All photos by Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions
Looking to continue his meteoric rise up the Super Bantamweight division, undefeated WBC Youth World Champion Diego De La Hoya (17-0, 9 KOs) will headline the Thursday, May 18 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN in a 10-round battle against crafty veteran Erik Ruiz (16-6-1, 6 KOs) at Casino Del Sol Resort in Tucson, Arizona and televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes starting at 10:00, pm EST/7:00 pm, PST.
In the co-main event of the evening, the USNBC Super Middleweight title will be up for grabs when Super Middleweight prospect D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard (16-0, 12 KOs) rides a five-knockout steak into a 10-round battle against heavy-handed Adrian Luna (18-4-1, 11 KOs).
Stick with Round By Round Boxing‘s Vince Minnick who will be ringside providing up-to-the-minute results of all the action.
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Diego De La Hoya vs. Erik Ruiz
De La Hoya with the clear advantage in skill. Snaps Ruiz back with the jab a few times. He has avoided Ruiz punches fairly easily.
Diego’s defense is impressive. Slips most of Ruiz attacks. After 2 rounds nothing has seriously hurt either, but De La Hoya’s making Ruiz feel his punches.
Ruiz picks up the pace in the 4th, snapping De La Hoya’s head back on an uppercut. De La Hoya responds with his own attack, his jab being his best punch so far.
Both fighters having some success, but De La Hoya is finding ways to absorb and block more of Ruiz’s attacks. A straight right hand is starting to follow that jab from De La Hoya.
Ruiz rallies again in the 6th snapping back his opponents head twice, however that seems to bring the fight out of Diego, who responds immediately.
More movement from De La Hoya in the 7th and 8th. Seems content with countering an scoring, rather than brawling. He’s finding ways to be offensive without moving forward.
A 10 punch De La Hoya combo highlights the beginning of round 9. Ruiz manages to land 2 hard right hands , but De La Hoya still very much in control, utilizing his jab throughout. We go the the 10th and final round.
De La hoya outboxed Ruiz again. Ruiz finishes throwing wildly, but nothing lands cleanly.
De La Hoya (100-92, 99-91 twice) wins by unanimous decision improving to (18-0,9 KOs).
D’Mitrius Ballard vs. Adrian Luna Flores
Good first round by both. Ballard looks like the bigger fighter but Luna proves himself twice putting Ballard on the ropes and scoring. Luna opens up the second with some pressure. Twice corners Ballard and gets the crowd reaction. Ballard covers in the corner and lands a huge right counter that flattens Luna. He survives the round.
Luna putting together hard combinations. Ballard responding with heavy right counters. Both fighters feel each others power in the third.
Ballard is hurt at the end of RD 4. Luna puts it on him the last 20 seconds. The crowd is on its feet.
Rounds 5 and 6 are tough to call. Ballard absorbing the harder shots overall. Both fighters throwing a lot. We have a fight.
The next two rounds follow a similar pace. Each fighter is having moments. One goes then the other. They are meeting in the middle and trading. Thudding body shots from both. Luna hurts Ballard in the final 20 seconds of RD 9 and throws everything he has. We go the the 10th and final round.
They both finish swinging. Luna should get the decision. He fought back hard after the knockdown and had the cleaner exchanges.
Ballard wins by unanimous decision (97-92, 95-94 twice). He improves to (17-0,12 KOs). Crow boos the announcement, tough for Luna.
Robert Manzanarez vs. Erick Daniel Martinez
Slow opening rounds. Manzanarez winning early, but nothing significant landed yet. Both fighters seems hesitant, but Manzanarez looks very sharp when he decides to throw. Middle rounds continue at the same pace. Manzanarez scoring on Martinez’s mistakes, but nothing dangerous landed cleanly.
Joshua Franco vs. Marco Antonio Sanchez
Joshua Franco improves to (10-0, 6KOs) as he lands a heavy left hook that finishes Sanchez inside the first minute of RD 1.
Hector Tanajara vs. Daniel Bastien
Jonathan Navarro vs. Ricardo Alan Fernandez
Navarro dominates the first 2 rounds. He hurt Fernandez on a few occasions, but he’s hanging tough. Navarro is impressive with both hands. He’s mixing the uppercuts and hooks easily, while maintaining the center of the ring throughout.
Another 2 rounds in the books for Navarro. He’s landing some serious punches to the body. Left hook easily his best punch thus far.
Fernandez shows a ton of heart but was dominated from start to finish. Navarro wins (60-54, 60-53 twice) by unanimous decision.
Eben Vargas vs. Rodolfo Gamez
Vargas wins by unanimous decision.
