Photo by Ismael Gallardo/RBRBoxing
On the September 18 edition of LA Fight Club, Marvin Quintero (28-6, 24 KOs) scored a fifth-round TKO victory over Jeffery Fontanez (16-2, 12 KOs) to win the vacant NABF Lightweight title at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles, California.
The scheduled 10-round fight was televised by Estrella TV in the U.S.
Quintero, of Mexico, fought from a southpaw stance against the taller Fontanez, who is a native of Puerto Rico.
“I knew that he was an experienced and a really good fight going into this fight and so we prepared very intensely,” said Fonantez, who tried to use his reach and height advantage to keep Quintero off him.
That all changed in Round 5 when Quintero landed a shot that hurt Fontanez badly.
“He landed a good shot in the fifth round, a left hand that really did me some damage, and I couldn’t come back from it,” said Fontanez.
Quintero would knock Fontanez down another time before another barrage forced Fontanez’s corner to throw in the towel.
“I respect him as a fighter, but I feel like I was ahead on the cards, he just got a lucky shot,” said Fontanez.
Quintero, on the other hand, was happy to notch another victory for Mexico.
“It feels great, phenomenally satisfying to have added a win for my country in the great Mexico-Puerto Rico rivalry,” said Quintero.
“I feel proud of the work I have put in. My left hand was a big weapon for me tonight. It’s been something we’ve been working on in the gym. This victory is for the people of Mexico,” concluded Quintero.
Photo by Ismael Gallardo/RBRBoxing
In the co-main event, Carlos Morales (12-1-3, 6 KOs) dominated O’Nell Negron (11-2-2, 87 KOs) before eventually stopping him in Round 7.
Morales, who fights by way of Los Angeles, California, boxed smartly and kept Negron at a distance.
Negron said that he was shocked by Morales’ speed, though he had previously seen footage of him fight.
Tonight, however, Negron learned quickly that footage can be quite different from reality, where Morales’ jab and right hands kept Negron at a distance.
“My intelligence and my body work made a difference in the fight,” said Morales.
In Round 6, Morales landed powerful shots, many of which Negron did not respond to.
Finally, in Round 7, the fight was put to a halt.
“I trained really hard for this fight, so it feels really great to add another win for Mexico in the great rivalry,” said Morales.
Photo by Ismael Gallardo/RBRBoxing
In the first televised fight, Oscar Negrete (11-0, 3 KOs) dominated Jose Estrella (14-8-1, 10 KOs) en route to a sixth-round TKO victory.
Negrete was sharp throughout the fight, landing quicker and stronger combinations on Estrella.
“The strategy was to box in the early rounds and wear him down for a late knockout,” said Negrete, who began overwhelming Estrella before his corner put an end to the fight.
Negrete says that he’d like to fight two more times before getting a shot at a world title.
LA Fight Club returns with another card packed with young prospects on October 2.
