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12/01/2007 Archived Entry: "Cisneros Cleaves Clevenger in Two, Estrada K.O.’s Rumbolz in Six!"
Cisneros Cleaves Clevenger in Two, Estrada K.O.’s Rumbolz in Six!
Photos and report by Juan C. Ayllon at ringside
Cisneros (right) and Clevenger trade fierce blows in the early going
LYNWOOD, Ill., November 30, 2007—It was a homecoming party of sorts for two Chicago boxers at the Ho-Chunk Sports and Expo Center this night.
For Rudy Cisneros, a former participant of “The Contender” boxing reality show who’s struggled to put together a bout since last April, it was a happy reunion with the sport he loves. And for David “The Weezel” (sic) Estrada, whose last bout was a technical knockout loss to undefeated knockout artist Peter Quillin last November at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom, it was sweet vindication.
Here, just south of the windy city, an appreciative crowd welcomed them back with open arms, rooting for them and cheering loudly when they prevailed.
Cisneros (right) digs a right to the abdomen of Clevenger in a heated exchange
In the main event, Rudy Cisneros came out firing crisp lefts and rights in the first. The round was contentious, as Independence, Missouri’s Keith Clevenger fired back with cat-quick counters. It looked like a chess match in fast-forward, as the two jockeyed for position and fired short bursts back and forth. Still, Cisneros was backing—and busting—up Clevenger. There was swelling and redness about Clevenger's eyes as he was knocked back on his heels with a fast combination ending with a straight right to the head.
Cisneros terminated the bout in the second. Tearing into Clevenger with sharp jabs and crosses, he dropped him three times, finishing him off with a right to the chin. Referee Pete Podgorski waved the fight off at 1:25 into the second round.
Rudy Cisneros poses with his trainer, Jorge Hernandez
With this win, Cisneros (154 lbs.) rises to 11-2 with 10 knockouts, while Clevenger (156 lbs.) falls to 10-8 with seven knockouts.
Afterwards, an elated Cisneros said, “I’m glad to be back in the ring. I missed this ring so much!”
Estrada (right) batters Rumbolz on the ropes
I’ve always found it somewhat vexing that, on the advice of a creative friend, Chicago super middleweight David Estrada spells his nickname W-E-E-Z-E-L. Ever the zany one, Estrada takes pride in expressing his unique style with his pink trunks, constantly changing tunes on his voicemail greeting, and—yes—his nickname. Well, spell it any way you like, as promised, it certainly was “Weezel Time” when Estrada entered the ring to face experienced veteran Bruce Rumbolz.
And, by the way, it’s true what they say about David Estrada’s jab in the gym: It’s very quick and sharp. Putting it to good use, he pumped the jab hard and fast en route to dumping Rumbolz on his haunches with a wicked left hook to the side in the first round. Rising at about the eight count, Rumbolz survived the round as Estrada looked to set him up.
“He don’t like it downstairs!” shouted Michael “The Midnight Stalker” Walker, an undefeated middleweight prospect and fellow gym mate from Chicago. He could be heard throughout the match shouting instructions like, “Don’t wait,” “Throw the double jab,” and “He don’t like it down there!”
In the second, Estrada banged away behind the jab, landing some hard rights to the head and snapping hooks to the body. However, Rumbolz landed some rights of his own over the top and cornered him at rounds end, capping off with a right to the back of the head.
Estrada picked things up in the third, followed advice and ripped a hard left-right to both sides of Rumbolz and battered him along the ropes with prolonged two-fisted barrages. Indeed, it was “Weezel Time.”
Estrada repeatedly battered Rumbolz with crisp blows to head and body in the fourth. However, he appeared to tire towards rounds end. Rumbolz, who looked to counter with chopping rights over Estrada’s bounced a jarring right off the top of Estrada’s head. Stunned, Estrada covered and backed to the ropes.
Rumbolz (right) attacks as Estrada covers up on the ropes
“He’s hurt!” shouted someone from Rumbolz’ corner. Rumbolz swarmed as Estrada covered in the waning moments of the fourth.
“He caught my attention,” said Estrada. “[Trainer] Jorge told me, ‘Don’t let him get his confidence up!’”
No matter. Estrada continued raking Rumbolz over in the fifth with hard jabs to the chest and head, occasional rights and hooks to the body, and finished the job in the sixth, where he battered and finally dropped him with a deluge of punches. The finisher appeared to be a left hook to the head--which knocked Rumbolz’ mouthpiece into the second row, noted one observer.
Referee Gerald Scott counted Rumbolz out at about the two-minute mark.
With this win, David Estrada (162 lbs.) advanced to 11-10 with seven knockouts, while Sterling, Illinois’ Bruce Rumbolz (166 lbs.) fell to 21-15-2 and 15 knockouts.
Afterwards, Rumbolz said, “I don’t know what the final blow was! I felt that I was stronger than him. However, he caught me with an uppercut as I was trying to press the action.”
Smiling, Estrada said, “I got a win. As always, I’m my worst critic. I’m not happy with my performance, but I’m happy with the win. It is what it is. Now it’s just back to the drawing board. This is my first fight in a year and I’m looking forward to putting together more wins, hopefully.”
He continued, “The guy had a winning record and he came to fight. But, my punchers were a bit more crispier than his. Once he felt my power, he started to retreat. I got the hard earned win. The guy doesn’t have 21 wins for nothing!”
Summing up, Estrada said, “I’m feeling really good. I’m back on a winning streak and I want to keep it that way. I’m thankful to Chicago fans not giving up on me, ‘cause I haven’t given up on them!”
Estrada added that since he wasn’t able to celebrate Thanksgiving dinner to make weight for this fight, he was going to enjoy a belated celebration and “give thanks today…eat ice cream—everything. I’m letting myself go today!”
Taylor (center) attacks Wade as referee Podgorski looks on
Chicago’s hard swinging super middleweight, Gerald Taylor (168.5 lbs.), swung for the fences in garnering a unanimous decision victory over Charles “God’s Child” Wade (166.5 lbs.) in four rounds.
It was a rough and tumble affair. After being told between rounds three and four that he was in jeopardy of losing a point, Wade made a reasonable effort.
“A lot of fighters are looking to go the distance, so they hold,” said referee Pete Podgorski. “So, when they see the finish line, they’ll fight for that final round.”
In the fourth, Podgorski could be heard saying, “Come on, give yourselves some room to punch,” as the two smothered their punches by swinging—and wrestling—in close.
Judges scored the bout identically at 40-36 for Taylor, bringing Gerald Scott’s record to 3-0, while Wade slipped to 1-3.
Orphius White (right) takes it to Nicholas Whitting
In his pro debut, Chicago's ripped Orphius White (170 lbs.) outclassed and ultimately stopped Bendisi, Minnesota's Nicholas Whitting (172 lbs.)—who dropped to 0-7—at 1:14 into the second round.
White was the effective aggressor throughout, stepping around well, using quick jabs and crosses to pummel his opponent.
His nose bloodied, Whitting uttered an epithet before being dropped hard with a left hook. Referee Gerald Scott waved it off without a count.
Afterwards, White said, “Can’t wait to do it again.”
Nilam Patel addresses the crowd
Promoted by Nilam Patel—who apparently is the first Asian woman to promote a boxing match in Illinois history—this show showcased four fights, a DJ, a Latin band, and a very loud group of rappers that surely rattled the foundations of the Ho-Chunk with banks of Eastern Accoustic Works speakers and huge subwoofers. As for the sound, sometimes a little less is more, as I found it very difficult to interview Podgorski during one of their sets.
Still, I’d guess that for the majority of those in attendance, they’d join Orphius White in saying, “Can’t wait to do it again!”
Orphius White, shown here with his woman during a break in the action
* * *
Above, rappers entertain with a lot of urban verve and panache
From left to right: An unidentified ring official, referee Pete Podgorski, and Michael "The Midnight Stalker" Walker visit at ringside
Francie Estrada--David's wife (center), and David's brother, Joel Estrada (right), show their support for "The Weezel" after he just won his fight
Chicago boxing guy, Rick Fortuno (right) with Michael Walker at ringside
From left to right: Joel, Francie and David Estrada celebrate "Weezel Time!"
