Palm Desert, CA Boxing Roundup: A Night of Upsets, Divine Intervention, and Golden Boy's DAZN Finale!
By Miguel Maravilla
Let's dive into the action from Palm Desert, where the gloves were flying and the drama was even higher!
Chavez Triumphs Over Flores in a Thrilling Rematch
Super bantamweights Jorge Chavez of Tijuana (15-0-1, 8 KO's) and Manuel "Gucci" Flores of Coachella, California (20-2-1, 16 KO's) reignited their rivalry in a co-feature bout. After a hard-fought rematch, Chavez emerged victorious by unanimous decision, proving that their first fight was no fluke. The two fighters went toe-to-toe, mirroring their initial clash, but Chavez's offensive prowess in the later rounds, particularly when Flores appeared fatigued, proved decisive. Chavez cornered the hometown fighter with a barrage of punches, dictating the pace in the ninth round. Both fighters displayed incredible grit, battling until the final bell in the tenth. The judges scored the bout 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94 in favor of Chavez, solidifying his victory after a total of 20 rounds of intense competition between the two.
Iriarte vs. De Los Santos: A Fight Scratched by a Higher Power
In a turn of events that's sure to raise eyebrows, the welterweight bout between Bakersfield's Joel Iriarte (9-0, 8 KO's) and Jireh De Los Santos (14-2-2, 5 KO's) of Weslaco, Texas, was canceled at the last minute. The reason? De Los Santos withdrew on the advice of, well, God himself! De Los Santos claimed that he was told by God that the fight "wasn't safe." This fight was originally scheduled to be on the Raul Curiel vs. Jordan Panthen undercard. This last-minute cancellation was the second fight scratched from the Golden Boy Promotions card, as Alexis Rocha withdrew from the main event against Raul Curiel. To add to the significance, this card marked Golden Boy's final event on DAZN, ending their long-standing deal.
Abdulaev Dominates Abreu with a Fifth-Round Stoppage
Uzbekistan's Ruslan Abdulaev (4-0, 2 KO) showcased his power, stopping Eduardo Abreu (14-2-2, 10 KO's) of Uruguay in the fifth round. Abdulaev came out strong, putting pressure on Abreu from the start. He sent Abreu to the canvas in the third round. Abdulaev continued to apply pressure, mixing up his attacks. In the fifth round, Abdulaev dropped Abreu again, and although Abreu got back up, Abdulaev seized the moment, forcing the referee to stop the fight at 2:59 of the round.
Griffiths Goes the Distance, Displaying Superior Skill
Opening the DAZN segment, unbeaten super welterweight Cayden Griffiths (7-0, 6 KO's) of Coachella secured a unanimous decision victory over Lesther Espino (10-8, 8 KO's) of Nicaragua. Griffiths dominated from the opening bell, landing a knockdown early in the fight. His precision and combination skills were on full display as he outboxed the tough Espino, going the distance to secure the win. All three judges scored the bout 60-53.
Ramirez Earns a Hard-Fought Majority Decision
John "Scrappy" Ramirez (16-1, 9 KO's) returned to the ring, winning a majority decision against Byron Rojas (29-6-3, 12 KO's) of Nicaragua in a super flyweight bout. Ramirez took control from the start, showcasing his superior skill and hand speed. He outboxed Rojas, working behind his jab. Rojas pressed in the seventh round, and in the eighth, Ramirez was warned for a low blow. Ramirez maintained his distance in the ninth, but Rojas kept pushing until the final bell. The judges scored the bout 98-92, 97-93, and 95-95.
Guzman's Sixth-Round Stoppage of Rodriguez
Middleweight prospect Fabian Guzman (9-0, 8 KO's) scored a sixth-round stoppage over Jose Rodriguez (3-2, 2 KO's). Guzman landed a solid right hand in the second round, staggering Rodriguez. Guzman then focused on body shots in the fourth, effectively connecting. By the sixth round, Rodriguez appeared exhausted, and Guzman continued to attack, forcing the referee to stop the fight at 2:36.
Rubacalva Remains Undefeated After Eight Rounds
Opening the event at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California, welterweight Ricardo Rubacalva (15-0-1, 10 KO's) of Ventura, California, went the distance with Argentinian veteran Jonathan Eniz (37-25-1, 17 KO's). Rubacalva patiently boxed early on, using his jab to keep the southpaw Eniz at bay. Showing composure throughout the fight, Rubacalva outworked Eniz, mixing it up and landing uppercuts in the sixth round. Rubacalva secured the decision victory. The judges scored the bout 80-72, 80-72, and 79-73.
What are your thoughts on De Los Santos's withdrawal? Do you think the Golden Boy Promotions card was a success? Share your opinions in the comments below!
