FORTUNA AND ROSA WIN IN ALL OUT WARS
ON HBO LATINO
Las Vegas, NV (6/1/14) – Earlier tonight, DiBella Entertainment and Sampson Boxing presented a thrilling six-bout HBO Latino card at the newly renovated Tropicana Resort in Las Vegas, NV.
In the main event, former featherweight world champion Javier Fortuna had all he could handle as he went to absolute war with Juan Antonio Rodriguez in a hellacious 10-round bout.
Fortuna, now campaigning at super featherweight, got off to a quick start, and dropped Rodriguez in the third. Fortuna’s speed and combination punching were on display and it seemed as though Fortuna was going to make quick work of Rodriguez. As the rounds progressed though, Rodriguez was able to turn the fight into an absolute war.
Fortuna suffered a nasty cut over his right that got worse and worse as the fight wore on. By the 9th round both of Fortuna’s eyes were swollen shut, but somehow he fought on as Rodriguez stalked him around the ring. The 10th and final round was as good a round as any, as Rodriguez desperately tried to score the knockout he needed to win the fight. Fortuna was able to hold on though, and ultimately was awarded the hard-fought and well deserved 10-round unanimous decision, winning by scores of 98-91 across the board.
With the win Fortuna improved to (25-0-1, 18KO’s) while the warrior Rodriguez saw his record fall to (26-5, 23KO’s).
In the co-feature, red hot undefeated prospect Luis Rosa improved to a perfect (17-0) winning a 10-round unanimous in yet another war against WBC #5-rated super bantamweight contender Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle (18-2, 13KO’s).
Round one was a feeling out round for the two Puerto Ricans, but by round two a war began to break out.
There was really good two-way action from both as Rosa stalked Del Valle around the ring, switching between orthodox and southpaw, and landing hard combinations to both the body and head of Del Valle. Del Valle fought well though off his back foot, and landed a number of hard shots of his own.
In the 5th round Rosa opened up a nasty cut on the bridge of Del Valle nose that would bleed for the remainder of the fight. In the same round, with the two exchanging, Del Valle landed a short left hook that sent Rosa to the canvas for the first time in his career. Rosa beat the count easily though and the fast-paced action resumed immediately.
Rosa was deducted a point in the 7th for hitting on the break, and rounds 8-10 saw the two go toe-to-toe with Rosa pressing the action and getting the better of the exchanges.
In the end Rosa was awarded the grueling 10-round unanimous decision, winning by scores of 98-91, 97-91, 97-92.
On the undercard, former WBA junior middleweight world champion and “The Contender” champion Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora improved his record to (26-3-2, 9 KOs), scoring a dominate 5th round TKO over Samuel Rogers (14-2, 8 KOs).
The WBA #10-rated middleweight Mora, got off to a quick start, dropping Rogers with a huge overhand right midway through the first, and then never let off the gas.
Mora had Rogers reeling at the end of the 3rd as he landed two more monstrous right hands.
Rather than box and move, Mora stayed in the pocket and unloaded bombs with both hands, scoring well to both the body and head of the bigger Rogers.
In the 5th Mora sent Rogers to the canvas again with another big right hand that had Rogers in big trouble. Rogers was able to beat the count but he was in bad shape and the end was near. As the action resumed Mora jumped all over Rogers, forcing the referee to call a halt to the contest at 2:55 of the 5th round.
It was a very impressive showing for Mora, and his 2nd consecutive knockout since signing with DiBella Entertainment. Mora has been calling for a title shot with both GGG and Quillin for months and his stock certainly rose with tonight’s showing.
OTHER RESULTS
JESUS GUTIERREZ TKO1 PABLO BECERRA
ROCCO SANTOUMARO UD8 DANIEL QUEVEDO
JOAQUIN CHAVEZ MD6 DONTE STRAYHORN
