by Eric Duran

(August 12, 2005) Tonight at the Pepsi Center, Golden Boy Promotions in association with the Denver Grand Prix, brought ESPN and big time boxing to Denver, Colorado. An estimated 3000 fans came out to see Denver's WBC Continental Americas Champion, Donald "2 Slick 2 Quick" Camarena (15-1-0 9ko's) as he  took on Mexico's 2-time Olympian, Jorge Alberto Padilla (6-1-0 1ko) in the Main event. In the Co-main event, Tijuana's Rogelio Castaneda (19-10-3 6ko's) faced California's Hernan Galaviz ( 7-12-0 1ko). The under card was loaded with local talent. David Finger's Rookie of the year candidate, Longmont's Jesus Noriega ( 3-0-0) took on the ever improving Andrew Marquez (4-3-1 3ko's) of Pueblo. Pueblo's Marvin " Much 2 Much" Cordova ( 4-0-0 3ko's) battled Wyoming native, Marlon Leslie ( 0-2-0). Denver's David Hernandez ( 3-2-1) returned to the ring after an 8-month layoff, taking on Grand Junction brawler James Martinez (1-2). And last but not least, what's a fight card without a heavyweight bout. Former heavyweight contender, David Bostice (33-9-1 14 ko's) of San Bernardino, Ca took on former UFC tough man Patrick Smith ( 4-5-2 3ko's) of Denver, Co. So while only 6 bouts were scheduled, at least 9 fights took place. Buy 2, get 1 free, I guess.

Camarena VS. Padilla

The hometown kid had his hands full tonight, but only because he let them be full. In rounds 1-4, we would see two things, a game opponent in Padilla and a shaky fighter in Camarena. Padilla would open up in round 1, letting shots go at will onto a defensive Camarena. Camarena seemed to adjust in round 2, maybe he had shaken out all the nerves. He would hurt Padilla physically with the straight left, and mentally with the smiling and posing. But round 3 was all Padilla. Camarena seemed gun shy, at times starting to throw a punch but hesitantly pulling it back. Padilla was able to hurt Camarena with he straight right hand. Round 4 was close. With Camarena on the ropes, Padilla would tee off while Camarena would look to slip and counter the attack
Rounds 5-8 were what is becoming classic Camarena, landing the straight left in the center of the ring, only to find his way back to the ropes. Round 5 would end with Camarena ripping 4 left hooks in a row onto Padilla. Camarena would hurt Padilla with the straight left in round 6. In a classic Mayweather moment, while tied on the ropes, Camarena is able to send a shout-out to TV announcer and respected commenter, Teddy Atlas, "What's up Teddy". Atlas was not amused.  Round 7 was a close round, with not as much action as the previous rounds. Camarena would lay on the ropes as Padilla would look for ways to get through his defense. Camarena would rip Padilla in rounds 8 and 9 with the chants of D-BO picking up, unleashing left hooks and lighting combinations onto Padilla. Round 10 was a battle, as both fighters gave all they had left. Camarena would put together combinations, while Padilla threw vicious right hooks in return. With 10 seconds to go in the round, Camarena would unload a 4-punch combo onto Padilla, putting Padilla on 'queer street'.

After 10 rounds of exciting boxing, we went to the score cards. Judge Jerry Roth scored it 96-94, while Judges Steve Waldman and Ed Kuglar saw it 98 -92.  RMB saw it like Jerry Roth, 96-94, 6 rounds to 4 for Camarena

Castaneda VS. Galaviz

Seriously, did we need this bout on the card, or at least, did we need Galaviz. I'm positive that either Mora brother would have taken this fight and won. Heck, Rob Frankel would have been a better choice then Galaviz, in my opinion.

In round 1, both fighters are content with trying to land the left hook. In one of only a few bright spots for Galaviz, he hurts Castaneda with a straight right hand. But Galaviz doesn't follow up with anything, allowing Castaneda to make it a close round
Round 2 goes to Castaneda also. It was his ability to be able to mix in a suitable attack upstairs and downstairs. Galaviz does manage to land a few left hooks and overhand rights that hurt Castaneda.
Round 3 was sloppy, with both fighters on the ropes pitter-patting one another. It was the right hooks and overhand rights of Castaneda that won him the round.
Galaviz would noticeably tire in the 4th round and Castaneda would dominate it. Castaneda, working behind a crisp jab, would unload straight rights and left hooks onto Galaviz for much of the round.
Round 5 was no different, Galaviz out of gas and Castaneda teeing off. Once again, behind the jab, Castaneda would rip Galaviz with left hooks. Galaviz does manage to land a low blow and is warned by the referee for it.
Round 6 was all Castaneda until it abruptly ended. Castaneda would put together a 4-punch combo that would put Galaviz on the seat of his pants. Later in the round, a clash of heads would open up a huge gash over the right eye of Galaviz. The ref would step in and stop the fight because of it. Since it was ruled to have been caused by a head butt, they went to the scorecards.
All three judges saw it the same, 60-54, Rogelio Castaneda.

Martinez VS. Hernandez

What a barn burner we had here, 2 guys, one objective, please the fans. Round 1: Martinez came out jabbing and firing 1-2's. Hernandez avoids most of it by using a lot of upper body movement. Hernandez lands 2 left hooks to the head of Martinez. Martinez responds by firing punch after punch onto Hernandez. Hernandez snaps the head of Martinez with a stiff jab. They trade left hooks in the center of the ring. This sets off a brutal exchange to end round 1. Great back and forth action in this round.
Round 2 was a slugfest. Hernandez came firing and landing left hooks and overhand rights. Martinez would work behind his jab, setting up left hooks to the body right uppercuts upstairs. Hernandez would land a lead right followed by a left hook. Martinez would respond with a straight right of his own. And Hernandez would fire one back and so would Martinez. But Hernandez would end the scoring with a left hook to close the round.
Martinez put on an amazing performance in round 3. Martinez would land a crushing right hook that hurt Hernandez. With Martinez on the attack, he would walk right into a left hook of Hernandez. But he would walk right through it and land a left hook of his own. Martinez began to put together combinations, ripping Hernandez with straight rights and left hooks. Hernandez would stun Martinez though with a left hook late in the round.
Round 4 was no different then the previous rounds. Martinez would open with a right and left hook combo. Both fighters would go to war in the center of the ring, ripping power shots to the head and body (Martinez with the advantage). But it was the outright aggression of Martinez that won him the round.
We go to the scorecards. Judge Tyrone Short scores it 39-37 Martinez, while judges Ed Kuglar and Steve Waldman score it 38-38 for a Majority Draw.  RMB also saw it a Draw.

Marquez VS. Noriega

This by far was the most anticipated fight of the night, local writers and promoters had been talking about this fight for weeks. Noriega was the newest and hottest prospect, while there had been numerous mumblings about the big improvement of Marquez. We (writers) had a hard time figuring why Noriega's people would put him so tough this early in his career, (although he did debut against and beat very respectable Rob Frankel) especially when one of his stable mates, (Felix Rios), was brutally knocked-out by Marquez.  And we were right.
In round 1, Marquez would go to work, blasting Noriega with left hooks and overhand rights. Midway through the round, Marquez would catch and hurt Noriega with an overhand right.
In round 2, Noriega would come out in defense mode, looking for ways to get to Marquez without getting caught. This would work for the first half of the round, until Marquez opened up. Midway through the round, Marquez would catch Noriega with a devastating overhand right, making Noriega do a 180 degree spin while falling to the canvass. Badly hurt, Noriega would rise and beat the count. Referee Stephen Blea gave the undefeated prospect the benefit of the doubt and allowed it to continue.  Unfortunately, he would take a number of answered power shots on the ropes until referee Blea stepped in and stopped the fight at 1:04 of round 2.
Marquez is your winner by 2nd round TKO. Marquez improves to 5-3-1 4ko's, while Noriega suffers his first loss, 3-1-0

Bostice VS. Smith

In a battle of big punchers, David Bostice and Pat Smith put on an exciting but sloppy show. Round 1 saw both fighters land the occasional overhand right and both fighters trade left hooks. It was an exchange in the corner to end round 1, that had the fans on the edge of their seats.
In Round 2, it seemed as though both fighters were mimicking one another. If Bostice landed an uppercut, Smith would come back with one of his own. If Smith landed a left hook, Bostice would respond with one also.
Round 3 was all Bostice. Bostice would land a short left hook that put Smith down and badly hurt him. Smith would beat the count, but he was in bad shape. Another barrage of punches from Bostice would send Smith down for a second time. Able to beat the count once again, Smith would fight on. But a left hook from Bostice would hurt him and the ref would step in and stop it
Bostice is your winner by 3rd round TKO. He improves to 34-9-1 15 ko's, while Smith falls to 4-6-2

On an important note: I saw something in Smith's corner that night that upset me. While Smith had 2 experienced people in his corner, Smitty and Al Charron, his "other" corner person had some issues. When Smith was caught with the first left hook, he was badly hurt and would have had no chance of winning the fight. I saw Smithy with the towel, waiting to throw it in, but the "other" guy held him back. When Smith was put down for a second time, Smithy once again wanted to stop the fight, even trying to get the attention of commissioner Joe Mason. But instead, Smith was left to get knocked down again, before the ref could stop the fight. To whoever the other guy was, man, you put your fighter in a situation where he could have been badly hurt. I also understand that Smith had a shoulder problem of some kind coming into the fight.  I could see if this was a championship with big money riding on the out come. But it wasn't, win or lose, Smith isn't nor do I believe he ever will be, a title contender. So please, don't risk a person's well being when he's in a high risk-low reward position.

Leslie VS. Cordova

From the out start of the fight, it was telling who the better fighter was. In round 1, Cordova dominated Leslie with a stiff jab and a punishing left hook. Towards the end of round 1, Cordova would catch Leslie with the left hook while Leslie on the ropes, prompting the referee to step in and start the count as the ropes were the only thing keeping him on his feet.
Round 2 was no different, Cordova would overwhelm Leslie with combinations and left hooks. Early in the round, Cordova would catch Leslie with a barrage of punches and Leslie would fall. He would rise at the count, but would quickly be put down again from a Cordova left hook. Showing heart, Leslie would be the count, but he should have stayed down or his corner should have thrown in the towel. Moments later, Cordova caught him with an overhand right to the temple and Leslie would fall face first to the canvass.
Cordova is your winner by 2nd round KO. Cordova improves to 5-0-0 4ko's, while Leslie drops to 0-3-0

A conclusion will follow for the extended Magazine version, right now I have a lot to say about the event, and about the events that took place that night and I do not want to forget anything. I'll leave it at that for now, but I am not pulling no punches in the Magazine article. Thank you