With the Phoenix boxing scene picking up, including more fight cards on bigger platforms, Trini Ochoa hopes to put himself more in the mix.
The unbeaten junior welterweight defeated gatekeeper Jose Angulo Saturday night at the Celebrity Theatre in his hometown of Phoenix. Scores were 99-91 (twice) and 100-90 for Ochoa, who improved to 18-0, 8 knockouts.
“My opponent had a tough guard, and he came in three pounds heavier than the contract weight, so he was a bit bigger,” Ochoa told The Ring on Sunday. “I was able to outbox him and not let him hit me. I got cut on my cheek from an accidental headbutt late in the fight, but (it) didn’t faze me. (I) kept doing my thing.”
Angulo had moments of success during the fight, but Ochoa was the more-effective and busier fighter of the two. As Ochoa initiated exchanges or mounted an offense, Angulo kept his arms up, looking for an opening to counter.
Ochoa did well mixing his offense, focusing his attack during the second half of the fight. Angulo looked defeated late in the fight, looking to land one big punch, which Ochoa blocked or used lateral movement to avoid getting hit. Ochoa would then follow up by throwing and landing two and three-punch combinations at Angulo.
In his previous fight on April 27, Ochoa defeated Jesus Gutierrez by unanimous decision. It was Gutierrez’s first fight in almost six years. In his previous fight on October 7, Ochoa knocked out Tackie Annan in the third round.
Both fights took place at the Celebrity Theatre.
The 26-year-old fought only once in 2023 after fighting four times in 2022. Ochoa is a promotional free agent and is managed by his father.
Angulo, who resides in Guayaquil, Ecuador, falls to 16-9, 9 KOs. Angulo lost by majority decision to fringe contender Cletus Seldin in his previous fight on March 15.
The 28-year-old has now lost seven of his last nine fights.
Also on the Iron Box Boxing Promotions card, Sergio Leon Rodriguez improved to 12-0-1, 9 KOs, knocking out Oscar Cortes in the second round. The 28-year-old Rodriguez, who is originally from Hermosillo, Mexico, currently resides in Phoenix.
Cortes, who resides in Zapopan, Mexico, falls to 27-7, 14 KOs. Cortes had not fought since a knockout loss to Bektemir Melikuziev in February 2020.
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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