Felix escapes with split decision win

By Miguel Maravilla at ringside
Photos: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

IBF #4, WBO #7 lightweight José Felix Jr. (33-1-1, 25 KOs) of Los Mochis, Mexico, won a questionable ten round unanimous decision over unheralded Filipino Ricky Sismundo (30-9-2, 13 KOs) on Saturday night at the Marriott Hotel Events Center in Burbank, California. The aggressive Sismundo kept Felix on the backfoot all night but came up short 95-94, 96-93 on two cards, while winning the third 95-94. Sismundo was deducted a point for landing a punch right after the bell in round six.

Felix stayed outside in the opening round as Sismundo stalked him. In round two Felix ripped to the body as he continued to box the aggressive Sismundo. The Filipino continued to come at the jabbing Felix with power punches in round three as Felix also landed power left hooks to the body. Moving around the ring in round four, Felix circled Sismundo who continued to press forward with big punches. In round five Sismundo had his best round as he backed Felix to the ropes, later in the round the Filipino landed a huge right.

Halfway through in round six Felix’s jab was not doing enough to keep Sismundo away as he continued to press forward with big punches backing the Mexican to the ropes. However, after the bell, referee Zachary Young deducted a point from Sismundo for hitting after the bell. Sismundo appeared to be chopping down Felix in round seven as he continued to back him to the ropes with power punches. A huge left hook landed clean for Sismundo in round eight, while Felix returned the favor landing a solid counter left hook. Felix continued to box in round nine pumping the jab with Sismundo pressing the action. The tenth and final round saw Sismundo press the action and back Felix to the ropes with big punches. Judges Jonathan Davis (95-94) and Daniel Sandoval (96-93) saw it for Felix, while judge Max Deluca had it for Sismundo (95-94).

Unbeaten super welterweight prospect Danny “El Chapulin” Valdivia (10-0, 8 KOs) of Tulare, California scored a first round stoppage over Kenneth Council (10-2-1, 8 KOs) of Tennessee in a scheduled eight round walkout bout. Valdivia rocked Council in the opening round with a right and followed up with a left sending him to the canvas, continuing his attack the referee stepped in to waive the bout at 2:30.

Fresno lightweight Eric Altamirano (7-0, 5 KOs) won a four round unanimous decision over Rony Alvarado (9-7, 5 KOs) of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. A right hand by Alvarado in the closing seconds of round one sent Altamirano to the canvas. Altamirano boxed after that, fighting smart keeping Alvarado at a distance. Late in the round three there was a vicious exchange. The fourth and final round was all Altimirano as he dropped Alvarado in the opening seconds as he got up the two continued to exchange to the final bell. In the end, all three judges scored the bout 38-36 for Altamirano.

Welterweight prospect Arnold Barboza (10-0, 4 KOs) of Los Angeles stopped Robbie Cannon (15-12-2, 7 KOs) of Missouri in one round opening up the Solo Boxeo telecast in a scheduled six rounder. Barboza came out blasting with clean power shots in round one as he busted Cannon’s nose, after an accumulation of punches the referee stepped in to waive the bout at 2:59.

Russian light heavyweight Olympic Gold Medalist Egor Mekhontsev (11-0, 7 KOs) scored an eight round unanimous decision over Felipe Romero (15-11-1, 9 KOs) of Ensenada, Mexico. A short left by Mekhonstev in the opening seconds of the bout knocked down Romero but he got up and continued to fight on the rest of the round. The Russian boxed patiently working the jab and setting up the left as he tagged Romero throughout the fight. An accidental clash of heads in round five caused a cut below Romero’s eye. Moments later Mekhonstev landed on the inside and Romero went for down a second time. He got up throwing wild punches. Mekhonstev was dominant the entire fight working his way to a 80-70 victory on all cards.

In the opening bout making his professional debut super bantamweight Miguel Alcantara made quick work of Julio Rodriguez of Ensenada, Mexico scoring a first round knockout in a scheduled four rounder. The southpaw Alcantara stalked Rodriguez from the start, a right to the body sent Rodriguez to the canvas as he got up but Alcantara continued his attack knocking down Rodriguez for a second time as referee Zachary Young waived it at 2:26. Alcantara now has a record of 1-0, 1 KO. Rodriguez goes to 0-2.