TalkingBoxing Articles
Santa Cruz Stops Zavala in Four
SAT June 11, JAY DUVAL - Jose Armando Santa Cruz continued on his unbeaten path tonight as he stopped game, but outgunned challenger Ernesto Zavala in four rounds in the main event of tonight’s Telefutura card from the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Ill.
Santa Cruz, 135, of Lincoln Heights, CA, boxed aggressively from the outset, controlling the first three rounds with his jab, setting up hooks and straight shots from both southpaw and conventional stances.
Santa Cruz ultimately would catch Zavala, also 135, of Burbank, CA against the rope and drop him under a flurry of punches with 1:30 left in the fourth round. Santa Cruz would force Zavala back against the ropes and rain power shots on him from all angles with little response for nearly a minute before referee Tim Adams stepped in to call a halt to the bout at 2:16 of the round. With the win Santa Cruz goes to 20-0 with KO number 11 and wins the lightly regarded NABF “interim” lightweight title. With the loss the Freddy Roach trained Zavala drops to 20-4.
Other action on tonight card included welterweight Germaine Sanders of Chicago, IL, thoroughly out boxing Luciano Perez also of Chicago in a 10 round fight that had scores of 97-93, 98-92, and 99-91 for Sanders. Also in undercard action, David Pareja of Chicago, IL won a unanimous 6 round decision over Rodney Moore of Denver, CO
Promoters: Top Rank & 8 Count Promotions
