-Photo Credit: R Lorenzo/GBP-

Last nite’s Telefutura offering from far out California served up a tasty menu with Ponce de Leon - Reynaldo Lopez the main entrée and Eduardo Escobedo - Jose Mendoza the appetizer.

The opener, a featherweight contest for the minor league NABO strap saw age 23 Escobedo with  the edge in quickness, while Mendoza at age 35 appeared the bigger banger of the two.

The action was brisk, with Escobedo scoring with flurries and combinations as he darted inside and out - the Colombian, slowed by age, countered with power left hooks and right hands mostly off the target.

Over the opening five rounds the picture looked bleak for Mendoza - other than his having the proverbial puncher’s chance - then numero six and it would tumble to no-chance.

Early in the stanza it arrives like a bolt from the blue - a picture perfect Escobedo "one-two" with the jab scoring, and a whistling right hand finding the sweet spot - enters books TKO at 35 seconds mark of the round.

Rest of the story: Eduardo Escobedo (20-2, 14 KO) ~ age 23 - quickness coupled with decent skills. From what the kid displayed over the first five candles was a good chin but short on punching power - then comes the big right hand that upgrades the image. Maybe, but not as yet near ready for the next rung where the "big" boys play.
                               Jose Mendoza ( 21-1-1, 17 KO) ~ age 35 - suffers first defeat the hard way. Could well have grown old overnight for this outing - slow in both movement and reaction time. Thus, the loading up with no clue where the target was. The date of birth sees the future as yesterday.

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Then the entrée with WBO s/bantam strap holder Ponce de Leon in a keeping busy non-title affair - opponent a blown up bantam Reynaldo Lopez who enters on decision loss to WBC s/flyweight champion Mijares - and the size difference spoke volumes.

Early stanzas competitive in a duel of respective southpaws - the age 33 Colombian veteran had some early moments in a slick counter punching modus operandi - but the de Leon pressure and power began delivering a clear message that came through late in round four.

Was inside the closing 30 seconds of the stanza that Lopez abandons the southpaw approach for the orthodox - the translation more one of survival than chance of winning in strategy.

Then round five with both once again working from the port side - it’s all de Leon with knockout on the mind - first a jab followed by looping left hand to the head that rocks Lopez. The Mexican born Californian quickly pounces with a repeat power left hand that finds the target and Lopez is down and out at 2:39 mark.

Post Scripts: Ponce de Leon (33-1, 30 KO) ~ age 27 - recently signed with Hoya & CO in search of bigger stipends - has another tune-up with as yet un-named Thai fighter while looking ahead for unification. Only the "Shadow" knows how well the style holds up with s/bantam shareholders Israel Vazquez, Celestino Caballero, Steve Molitor. But it would be worth a peek if penciled in.
                      Reynaldo Lopez (28-5-2, 19 KO) ~ age 33 with excellent technique - maybe out of time for title consideration, but would be legit threat among the Triple A bantam clientele. Competing at featherweight clearly carries fistic version of surgeon general health warning.

Referee report - both California based Caiz Sr. and Crebs let the action flow and made proper stoppages in respective assignments.

GEL   -  

9-28-2007