Northern California was the scene for this week’s edition of Monday Night Boxing that featured a course of promising talent with a side order of surprise.
Eight bouts graced the Redwood City SportsHouse with Manuel “Tino” Avila (12-0, 4 KOs), Paul Mendez (14-2-1, 6 KOs), and Jonathan Chicas (10-1, 4 KOs) garnering the national spotlight on Fox Sports 1 for this local showcase. All three were short of a quarter century in age with the main event combatant, Avila, as the youngest at 21 years old.
While the evening stirred up noise for Avila, who scored a 2nd round stoppage, and Chicas, who handily outclassed and overpowered his foe to a unanimous decision, a draw halted some of the buzz that middleweight Paul Mendez had created by notching an undefeated record upon joining Garcia Boxing in Salinas, Calif. The crowd that backed its local fighters in pride-driven fashion had little revolt and much silence once the judges sealed Mendez’s fate. A bittersweet result muffled the initial cheers that remained steady prior to the draw. Despite the minor deflation, the local conglomerate received a brilliant Avila performance.
Manuel “Tino” Avila TKO2 Jose Angel Cota
The 21-year-old Pride of Vacaville is recognized for his ability to box towards a victory and wither his opponents down, so many were surely taken by surprise when Avila took out his mismatched opponent within two rounds.
While working behind the jab and unleashing multiple left hooks, a signature of the prospect’s, Cota was opened up from above the left eye. The red on his adversary triggered a green light for Avila who pinned the journeyman against the ropes. Once there, Cota was helpless, overwhelmed, and doomed with no response as Avila unleashed a flurry that would have been endless if it had not been for the referee who rightfully ended matters at 2:32 of the 2nd round.
“I felt great. I was expecting more rounds but the sooner, the better,” said Avila.
With the win, Manuel “Tino” Avila improves to 13-0, 5 KOs and will be a featherweight prospect to keep an eye open for as he continues to grow.
Paul Mendez Draw Louis Rose
In this clash of middleweights accustomed to going the distance, it was no surprise that the in-ring result would come down to the judges’ marks. The hometown favorite Mendez was in for more than he signed up for against a far from well-known gatekeeper Louis Rose.
Rose, nicknamed “Unknown,” played the villain role to perfection. The fighter out of Southern California came off of three straight victories where he introduced undefeated fighters to their very first loss. Early taunting, a durable chin, and a motor built to last 10 rounds foiled Mendez’ game plan.
Mendez, who is effective when at a distance and working from the outside, was unable to continue that strategy when Rose forced a phone booth brawl in an already small ring. Nonetheless, Mendez fought the uphill battle against an opponent with a now 8-1-2, 2 KO record that did not match his disrupting skill set.
The scores: 97-93 Mendez, 96-94 Rose, and 95-95. Mendez maintained his record via draw to a 14-2-2, 6 KOs mark. Despite the unwelcome result, Mendez and his corner had an impressive year to the tune of 3-0-1. At 24 years old, potential is aplenty for the Salinas-bred middleweight.
Jonathan Chicas UD6 Joaquin Chavez
Durability met sheer power in this junior welterweight televised opener with the latter in victory and the former spoiling the taste of it by withstanding all of the hard-hitting blows. Chicas, the brawler out of San Francisco, was in hunt for a knockout and victory early, but the sturdy Chavez was unwilling to give the Northern California prospect both.
“I wanted to get the knockout, but he was a tough kid and was pretty elusive at times where he needed to be,” said Chicas.
In the early rounds, the burly Chicas found a home for his rocket-launched right hand that was cleared for take-off by his consistent jab. His opponent was caught multiple times by straight right hands and even a loaded left hook that seemed to stagger Chavez with a late reaction. The first four rounds told the tale of Chicas landing right hands at will where many were surprised to see the journeyman Chavez still standing.
Unfortunately for the San Francisco power puncher, his foe Chavez kept to his natural instinct of survival, as he had never been knocked out in all 10 of his losses.
Chicas put on an eye-catching performance of gritty power and relentless punching despite a hand injury that plagued him earlier this year.
“My hand felt good over the last two fights. It felt a bit tender, but I had no problem in there. I was still hitting him with the right hand as I saw it kept landing,” said Chicas.
Chicas was victorious by way of a unanimous decision with the scores, 60-54 and 59-55 twice.
Andy Vences UD4 Jose Garcia
San Jose’s Andy Vences improved to 5-0 with 2 KOs after he dismantled Jose Garcia with his arsenal of left hooks and body shots. The patient fighter handily won while many wait for his move up in rounds as he has the lasting power to break fighters down over time.
Benjamin Briceno (3-1) SD4 Mario Ayala (2-1)
San Leandro’s Briceno and Sacramento’s Mario Ayala gutted out a fiery four-round junior featherweight bout filled with alternating pressure from both fighters. Ayala effectively stalked his opponent throughout the night and switched the role by working from the outside, but the Kennel boxing product Briceno found the holes and kept his opponent off with effective usage of the jab.
Jesus Sandoval Majority Draw Sammy Perez
This action-packed junior lightweight brawl disregarded defense and had both men firing away to start. Sandoval resorted back to being the boxer while Perez came to brawl regardless of his opponent’s aim. Scores were not ideal with one judge scoring it 40-36 for Perez while the other two saw it as an even draw.
Darwin Price KO2 Omar Avelar
Former track star and Paul Mendez stablemate Darwin Price notched his third professional victory and second technical knockout. Though the welterweight may be known for his phenomenal conditioning and speed, Price is aware of what it takes to prove victorious.
Price knocked Avela down seconds before the first round’s closing bell with a body shot and mimicked that move again in the beginning of the second. After two knockdowns, Avelar was out on his feet and slow to recover until Price inflicted a barrage of punches on the ropes before the Avela corner threw in the towel for a stoppage.
“I was patient because he was a wild fighter. It’s just another win and I don’t take any fights lightly. It’s all about staying prepared and staying in shape,” said Price after his victory.
Andrew Tabiti KO1 Eric Slocum
In the opening fight, fans were introduced to one of Mayweather Promotions’ youngest and biggest products, Andrew Tabiti. A “Beast” by nature and name, Tabiti started with a right straight hand that introduced his opponent Slocum to the canvas and a body shot that reintroduced his foe to ground for a second time midway through the round. Though Slocum recovered, he was hurt for a third time by a monstrous right hand that forced the corner to throw in the towel.
Floyd Mayweather Sr.’s cruiserweight prospect Tabiti, who already looks like a future force to be reckoned with, improved to 2-0, 2 KOs.
“It’s a blessing to be working under Floyd, I’m learning a lot. He’s the best, his son’s the best so to be a part of the best team is just a blessing,” said Tabiti.
