Hector Vasquez shows impressive fight at QuikTrip Park

by Hector Sanchez of North Texas Fisticuffs

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Other winners included James Burns, Jose Rodriguez, Angel Sigala, Ray Ximenez, and Jose Orozco.

The 4th Annual Fight Night at QuikTrip Park on Friday in Grand Prairie, which was previously rained out, turned out to be a success, and well worth the wait. Fighters from the metroplex and as far as Austin, Texas put on a great show for the raucous crowd in attendance.

The main event between the smooth Hector “El Diamante” Vasquez (6-1, 2KO’s) from Dallas, Texas and the durable Corey Yett (3-2, 1KO) from Austin, Texas turned out to be a great fight, especially for the Dallas fans.

In the first round, Vasquez had a very confident look on his face at the beginning of the fight and he started throwing quick jabs with power behind them. He had good speed with both hands as he landed a multitude of punches and combinations on his opponent. His opponent, the rugged Yett, stood his ground as the round ended. The second round was much of the same for Vasquez as he moved smoothly around the ring and continued to land clean hard punches on Yett.

In the third round Yett tried to get his punches in, but Vasquez then started going to the body and landing heavy punches. Vasquez then landed a huge right to the head of Yett, to the delight of the crowd. The shorter Yett was able to get in a few punches as Vasquez ended the round with a good combination. At the midway point at the fourth round, Yett’s coaches started to yell at their fighter to put the pressure on Vasquez. The southpaw Yett followed up and started throwing his jab and started stalking Vasquez around the ring. He was able get his jab in and started landing a few good combinations. Vasquez then came back and got Yett on the ropes, as he backed him up around the ring. Yett then retaliated the favor and started landing his own combinations on Vasqez. The round ended with both fighters giving it all they had.

In the fifth round Vasquez appeared to take a breather, as he put on a rope-a-dope tactic and took hard punches from Yett against the ropes. As the round progressed, Vasquez finally came out of his shell and they both went toe to toe as the crowd began to yell Hector’s name. Vasquez finished the round landing his quick jab as Yett finished up with a few combinations of himself.

At the beginning of the final round, the crowd was really into the fight. Yett’s corner could be heard telling their fighter that “It’s a war,” “You are the champ," in efforts to motivate him. They were telling him that he needed to knockout Vasquez because they new he was behind on the cards. Yett took the advice and came out landing combinations on Vasquez as they went toe to toe, both landing heavy punches. Yett continued to force the action as Vasquez countered with both hands. At the end of the round, Vasquez landed a flurry of combinations as the bell sounded. El Diamante put on a great fight and he won by a unanimous decision. As he stood outside of the ring, he was surrounded by a multitude of fans as he signed autographs and took pictures. When asked about the fight, he said “I felt good and I didn’t know that my opponent would be that aggressive and tough, but we had to change our game plan, and that’s what it’s all about.” He also said he was able to hurt his opponent with body punches and that Yet knew how to cover up. At the end of December or beginning of January he expects to fight again, and in March, he might fight for a Texas title. Fight fans should keep an eye out for Vasquez because he puts on a great show of boxing.

Wilbert Mitchell (0-2) v. James “Icy” Burns (pro debut)

The first fight of the card was against Wilbert Mitchell (0-2) of Dallas, Texas against James “Icy” Burns, from Fort Worth, Texas. This was the pro debut of Mitchell and he started his career out well. From the start of the round, it was apparent that Burns was quicker and that the shorter Mitchell was in for a fight. As the round began as James started to land his quick jabs to the head of Mitchell, the corner of Mitchell started yelling “Fight him, you can’t box him.” As Mitchell tried to get in close James caught him with a hard right to the head and Mitchell went backwards. James continued to land his jabs as Mitchell tried to land punches in close or hold his opponent.

With the advice of his corner, Mitchell started off by getting James in the corner and landing punches in bunches. James then caught Mitchell with a quick right hand and Mitchell went down, but it was only a push. Mitchell then got up and started swinging wild punches with both hands as James quickly moved out of the way. At the end of the round, Mitchell looked somewhat tired.

At the start of the third round, Mitchell’s corner told him to “Stay Close.” James quickly landed a hard right and then another on Mitchell as he tried to cover up. James then followed up with two more hard rights to the head of Mitchell on the ropes. James then continued to land a multitude of punches on Mitchell when the corner man for stepped into the ring and stopped the fight. The fight ended at 1:43 of the third round.

Jose Rodriguez (2-0) v. Gerardo Dominguez (1-14)

As the night continued, Jose Rodriguez (2-0) from Dallas, Texas, took on Gerardo Dominguez (1-14) from Tyler, Texas. Although the record of Dominguez wasn’t a good one, he gave Rodriguez a good fight. Rodriquez, a two-time Golden Gloves champion, started off the first round slowly moving forward and then he began landing a barrage of punches. In the middle of the round as the fighters were in close, Dominguez threw a punch and Rodriguez went down, unintentionally. He quickly got up and continued the fight. The quick hand speed and movement of Rodriguez around the ring is impressive for such a young fighter.

In the second round, Jose continued to throw sharp calculated punches, but his opponent began to force the fight. Suddenly Gonzalez landed a hard right to the head of Dominguez and he was momentarily wobbled. Gonzalez then went after Dominguez and had him on the ropes. As the fight went into the third round, they both came out swinging toe to toe. In this round, Dominguez forced the action but Rodriguez was able to get in his own combinations to end the round. In the final round, Dominguez continued to force the action and Rodriguez landed a good left hook. Dominguez then retaliated with a good left hook of his own. At the end of the round, Dominguez picked up the pace and started landing with both hands as Rodriguez started to cover up. They both went toe to toe at the final seconds of the fight. Although the tough Dominguez brought his best, he was unable to stop the quick handed Rodriguez. When asked about the fight, Rodriquez said “I felt good, I boxed him”, and that his opponent was a good fighter. Rodriguez wins by unanimous decision.

Angel Sigala (6-2, 2KO’s) v. Nestor Rosas (10-1)

In the middleweight action, Angel Sigala from Arlington, Texas went against the tough Nestor Rosas from Fort Worth. I had seen Rosas before and I knew what he could do.

The southpaw Sigala started the first round stalking Rosas around the ring and Rosas just calmly moved himself out of harms way. Rosas, who came into the fight with an outstanding record, started off as he usually does. Slow and methodical. Angel then forced the action and they both slugged it out to the end of the round. The second round was almost identical to the first, except both fighters accidentally hit heads, but none were hurt.

The third round began with Rosas getting Sigala in the corner and on the ropes and connecting with a few good combinations. Both fighters then landed punches evenly until the end of the round as Sigala finished by landing the last punches with Rosas in the corner. At the beginning of the fourth round Rosas landed a hard right and put Sigala on the canvas. Sigala held on in the corner as Nestor started landed with combinations. Sigala then came back and had Rosas on the ropes as Sigala’s cornermen were cheering him on. At this point, both fighters looked tired, but they kept punching. Sigala then got Rosas on the ropes again and they punched it out to the bell. In what was a very close fight, Sigala ended up the winner, 38-37, 38-37.

Victor Sanchez (1-2) v. Ray Ximenez (4-0, 1KO)

At the very beginning of the first round, the undefeated Ximenez came out of his corner standing right handed, then suddenly switched to southpaw. A clever move that I think kind of surprised his opponent, who was a southpaw himself. It sure did surprise me. Before his pro career, Ximenez had an outstanding amateur career and was the 2008 Junior Olympic Gold medalist and a three time Ringside Champion. At the beginning of the round, Ximenez started snapping his quick jab and moving around the ring. Sanchez then quickly caught Ximenez against the ropes and landed a quick left hook and then pursued him around the ring into the corner and landed a few good body punches. Sanchez then continued to force the action, but then got caught with two overhand rights by Ximenez. The tough Sanchez then caught Ximenez with a good left hook. Then the quick handed Ximenez landed a hard left hook and right hand to the face of Sanchez, who took the punches well. After the momentary stoppage of the fight because of the mouth piece falling from Sanchez’ mouth, the fight continued. Sanchez then began to force the action again, but the flashy, “The Flash” (my name, not an original nickname given to him yet) Ximenez quickly landed super fast counter punches until the end of the round.

After the exciting beginning of the fight, the second round began with Sanchez being the pursuer again and Ximenez followed up with quick punches and good defensive movement around the ring. Ximenez then connected with a hard right and continued to do the same. In an apparent but unintentional questionable late punch by Ximenez at the end of the round, Sanchez became very angry. In the third round, and as what appeared to be a tactic, Ximenez stuck his tongue out at Sanchez to taunt him. Then he landed a hard right to the head of his opponent, who was momentarily stunned. Ximenez then landed some hard body punches on Sanchez and then landed a flurry of punches. Sanchez then connected with a hard right, but Ximenez was not hurt.

The final round started off with the tough Sanchez trying to force the action. Sanchez continued to do this throughout the round, but the quicker Ximenez continued to connect with the much faster counter punches. Sanchez was able to connect with some good punches, but it was a little too late. Ximenez won by a unanimous decision. Continue to follow “the Flash” from Pleasant Grove Texas fight fans. He his on his way to a great start in his young professional career.

Jose Orozco (4-0, 2KO’s) v. Cedric Sheppard (pro debut)

The fifth fight of the night turned out to be one of my favorites. The five-time Golden Gloves champion and now undefeated Orozco, from Fort Worth, Texas came in with a very serious look on his face. It was apparent that he came into the ring with complete focus. He started off the fight by pursuing Sheppard all over the ring and landing very heavy handed punches on his opponent, who appeared to be cold when he stepped into the ring. In the second round, Orozco landed a vicious right to the head of Sheppard which made the crowd excited. The southpaw Orozco then started to land sharp jabs to the head of Sheppard. Sheppard then followed up by landing a good combination as Orozco covered up. Orozco then began to move forward as he did throughout the round and began to land heavy body punches till the end of the round.

In the third round, Orozco started out with a good left and right and Sheppard landed a few good combinations of himself. Orozco continued to move forward and stalk his opponent all around the ring. He then landed a sharp left and right on his opponent and then another left hand. Orozco at times took some punches to get in close to land his own. In the third, Orozco again moved forward and came out landing a good left and right to the head of Sheppard. The tough Sheppard showed that he could really take a punch.

In the final round, Orozco continued to force the action, but Sheppard started to connect with a few punches. Orozco followed up with more of the heavy handed body punches and Sheppard was able to take them. As the round was getting to the end, Orozco connected with a hard right to the head of Sheppard with the intent to make serious damage. Sheppard tried to taunt Orozco after the punches, but it was obvious that Sheppard was the worst for the wear. As the round ended Orozco got in the last punch, to no surprise to the crowd. Orozco, who looked somewhat like Miguel Cotto, was the winner by unanimous decision. After the fight Orozco said “I felt good in the fight, but it has been two years since stepping into the ring, the sparring is totally different from the actual competition.” He also said he was glad to hear the cheers from the people, which helped him, but it took him a little while to loosen up, and that he didn’t get fully loosened up. He said he didn’t feel he reached his full potential, and if that is what he thought, his next opponent is in for a beating. He gave credit to his opponent for being in good condition and a good jaw to withstand his punches. He finished by saying he is fighting in Waco at the end of October of this year. If you are in Waco in October and plan to see a good fighter, look out for this young professional boxer from the metroplex.

This 4th “Fight Night at QuikTrip” was another great event brought to the Metroplex by CNS promotions, Lester Bedford, and the sponsorship of Tecate beer. To all the promoters out there, Dallas and the surrounding suburbs are starving for more professional boxing. Just like baseball, “If you bring it (Advertise it), they will come.”

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