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01/23/2008 Archived Entry: "Wiggins and Monaco fight to a draw at the Emerald Queen"
Wiggins and Monaco fight to a draw at the Emerald Queen
By Ricardo Ibarra at ringside
Photos by Mike Blair
Wiggins (left) and Monaco engage along the ropes
In recent years the Emerald Queen Casino of Tacoma, Washington and Brian Halquist Productions have consistently produced more boxing shows than any other fight venue in the Pacific Northwest. This past Saturday they kicked off their first show of the new year with a six bout card that produced some fierce under card action and an evenly matched ten round main event between two shopworn, yet still capable heavyweight journeymen.
Donnell Wiggins (24-9-4 14 KO’s 209 lbs.) of Covington, Tennessee, stepped into the main event as a last minute replacement to take on Denver, Colorado’s Louis Monaco (16-35-5 8KO’s 217 lbs.). Wiggins fought at a measured pace throughout the early portion of the fight, remaining on the outside for the most part, working behind his jab.
This early strategy paid off as he racked up points, taking the first three rounds. Monaco found success in the fourth and fifth rounds as he began to cut the distance and land with short punches on the inside.
The pace of the fight remained consistent as both fighter traded rounds down the stretch. In the rounds where he used his jab, Wiggins controlled the pace. Monaco was effective in the rounds in which he was able to close the distance and force exchanges on the inside.
In the end the fight seemed up in the air as reflected in the judges’ scores of 95-95, 95-95 and 96-94 Monaco. The bout was declared a majority draw.
In the semi-main event Christopher Gray (7-6 1KO 151 lbs.) scored a lackluster six round unanimous decision over Carson Jones (13-6-1 7KO’s 153 lbs.). Both fighters fought at a measured pace throughout the fight.
Gray took the majority of the rounds by landing with the more effective punches while Jones failed to mount much of an offense. When Jones did throw he swung wildly from too far out and seemed unwilling to commit to his punches.
The slow pace finally picked up in the last round when a one-two combination from Gray dropped Jones for a mandatory eight count. After the count a reenergized Gray picked up the pace, punching in combinations and landing more punches in the final moments of the round than he had landed in the entire fight. The judges’ scored the fight 59-55, 58-55 and 59-55, all for Gray.
Nunez (right) jars Hernandez with a straight right
Local featherweight prospect Merced Nunez (6-1 2KO’s 125 lbs.) eked out a split decision victory over Hondi Hernandez (5-2 3KO’s 125 lbs.) in a very close four round women’s bout.
Both fighters began the bout at a relatively slow pace, Nunez stepping in and out, looking for openings, while Hernandez maintained her distance. In the second round Nunez began to close the distance with right hand-left hook combinations, pressing her opponent along the ropes. Hernandez tried to maintain her distance with her jab, occasionally landing with hard counter left hooks, but Nunez pressed the attack forcing the exchanges.
In the third Hernandez had success with her left, snapping her opponent’s head back with solid hooks.
Going into the fourth round Nunez seemed to understand the fight was close and applied the pressure. Stepping in behind her jab, she was landing consistently with her right hand, while Hernandez looked for an opening for her left hook counter. Midway through the round Hernandez found her mark with a jarring left hook that had Nunez in serious trouble. Nunez fired back, showing some resiliency, but ate another hard left hook from Hernandez at the end of the round.
The official judges’ scorecards read 39-37, 39-37 Nunez and 39-37 Hernandez.
Heber City, Utah’s Miguel Beltran (2-0 144 lbs.) scored a slight upset over Tacoma, Washington’s Will Hughes (3-1 3KO’s 144 lbs.) with a four round unanimous decision in the best fight of the night.
Hughes, a decorated amateur and undefeated as a pro, was seen by many as a future prospect. Beltran burst that bubble with smart boxing and determination.
From the outset it was clear Beltran had a game plan for this bout. Hughes had become increasingly reliant on his right hand in recent fights, focusing too much on landing one punch. Beltran took advantage, using his opponent’s aggression against him, blocking and parrying oncoming punches and counting accurately. He controlled the majority of the fight this way.
Hughes fired back at every opportunity and found some success with the right hand, but Beltran was getting the better of most exchanges.
A close third round that saw both fighters exchange wildly ended with Hughes taking a big right hand to the chin. The punch wobbled him badly and caused a knockdown to be scored by the referee because his glove had touched the canvass. As the referee counted Hughes struggled to keep his balance and although the fight was allowed to continue it seemed inevitable that the end was near.
In the fourth round Beltran abandoned his game plan and opened up wildly, trying desperately to score the knockout. Hughes, now with his legs back under him, began to find the openings for his right hand. A hard right-left wobbled Beltran as the two exchanged in the center of other ring. The crowd roared in appreciation as Hughes fired power punches, looking for the knockout he needed to walk away with his undefeated record intact. Unfortunately for Hughes the round would end before he could secure a stoppage.
The judges’ scored the bout 38-37, 39-35, 39-36, awarding the decision to Beltran.
Brue (left) takes it to Poursoui, who covers up
In a four round cruiserweight bout Portland, Oregon’s Robert Brue (3-0 2KO’s 176 lbs.) remained undefeated with a unanimous decision victory over Canadian Mehdi Poursoui (2-2 181 lbs.)
From the sound of the first bell both men set a quick pace in the bout. Early on Poursoui was effective with stronger punching, landing repeatedly to Brue’s body. Brue had success with counter punching, but Poursoui seemed stronger in the first round.
From the second round on Brue picked up his pace and began to take control of the fight, landing cleanly with effective combination punching. Poursoui had his moments late in the fight, landing with hard hooks, but Brue fired back with strong punches every time.
By the end of the fight Brue had his opponent bleeding profusely from his nose and from a cut along his chin. Two judges scored the fight 40-36; the third had it closer at 38-37. The improving Brue adds his third victory.
In the evenings opener William “Billy Goat” Bailey (7-1 2KO’s 175 lbs.) scored a four round unanimous decision over Matt Halverson (3-2 3KO’s 175 lbs.).
Halverson had success early in the bout, using his right jab and good lateral movement, out boxing Bailey. Unfortunately Halverson seemed to run out of gas by the end of the first round. Bailey picked up his output and closed the distance. Hard right and left hooks all seemed to find their mark on Halverson’s head and body as Bailey pressed his opponent for the remainder of the bout.
The judges scored the bout 40-36, 40-36, 39-37.
All in all, it wasn't bad for a show headlined by a couple of shopworn, but respectable heavyweights. Nope, not bad at all!
