Aguilera Destroys Maskaev!
(Erik Killin @ Ringside) - Former heavyweight champion, Oleg Maskaev (36-7, 27 KOs), returned to the ring Friday night in his adopted hometown at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento, California. In front of a good Russian crowd, the former champ took on Nagy Aguilera (15-2, 10 KOs) of Newburgh NY. With a victory, Maskaev was set to face Ray Austin for a WBC Heavyweight Elimination bout sometime next year.
Maskaev came out looking a bit dry. As the bell rang to start the fight, Maskaev still had his back to his young hungry opponent. Aguilera came out with a few jabs backing up the “Big O.” Maskaev pawed a bit with his own jab but was soon caught with a combination that dropped him. Maskaev beat the count but rose on rubber legs. Aguilera pounced on Maskaev, nailing him with a left hook that sent Oleg down slumping into the corner. Referee Lou Moret waived off the bout at 1:54 of the very first round.
This was a huge victory for the 23 year old Aguilera. He is managed by former heavyweight contender Lou Savarese, who was on hand to witness the upset. Retirement may be next for the 40 year old Maskaev.
In the co-feature, undefeated light heavyweight Denis Grachev, (8-0-1, 5 KOs) of San Diego , CA, battled local journeyman Ernesto Castaneda, (11-8-2, 4 KOs) to a six-round majority draw.’
Grachev started well fighting at a distance using his jab , but was eventually lured into Ernesto’s fight. The two stayed at close quarters throwing back and forth. Castaneda fought well on the inside and negated Grachev’s reach and jab. As the fight progressed, Castaneda moved to the ropes and kept the fight at his distance. The scores where 58-56, and 57-57 twice in a crowd pleasing bout.
In a rematch this time at super middlweight, Geraldo Lopez (4-0, 2 KOs) of Vacaville, California took on Kyle Dundas (0-1) of Rocklin, California in a four rounder. Lopez looking out of shape and flabby came out using his reach and superior skills to land on the former MMA fighter. Lopez ended the opening round with a good left hook. The two fighters clashed heads in round two, opening cuts on both fighters. Lopez was cut on his eye and Dunda was cut high on his head. The cuts did not seem to bother either guy in round three as Lopez used his speed to potshot his shorter opponent. Dundas was able to close the round with some nice left hooks. Round four slowed even more and appeared to be turning into a sparring session. At about the half way point, Lopez stepped on the gas pedal and dropped Dundas with a right hand opening another cut near Dunda’s eye. Referee Lou Moret had seen enough and stopped the bout at 2:36 of round four.
Geraldo Lopez moves to (5-0, 3 KOs) while Kyle Dundas drops to (0-2).
In a pairing of two local fighters making their pro debuts, Mike Guy of Sacramento stopped Ayo Olorunsola of Oakland, California in the first round of their scheduled four-round super middleweight fight. Guy came out guns blazing throwing sloppy hooks with both hands. Olorunsola picked off some of the shots and attempted to jab and slow down the pace. Guy started to connect and landed a big right hook to drop Olorunsola. Olorunsola was up but in bad shape when Ref Lou Moret stopped the bout at 1:32 of round one.
Max Becerra, (3-0, 2 KOs) and Thomas Herrera, (2-4-1, 0 KOs) battled it out in a four round lightweight bout. Herrera seemed to drop the over confident Becerra with a straight right in round one. Max was stunned but up. Becerra came back strong in round two using his hand speed to land the jab and left hook to body. Max again was wide open for the right leaving his left hand low and paid on a few more occasions in round two. Becerra outworked Herrera in round three closing out the round with some nice left hooks to the body. Round four started with some good exchanges. Becerra was the more accurate puncher getting the better of these flurries to close the fight. Scores where 40-36 for Becerra by all three judges.
In the opener, amateur star Richard Hargraves (pro debut) of San Francisco, California outclassed the winless John “The Baptist” Dunham, (0-5-1). Hargraves used his reach to jab and land a few combos on Dunham. Around a minute in ,Hargraves dropped Dunham with a right hand. Dunham got up but was once again dropped by a right hand. Referee Ray Balewicz had seen enough and called a halt to the bout at 1:50 of round one.
Local fighters on hand where former champs Tony “The Tiger” Lopez, Loreto Garza, Juan Lazcano , Michael Simms, Stan Martyniouk. , Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield, Hector Martinez, and Eric Regan.
