Gavern Edges Quezada in Lemoore

LEMOORE, — In an entertaining ten-round affair, longtime journeyman Jason Gavern scored the biggest win of his career and upset the future plans of WBC #9 ranked Manuel Quezada in the process, taking a split decision on Thursday night at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino.

Quezada (29-5, 18 KOs) of Wasco, California got off to a good start in the first, stalking his opponent early before finding a home with some stiff right hands. Gavern (19-7-3, 8 KOs) of Kissimmee, Florida did more playing to the crowd than anything else in the first, as he would mug to the crowd after Quezada landed a clean blow.

The momentum of the fight seemed to change in the second, as Gavern, 226.2, caught Quezada, 228, with an accidental headbutt that visibly shook up the defending WBC CABOFE Heavyweight Champion. One point was deducted from Gavern for the headbutt due to an absurd WBC rule penalizing the uninjured fighter after an accidental foul. The headbutt, and the resulting point deduction, seemed to invigorate both fighters, who went toe-to-toe to close the round. While Quezada landed his share, Gavern clearly got the best of the exchange.

Quezada was the busier fighter to start the third, but Gavern picked up the pace late which may have earned him the round. On several occasions, especially during the middle rounds, Quezada would land one solid shot at a time, and Gavern would laugh it off or play to the crowd. After some posturing, Gavern would turn offensive again and win heated exchanges.

Quezada opened the sixth with some solid straight right hands, but still Gavern turned and shook them off. Midway through the round, a normally inconsequential left caught Quezada off balance, sending him to the mat. Referee Marcos Rosales waved off the knockdown, much to the chagrin of Gavern, but the house replay suggested that it was a knockdown. Either way, Quezada was clearly not hurt by the blow, and both fighters closed the round with more gave-and-take action. Again Gavern appeared to be getting the better of the exchange.

The pace slowed in the seventh, as both fighters, Gavern especially, looked drained from the fast-paced bout. Even with their stamina depleting, there was plenty of action in the seventh and to close the eighth. With Gavern resting against the ropes, and looking to hold at times on the inside, Quezada may have won the ninth. Both fighters went all out in the tenth, but a somewhat rejuvenated Gavern got a bit more done. In the end, one judge scored the bout for Quezada, 95-94, but was overruled by the other two judges who both scored it 95-94 the other way.

“I wasn’t supposed to get this fight,” said Gavern after the bout. “I lost my last two fights, and that’s why I think they picked me.” Gavern cited personal issues contributing to defeats to unbeaten prospects, Neven Pajkic and Denis Boystov, in his last two fights. “I lost my last two fights because of my mental state, I wasn’t really ready for those fights, but this time I was prepared.” The prepared Gavern of Thursday night upset a fighter who late last year was ranked WBC #4 and could have been a fight or two away from a title eliminator or a big money fight overseas. While there was no stipulation for a rematch in the event Quezada lost, Gavern said he would be more than willing to give Quezada a rematch. “He gave me the opportunity, so I have to give him the opportunity back.”

After the fight, Quezada sounded like someone who was hoping for another opportunity at Gavern. “As soon as I can get back in the ring, I want to get back in the ring, and if it is with him I would love that,” said Quezada. “As soon as we can do it, let’s do it. If I put my hands together, and got busier, I can definitely beat this guy.” The usually busy Quezada had not fought since October, and feels that may have played a part in his performance. “I don’t take anything away from the guy,” said Quezada. “I knew he was going to be a tough guy. What didn’t help me was the sixth-month layoff. It is what it is, but we have to go back and get at it.”

Rising light welterweight prospect Mike Dallas Jr. (13-0-1, 4 KOs) of Bakersfield, California obliterated journeyman Genaro Trazancos (22-11-1, 13 KOs) of Fort Myers, Florida in the opening round. Dallas, 142.8, dropped Trazancos midway through the first and Trazancos, 140.8, never recovered. A left hook wobbled Trazancos again, this time against the ropes, which brought referee Dan Stell in close to the action. A devastating uppercut and right hook combination sent Trazancos down again, prompting Stell to leap in before he hit the mat. Official time of the stoppage was 2:51 of the first.

The kayo of Trazancos was the second straight impressive knockout victory for Dallas this year. Early in his pro run Dallas had more of a shoeshine style, but has made efforts in sitting down on his blows, and the results are speaking volumes. “A lot of people told me I would hit harder if I slowed it down, since I still had more of an amateur style,” said Dallas. “I have been taking my time, and it has been working in fights. I am hitting much harder.” There has been talk about a fight against Josesito Lopez for Dallas on either the -Tomasz Adamek undercard on April 24th at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California or on May 8th at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California on the Paul Williams-Kermit Cintron card.

Former amateur star Michael Ruiz Jr. (1-0) of nearby Fresno, California looked impressive in his professional debut, scoring unanimous shutout over durable Jose Luis Mares (0-3) of Lompoc, California. Ruiz, 117.6, stayed in the pocket and picked Mares, 117.4, apart for the four rounds. Any offense Mares could muster was quickly countered with precise shots. Early in the third, a straight left counter busted up a discouraged Mares’ nose. By late in the third, Mares was mostly defensive, which limited Ruiz’ ability to land clean counters. Ruiz, the USA Boxing #3 ranked flyweight before turning pro, won by the unanimous score of 40-36. Ruiz is slated to return to the ring on the May 8th card in Carson.

Forward-moving Juan Tepoz (4-2-1) of Santa Rosa, California pounded out a unanimous four-round decision over game late replacement Jose Pacheco (2-12-6) of Cudahy, California. Tepoz, 122.2, was clearly the harder-puncher and was able to stun Pacheco, 125, at times in the bout. What Pacheco lacked in speed and power, he made up for in heart, as he never took a backward step. After four action-packed rounds, all three judges gave Tepoz the nod at 40-36. Tepoz was originally scheduled to take on Ephraim Martinez (4-0, 1 KO) of Buttonwillow, California, who was forced to pull out after a recent automobile accident.

In a back-and-forth corker, Paul Mendez (4-1, 2 KOs) of Bakersfield, California scored a four-round split decision over previously unbeaten Tyrell Hendrix (4-1-1, 2 KOs) of Los Angeles, California. Hendrix, 170.8, got off to a solid start in the first, as Mendez, 167.8, seemed bothered by his speed and languished on the ropes for long stretches. Action began to heat up in the second, as Mendez settled in as the counter-puncher against the aggressive Hendrix.

Mendez looked briefly winded in the third, which prompted Hendrix to open up even more. Mendez sucked it up and wobbled the onrushing Hendrix coming in late in the third. The fourth featured more two-way action, as Mendez cut Hendrix early in the round, before Hendrix got his second wind and came on late. In the end, one judge scored the bout for Hendrix, 39-37, but was overruled by the other two, who scored the fight 40-36 and 39-37 respectively for Mendez. Mendez may fight in May, but will return to the Central Valley on a June 19th card at the McDermont Fieldhouse in Lindsay, California.

In an entertaining opener, Rufino Serrano (5-3) of Santa Maria, California scored a hard-fought four-round unanimous decision over determined Eder Peralta (1-2, 1 KO) of Pasadena, California. Serrano, 126.4, pressed on the gas pedal late in the first to take control of the fight. Peralta, 127, was not the gifted boxer-mover his opponent was, but it did not stop him from pressing forward for the four rounds. Serrano countered Peralta coming in with a right hand late in the fourth to score the only knockdown in the fight. In the end, all three judges scored the bout for Serrano, 40-35.

2008 U.S. Olympic teammates Shawn Estrada and Javier Molina were originally slated for the card, but had to withdraw with nagging hand injures. Estrada, a former resident of nearby Hanford, was in attendance.

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at [email protected].