Bey, Lujan and San Antonio
score KOs on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights
by Dave McKee
July 3, 2011
(JULY 3) A raucous crowd of six thousand
welcomed ESPN to the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio Friday, July 1st to
enjoy an excellent fight card consisting of international contenders and
young Texas fighters looking to make names for themselves. The night was
particularly special as San Antonio’s rich boxing heritage received its
due in the form of a celebration of the inaugural class of the newly
formed San Antonio Boxing Hall of Fame.
The first televised fight saw Cleveland’s Mickey Bey (16-0-1, with 8
KO’s) challenge Guadalajara, Mexico’s Alejandro Rodriguez (12-3, with 6
KO’s). Rodriguez had an opportunity to impress, as he was coming off two
losses, was fighting outside his home country and faced, in Bey, an
unbeaten professional fighter and U.S. Olympic team member who had been
KO’d by pneumonia rather than gloves in 2004. When the bell rang these
obstacles proved too difficult for Rodriguez, who lost the first three
rounds and then was amazingly felled twice and knocked out by a single
punch in the fourth. Upon being hit Rodriguez appeared calm as he took a
knee, but after rising he slumped into the ropes. This forced a
stoppage, and Bey moved on with a TKO to pad his record.
In the main event Argentina’s Sebastian Lujan (37-5-2, with 23 KO’s)
risked his top ten ranking in all three major sanctioning bodies by
facing Mark Melligan (21-2, with 14 KO’s) of the Philippines on eight
day’s notice. This seemed reckless as the fight approached and, through
the first three rounds, this recklessness appeared to be taking the form
of a full blown mistake. Melligan moved well and landed a number of
impressive left hands, though he missed as much as he hit.
After losing the first three rounds Lujan proved why he should be
thought a serious contender as he embarrassed Melligan with brazen
ducking and weaving without any attempt to return the many missed
punches thrown by his foe. He took the fourth and fifth rounds and, by
round six had established dominance over Melligan. A frustrated and
bloody Melligan had no answer for Lujan’s defense and could not endure
Lujan’s right hand, which began to make increasing contact. In rounds
six, seven and eight Melligan encountered the canvas. Stretched out
before the commentators’ table after the final knock down, he could not
continue.
On the Undercard:
San Antonio’s Ivan Najera (1-0) scored a first round TKO over Pedro
Martinez (2-0) out of Laredo, Texas.
San Antonio’s Abraham Esquivel (3-1) defeated Denton, Texas’ Pedro
Dominquez (2-1) at the 48 second mark.
Randy Fuentes, making his pro debut out of Edinburg, scored a unanimous
decision against San Antonio’s Mark Trujillo (0-1).
Ray Ximenez (2-0) of Dallas won a unanimous decision over Aaron
Fernandez (1-4) of Farmington, NM.
In what might be considered a co-main event, San Antonio scored a
knockout with inaugural ceremonies for the San Antonio Boxing Hall of
Fame. Those honored were:
"Jesse" James Leija: Leija did not begin boxing until he was nineteen,
but he caught up fast. From 1988 to 2005 Leija had an excellent career,
defeating Azumah Nelson to win the WBA super featherweight championship
in 1994. He was a well-respected fighter, and ended his career with two
titles to his name. He fought in nine world title fights and retired
with a record of 47-7-2, with 19 knockouts.
Robert Quiroga: fought from 1987 until 1995, and he travelled to England
to defeat Juan Polo Perez and become San Antonio’s first world champion.
Quiroga passed away in 2004.
Tony Ayala, Sr.: From 1963 to the present Ayala Sr. has won fame for
training his sons, Mike, Tony Jr. and Paulie, and a number of world
champions. John Michael Johnson, Jesse Benavides, Gaby Canizales and
Michael Moorer all won belts under Ayala’s tutelage.
Joe Souza: Souza was one of boxing’s most respected cut men from 1965
until 2008. In his long career Souza saw to the wounds of Fernando
Vargas, Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker and “Jesse” James Leija.
John Michael Johnson: Johnson fought from 1986 to 2002, retiring with a
record of 30-9, with 23 KO’s. He made himself famous by taking Junior
Jones’ WBA bantamweight title in 1994.
