| Raul "La Cobrita" Martinez |
| 23 - 0 - 13kos |
| I.B.A. Super Flyweight World Champion |
By Jason Pribila: One week ago, Spanish-language network Telefutura announced that it would be canceling its
Friday Night boxing series “Solo Boxeo” due to the high production costs and the current ailing economy. On Friday
Night the series returned to Philadelphia and it seemed like the fighters on the card were determined to cut costs by
closing the show early.
The main event of the evening featured a pair of unbeaten super flyweights; Raul “The Cobra” Martinez and Victor
Proa. On paper, it seemed to match two aggressive fighters hoping to put themselves into contention for a 2009
world title shot; and after a minute Martinez stood alone.
Proa began the round by working behind his jab, and creating distance between himself and the dangerous
Martinez. Suddenly the “Cobra” struck with a hard right hand that moved Proa back to the ropes, a place from which
he would not return. Initially, Proa tried to throw a combination of his own to keep Martinez off of him, but his efforts
only opened himself up for more punishment. Two left hooks left Proa tied up in the ropes, and Referee Gary Rosato
had no choice but to call a halt to the carnage.
Martinez improved to 14-0 (14), while Proa fell to 26-1-2 (19).
In the opening bout of the evening, welterweight prospect Alexis Camacho 17-1 (16) returned to the ring for the first
time since suffering his first career loss to Terrance Cauthen in July. His opponent, Edvan Dos Santos Barros 9-6 (7)
entered the ring suffering losses in three of his last four bouts, including a near shut-out loss Luis Collazo.
Camacho took a few moments to time and measure the aggressive Dos Barros before he started to find him on the
end of his one-twos. A big right hand on the chin was his best punch of the round.
A few moments into the second round the fighters got tied up. On the break, Camacho moved straight back with his
arms at his side, and Dos Barros made him pay with a solid left hook. Perhaps feeling Camacho was hurt, Dos
Barros charged in and tried to land another left hook, but instead found himself on the canvas. Camacho countered
with a picture-perfect left upper-cut that Dos Barros never saw. Before he realized what hit him, referee Blair
Talmadge waved the fight off at 0:52 of the second round. Although Dos Barros beat the count, he staggered
backwards when asked to come forward. The ending may have been a bit premature, but the outcome seemed
inevitable.
Undefeated super bantamweight prospect Teon Kennedy maximized his television exposure, and went the full six
rounds to improve to 11-0 (5). The Judges favored Kennedy by scores of: 59-55, 59-55, and 60-54, over
journeyman Felipe Almanza 12-15-2. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for Kennedy to begin to migrate
west of the Mississippi, as he will look to test himself against the upper tier of Latino fighters in and around his weight
class.
The abrupt ending of the main event allowed unbeaten junior lightweight Anthony Flores 6-0 (3) the chance to
perform in front of a national audience. The 20-year old made the most of his opportunity and knocked out
Francisco Palacios 4-7-4 (1), courtesy of a wicked right hand at the 1:07 mark of the third round. Flores threw a left
jab, took a half step back, and dropped the charging Palacios with a single punch. A highlight reel shot that I’m sure
will end up on a DVD in the stockings of the Flores family this Christmas.
Flores continues to improve, and he remains very cool in the pocket despite being matched against more
experienced fighters during the course of the year.
Telefutura is not scheduled to return to Philadelphia before its “Solo Boxeo” run comes to an end in December.
Hopefully their absence won’t be permanent.
Friday Night’s show was presented by Top Rank Inc., Peltz Boxing, and Joe Hand Promotions.
Friday Night boxing series “Solo Boxeo” due to the high production costs and the current ailing economy. On Friday
Night the series returned to Philadelphia and it seemed like the fighters on the card were determined to cut costs by
closing the show early.
The main event of the evening featured a pair of unbeaten super flyweights; Raul “The Cobra” Martinez and Victor
Proa. On paper, it seemed to match two aggressive fighters hoping to put themselves into contention for a 2009
world title shot; and after a minute Martinez stood alone.
Proa began the round by working behind his jab, and creating distance between himself and the dangerous
Martinez. Suddenly the “Cobra” struck with a hard right hand that moved Proa back to the ropes, a place from which
he would not return. Initially, Proa tried to throw a combination of his own to keep Martinez off of him, but his efforts
only opened himself up for more punishment. Two left hooks left Proa tied up in the ropes, and Referee Gary Rosato
had no choice but to call a halt to the carnage.
Martinez improved to 14-0 (14), while Proa fell to 26-1-2 (19).
In the opening bout of the evening, welterweight prospect Alexis Camacho 17-1 (16) returned to the ring for the first
time since suffering his first career loss to Terrance Cauthen in July. His opponent, Edvan Dos Santos Barros 9-6 (7)
entered the ring suffering losses in three of his last four bouts, including a near shut-out loss Luis Collazo.
Camacho took a few moments to time and measure the aggressive Dos Barros before he started to find him on the
end of his one-twos. A big right hand on the chin was his best punch of the round.
A few moments into the second round the fighters got tied up. On the break, Camacho moved straight back with his
arms at his side, and Dos Barros made him pay with a solid left hook. Perhaps feeling Camacho was hurt, Dos
Barros charged in and tried to land another left hook, but instead found himself on the canvas. Camacho countered
with a picture-perfect left upper-cut that Dos Barros never saw. Before he realized what hit him, referee Blair
Talmadge waved the fight off at 0:52 of the second round. Although Dos Barros beat the count, he staggered
backwards when asked to come forward. The ending may have been a bit premature, but the outcome seemed
inevitable.
Undefeated super bantamweight prospect Teon Kennedy maximized his television exposure, and went the full six
rounds to improve to 11-0 (5). The Judges favored Kennedy by scores of: 59-55, 59-55, and 60-54, over
journeyman Felipe Almanza 12-15-2. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for Kennedy to begin to migrate
west of the Mississippi, as he will look to test himself against the upper tier of Latino fighters in and around his weight
class.
The abrupt ending of the main event allowed unbeaten junior lightweight Anthony Flores 6-0 (3) the chance to
perform in front of a national audience. The 20-year old made the most of his opportunity and knocked out
Francisco Palacios 4-7-4 (1), courtesy of a wicked right hand at the 1:07 mark of the third round. Flores threw a left
jab, took a half step back, and dropped the charging Palacios with a single punch. A highlight reel shot that I’m sure
will end up on a DVD in the stockings of the Flores family this Christmas.
Flores continues to improve, and he remains very cool in the pocket despite being matched against more
experienced fighters during the course of the year.
Telefutura is not scheduled to return to Philadelphia before its “Solo Boxeo” run comes to an end in December.
Hopefully their absence won’t be permanent.
Friday Night’s show was presented by Top Rank Inc., Peltz Boxing, and Joe Hand Promotions.