Anthony Garnica made a statement in a must-win fight to revitalize his pro career.
The unbeaten featherweight scored a first-round knockout win over former prospect Adan Ochoa. Garnica floored Ochoa to ultimately produce the stoppage at 2:59 of round one lSaturday night at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California.
From the opening bell, Garnica landed lead and counter left hooks upstairs. Ochoa spent the majority of the fight attempting to walk Garnica down. Garnica threw feints as both fighters attempted to use their jab to establish their punching range.
Towards the end of the round, Ochoa went at Garnica, who countered with a right cross and a left hook. The sequence produced the bout’s lone knockdown as Ochoa hit the deck hard. He beat the count, but favored his left foot, forcing him to grab onto the top rope to balance himself. Referee Raul Caiz Jr. recognized that Ochoa could not place any weight on his foot and halted the contest.
It was revealed after that fight that Ochoa likely suffered a fracture in his left ankle.
The clash between Garnica and Ochoa was a crossroads bout between featherweights who needed a victory to put themselves in a position to contend in the division.
Garnica (12-0-1, 7 knockouts), who resides in Oakland, hopes the win over Ochoa will jump-start his career. The 24-year-old had not fought since a first-round knockout of Oscar Negrete last April 14.
His previous fight occurred in September 2022. Garnica defeated Juan Antonio Lopez by majority decision on the Andy Ruiz-Luis Ortiz undercard at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Ochoa, who resides in nearby Compton, fell to 13-5 (6 KOs) with 1 No Contest. He has now lost three of his last four contests.
In the co-main event, featherweight Malakai Johnson of Sacramento defeated Aidyn Yelzhanov by decision over eight one-sided rounds. All three judges scored the bout 80-72 in favor of Johnson (13-0-1, 8 KOs), who improved to 13-0-1, 8 KOs.
Midway through the opening round, a lead left hook to the head momentarily staggered Yelzhanov (6-3-1, 4 KOs). Johnson followed up but was not able to knock him down. Johnson was sharp throughout most of the fight, outboxing Yelzhanov on the inside during exchanges or from distance.
As the bout progressed, and sensing he was behind on the scorecards, Yelzhanov was the aggressor and initiated exchanges. Johnson effectively countered Yelzhanov with jabs and straight right hands to the head.
The 31-year-old Yelzhanov, who is originally from Kazakhstan and now resides in San Francisco, California, fell to 6-3-1, 4 KOs.
Johnson had stopped four of his five previous opponents prior to Saturday.
In an upset, lightweight Victor Lopez Gala of Ciudad Obregon, Mexico defeated fringe contender Victor Betancourt by unanimous decision. Scores were 80-72, 79-73, and 77-75 for Lopez, who improved to 6-1, 3 KOs.
The taller Lopez was busier and outlanded Betancourt for a majority of the fight. As the fight progressed, the 19-year-old Lopez utilized lateral movement and fighting from distance to outbox Betancourt. Lopez’s reach advantage also helped connect jabs and kept Betancourt at bay and from getting any consistent offense going.
Betancourt, who is originally from Mexicali, Mexico and now resides in the Los Angeles suburb of Downey, falls to 30-6-1, 17 KOs. The 33-year-old was unbeaten in his previous four fights and had fought on a handful of Premier Boxing Champion (PBC) and All Star Boxing cards.
Fringe welterweight contender Vlad Panin overcame a knockdown to score a third round knockout win over Victoriano Santillan. The Belarus-born Panin, who resides in Los Angeles, improved to 20-1, 12 KOs.
About a minute into the opening round, a left hook to the chin dropped Panin to the canvas. The taller Panin beat the count, and moments later in the round, knocked Santillan down with a right-left combination to the head.
Both had their moments during round two, but Panin landed the more-telling and effective punches. Early in round three, another left hook staggered Santillan. Panin followed up, landing a series of combinations as Santillan attempted to defend himself. A combination to the head prompted referee Thomas Taylor to step in as Santillan slumped to the canvas.
Santillan, who resides in Buenos Aires, Argentina, fell to 12-7-2, 8 KOs.
Heavyweight prospect Federico Pacheco, Jr. dropped Michael Coronado (4-8-1, 1 KO) of San Marcos, Texas twice en route to a knockout win at 1:22 of round five. Pacheco dropped Coronado once in round three and once again in round five, both by body punches, prompting referee Ivan Guillermo to wave the fight off after the last knockdown.
Pacheco is the younger brother of unbeaten super middleweight contender Diego Pacheco.
Middleweight Martin Sollano defeated Jonathan Ramirez (4-1-1, 2 KOs) of Cheverly, Maryland by split decision. Ramirez, who was fighting for the first time in over six years, won 39-37 on one judge’s scorecard, but the other two judges scored the bout 39-37 for Sollano, who improved to 5-0, 2 KOs.
Sollano grew up in Cuautla, Mexico and is now a school teacher in Amarillo, Texas.
In the opening bout of the Showtime Boxing Promotions card, super middleweight Jaivion Cardinal of Long Beach defeated Houston’s Trevon Smith (2-2, 1 KO) by majority decision. One judge scored the bout 38-38, while the other two judges scored the bout 40-36 and 39-37 for Cardinal, who improved to 6-0, 4 KOs.
Saturday marked Cardinal’s first fight in over two and a half years.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at santio89@yahoo.com
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