-round bout for the NABF welterweight title, was short lived. The match between Mexican fighter Raul Curiel (12-0, 9 KO’s) and Georgia native Brad Solomon (29-6, 9 KO’s) was brought to a halt in 44 seconds of the second round. It was a jab with an apparent uppercut that burst a bloody pipe in Solomon's nose. Curiel remains undefeated with 12 wins under his belt, 10 by way of knockout.

A burning question, whether Curiel is up to fighting his promotional teammates Alexis Rocha and Blair Cobbs?

“I respect them as fighters and consider them my friends. However, business is business and they are just as hungry to become world champions as I am. So, if the opportunity presents itself and I have to fight to become a world champion I will take it,” said Curiel.

Co-Main Event

The co-main event of the night was a 10-round bout in the super featherweight division between Diego De La Hoya (24-1, 11 KO’s) and Jose Gonzalez (23-10-1, 13 KO’s).

The match began with Gonzalez falling over as he tried to duck blows from an aggressive De La Hoya. De La Hoya, fighting out of Mexicali, Mx aggressively led the fight with his left hand. Gonzalez, a Guadalajara native often found himself in front of De La Hoya’s hefty left hook. In the third round it was a left hook to the stomach that knocked Gonzalez down before he would rise again, quickly falling over his opponent.

In the fifth round Gozalez was caught by De La Hoya's combination but quickly caught himself. Determined to keep De La Hoya from a knockout victory, Gonzalez remained persistent as he stumbled around the ring. An accidental head butt in the eighth round resulted in a technical decision of 80-70, a victory for De La Hoya. De La Hoya improves to (24-1, 11 KO’s).

Braekhus Returns

In the super welterweight division, a six round match between former undisputed welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus (37-2, 9 KO’s) and Argentinian Marisa Portillo (19-15-3, 4 KO’s). After an almost two year hiatus, Braekhus quickly found her flow in the ring. Working her combinations, the Norwegian Braekhus used her left jab to keep Portillo outside. Portillo's attempts at c.onnecting inside the body lacked technique as she led with her head, a method that resulted in her almost falling over directly into Braekhus’ gloves. Going the six round distance, Braekhus appeared unscathed by her opponent as Portillo desperately tried to land an impactful blow. The match was scored 60-54, a unanimous decision in favor of the Norwegian fighter. Braekhus improves to (37-2, 9 KO’s)

Other bouts

In the super middleweight division, an eight round bout between Aaron Silva (11-0, 8 KO’s) and Alan Campa (18-7, 12 KO’s) instantly escalated the night.

Making his Golden Boy debut, Silva aimed to put on a show as he exerted a killer combination in the last fifteen seconds of the second round. The attack left Campa defenseless as he was quickly cornered against the ropes.

Campa tried to keep scores close as he turned the round into a slight brawl in the fourth before the two tired out. It was in the fifth round that a malicious combination by Silva left Campa falling against the ropes before he rose only to be attacked once more with another slew of combinations that forced him to fall straight back. The bout was called to a halt at 2:34, a KO victory for Aaron Silva. Silva remains undefeated with 11 undefeated victories, 8 by way of knockout.

A 10-round match between Californian Jousce Gonzalez (14-0-1, 12 KO’s) and Mexican Ivan Cano (26-11-2, 16 KO’s) went the distance. Cano quickly led the first round as Gonzalez tested the waters of his opponent. Gonzalez appeared tired by the second round, leaning on Cano. Within the second round Gonzalez made a breakthrough, trapping Cano with combinations along the ropes before countering with an uppercut. As the fight progressed, Gonzalez became the aggressor, intensifying the match. The bout was scored 97-93, 98-92 a unanimous decision in favor of Gonzalez. Gonzalez improves to (14-0-1, 12 KO’s.

In the lightweight division a six round match between Nick Sullivan (6-1, 1 KO) and Angel Vasquez (12-0, 6 KOs) quickly lit up the ring as the two blitzed around like lightning. In the second round, a combination to the body nearly buckled Vasquez’s knees before he caught his own fall. As the match progressed, the two kept scores close, Sullivan ducking Vasquez’s attempts. The close match was scored 55-57, a unanimous decision in favor of Angel Vasquez. Vasquez remains undefeated with 12 victories, 6 by way of knockout.

A fight in the lightweight division between fan favorite Martin Leon (15-2, 10 KO’s) and Ricardo “Conejo” Quiroz (12-1, 6 KO’s) kept viewers on edge as the fighters kept scores close. Leon led the first seconds of the round before Quiroz picked up his combinations, leaping before he connected with his opponent. The crowd cheered for Morales who seemed to be increasing adrenaline as he utilized his combinations.

The close match was scored 78-74, 79-73, a victory for Quiroz who improved to 12 victories, 6 by way of knockout and one loss.

In the featherweight division, Gregory Morales (14-1, 8 KO’s) went up against Diuhl Olguín (15-29-5, 10 KO’s). Morales’s heavy hitters echoed throughout the event tent as he worked his uppercuts to Olguíns torso. The bout was scored a unanimous decision of 59-55, in favor of Morales. Morales improves to (14-1, 8 KO’s.)