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08/21/2005 Archived Entry: "Results from Exciting Vargas Undercard!"
Results from Exciting Vargas Undercard!
By Ben Torres at ringside
Kendall Gill (right) takes it to Jason Medina (Josh Walls photo)
Main Events and Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Production brought another exciting boxing card to Chicago.
· Highlighting the early portion of under card was former fighting Illini and Chicago son, Kendall Gill. Making the transition from NBA star to boxing neophyte, Gill weighing 198lbs. (1-0, 1KO) beat outsized Jason Medina (0-1) from Nicaragua. Medina weighing 188lbs was really a blown up junior welterweight. Had Gill fought someone in the right weight category and with more pop in their punches he would have had some serious problems since he was open all night for the counter right. Gill needs to take a page out of Lennox Lewis’ book and fight tall. He was leaning to his left in a crouch the entire fight which allowed the much shorter Medina to counter effectively. Gill won by scores of 40-36.
· Chicago’s favorite son David Diaz (27-1, 15KO’s) fought a four round lightweight war with Atlanta’s John Trigg (12-28-5, 3KO’s). Diaz is trying to get back into contention, but appeared to be slower as if his mind was not in the fight. Although he performed well, Diaz seems to be searching for bigger fights. He deserves them since he has world class experience and skills. Diaz pounds out a 40-35, 40-36 (twice) UD over the game but light hitting Trigg.
David Diaz presses Trigg (Josh Wall photo)
· California light weight Daniel Cervantes (7-0) escaped certain defeat at the hand of Nelson Romine (4-1). Romine form Columbus, OH. controlled the pace and tempo thought out the entire fight landing effective head and body shots reddening Cervantes’ face. The judges scored it 38-38 twice and 39-37, giving Cervantes a gift draw. This writer had Romine winning 39-37.
· Buddy McGirt has a potential star on his hands with hard hitting welterweight Joel Julio from Monteria, Columbia. Julio (23-0, 20KO’s) displayed fluid combinations, good footwork, and explosive power by pummeling game but out muscled Chris Henry (19-11, 14KO’s) out of Bridgetown, Barbados. Henry hung in there with effective counters and staggered Julio on a few occasions but the speedy Julio began to shoot hard lefts to the body bringing Henry’s guard down and making him open to counters. The referee stopped the fight at 2:49 of round four. Henry for his part won the crowd over with his toughness. He needs to be matched better because Henry has some skills. Julio seems to have all of the makings of a future titlist.
Joel Julio (right) stalks Chris Henry (Josh Walls photo)
Other matches:
· The opening bout of the evening saw welterweights Henry Crawford, Paterson, NJ, (7-0,2KO) and Gilbert Venegas (8-1, 5KO’s) out of Moline, IL fight to a deserved draw. Scores were 57-57 twice, and 58-56 Venegas.
· The “Next Great Champ” alumnus and Chicago native David Pareja (5-1, 1KO) fought a hesitant Gregory Holmes (2-3, 1KO) out of Benton Harbor, MI. The light heavyweight yawner was scored for Pareja 40-36, 39-37 twice. Pareja needs to work on his technique since he holds his chin high and his guard low. A good fighter will easily counter over the lazy left he employs.
· Heavyweight BJ Flores (12-0, 8) out of Phoenix, AZ scored a second round stoppage over Nate Zeikle (12-5, 7KO) out of Cameron, MO. Time of the stoppage was: 34 seconds of the 2nd round.
Josh Walls (left) and Ben Torres (Juan C. Ayllon photo)
