Jonathan Romero remained undefeated by scoring a twelve round unanimous decision over Efrain Esquivias in a Super Bantamweight bout at the Chumash Resort in Santa Ynez, California.
Esquivias was the aggressor early as he ays and at times was successful in pushing Romero onto the ropes. Romero fought off the ropes well ans was even better as he was able to move and land punches at more than a 3-1 ratio. In round seven, Esquivias was docked a point for a low blow which replays showed that punch was above the belt but after the bell. Romero continued his accuracy and pounded Esquivias in occasion and was in control until the final bell.
Romero, 122 lbs of Cali, Colombia won by scores of 120-107, 120-107 and 119-108 and is now 22-0. Esquivias, 122 lbs of Gardena, CA is 16-2.
“I felt very good every single round,’’ he said. “I prepared hard for this fight. I sparred with guys that came forward all the time. I knew what he was coming to do because I’d seen him fight. I’m ready to become world champion. But to be a world champion I have to go through great fighters like Esquivias to get to my goal.’’
The aggressive-minded, five-foot-four Esquivias spotted the winner five inches in height, but he never stopped pressing the issue. Esquivias even started quickly, which isn’t the norm for him. But it did no good against the classy Romero.
“He fought his fight and he fought well,’’ said Esquivias, who was docked a point after the seventh for a blatant late hit. “He didn’t want to brawl, but he fought smart. He boxed and I couldn’t catch him. There’s really not much I could have done differently. I was little tired toward the end; it was my first 12-rounder. But I was still throwing punches at the finish. He gave me problems with his movement. I wanted to make it an exciting fight for the crowd. Too bad he didn’t want to stand and trade more.”
Roman Morales got off the deck to come back and score an eight round unanimous decision over Jonathan Arrellano in a Super Bantamweight bout.
It was Arrellano who got the advantage early he landed the more telling blows. In round three, Arrellano landed two left hook with the second depositing Morales on the canvas. That seemed to turn the tide actually for Morales as he started landing some heavy shots and in round six he landed a hard body shot that dropped Arrellano for the first time in his career.
Morales continued to land the hard shots over the next three rounds and came home with the unanimous decision victory by scores of 78-72, 78-72 and 77-73.
Morales, 122 lbs of San Ardo, CA is now 13-0. Arrellano, 122 lbs of Ontario, CA is now 13-1-1.
“I felt I did well,’’ he said, “I was just trying to listen to my corner. They were telling me to use my jab a lot and that’s what I kept trying to do. They were also telling me to work the body more. I should have done that from the beginning.’’
So what was it like getting floored for the first time in his career? “It was a new experience, something I never had felt before,’’ Morales said. “It’s part of boxing, but I said to myself that I have to keep coming forward and show some heart and respect for the game. It was a good fight and he’s a good boxer.”
Arellano felt the scoring was a tad out of line. “I feel that it was a little high in his favor,’’ he said. “I feel I won more rounds than they gave me. It was a good fight though. I don’t take anything away from the kid. I thought I had him out when I dropped him. I was ready to jump on him but for some reason the ref kept me from going right after him and gave him more time. Then he hung in and made it through the round.’’
