Big time boxing returned to a sold out Club Nokia as “Vicious” Victor Ortiz tested Hector Alatorre in a ten round welterweight contest. In the co-main event, Paramount’s Charles Huerta battled Guadalupe De Leon in the most compelling fight of the evening.

In what amounted to a spirited sparring session, Victor Ortiz outclassed Hector Alatorre before stopping him with a jaw dropping right 51 seconds into round ten. After a slow first, Ortiz rocked Alatorre with a series of lefts mid way through the second. Alatorre survived the round, and much of the fight, by covering up. Ortiz (26-2-1) head hunted for the next several rounds.

He piled up points and dominated rounds but was unable to put Alatorre in serious Jeopardy. Alatorre (16-9) fought a cautious, defense-first fight that provided precious few openings for Ortiz. With his guard held high Alatorre was able to absorb most everything coming his way. In the 8th Ortiz remembered the body and hurt Alatorre with a few well placed hooks.

Alatorre lowered his hands to protect his sides and ate a hook to the face. Ortiz pressed for a stoppage in the 8th and again in the 9th but was denied in both rounds. At the bell to open the 10th Ortiz rushed Alatorre and unleashed his heavy hands.

A right uppercut thrown from distance launched Alatorre off his feet to the canvas. Alatorre regained his footing but Referee David Mendoza had seen enough and stopped the contest.
 

“Keep the pressure, Lupe”, screamed Guadalupe De Leon’s corner. De Leon complied. De Leon (8-10) marched forward into and through the crisp combinations of fellow featherweight Charles Huerta. Huerta (13-1) doubled and tripled the jab in the first but quickly abandoned the punch in favor of power shots. A stiff 1-2 in the second nearly deposited De Leon on the seat of his pants. But De Leon came to fight and after recovering quickly he found a home for his overhand right.

A beautiful exchange in the third brought out the beast in both fighters. For the remainder of the bout the fighters refused to back up. Toe-to-toe exchanges ensued in the fourth and fifth during which both men suffered punishment. De Leon answered the bell to the sixth with his left eye nearly closed. He did care. De Leon applied pressure until the final bell. Huerta countered pressure with pressure while landing the cleaner, more accurate blows. Huerta won by scores of 57-57, 59-55 & 58-56.
 

Undefeated lightweight Luis Ramos Jr. defeated Colombian Walter Estrada (35-12) by unanimous decision to run his record to 14 wins without a loss. Ramos started quickly but never really settled down. Perhaps being limited to four rounds bothered Ramos. Perhaps he was concerned by his opponents’ experience. Whatever the matter, Ramos consistently beat Estrada to the punch and landed enough hard rights to win the fight. In the third Ramos unleashed a three punch combination that culminated with a left hand that exploded on Estrada’s jaw. Ramos won every round on all three scorecards.
 

Nazim Richardson has himself a fighter. The famed trainer of Bernard Hopkins and Shane Mosley has a slick, lightning quick prospect in Philadelphian Karl Dargan. So quick and hard to hit is Dargan (7-0) that referee David Mendoza had to save the ultra-tough Jose Alfredo Lugo from further punishment. Upon advice from the ringside physician the lightweight contest was stopped following the fourth for a Dargan TKO victory. Dargan pumped a jab and a snappy right hand into the Lugo’s face from the opening bell.

Whether he led or countered Dargan would not miss. When Lugo (10-13-1) fired back he hit nothing but elbows and air. Dargan sat down on his punches in the third and punished Lugo with both hands. Lugo withstood the assault but only heart and a granite jaw kept him upright. After another round of sustained punishment Lugo slumped in his corner. That was enough to stop the fight.
 

Ricky Lopez fought a break-neck fourth round to defeat a rugged and determined Hugo Ramos. Ramos flew out of the gate in round one and rocked Lopez with a clubbing right cross. Lopez (7-0) fired back with a left to the body and a right upstairs to stop Ramos in his tracks. Ramos (2-5-2) won the third when he drove Lopez to the ropes with a hook to the chin.

The junior featherweight fight was up for grabs heading into the fourth and final round. Ramos surged forward and fired a right hand that straightened Lopez up. Lopez countered with a left hook, right hand combination that staggered Ramos. The combatants traded power shots to the bell. The three judges scored the bout 39-37 for Lopez.
 

Los Angeles based welterweight Jessie Vargas knocked down the previously undefeated Texan, Robert Luna three times in the first leading to a TKO victory at 1:56 of the opening round. Trained by Roger Mayweather, Vargas (9-0) dropped Luna with a stiff left jab for the first knockdown of the fight.

Luna (5-1) fell the second time from a left and then a clubbing right hand sent him to the canvas for the third time in the round. Though Luna beat the count referee James Jen Kim smartly stopped the fight.
 

Junior welterweight prospect Carlos Molina looked impressive in his four round defeat of Bahamian Hensley Strachan. Molina jumped on Strachan (5-6-1) to open the first and scored a quick knockdown.

Molina (11-0) settled into a nice rhythm in the second behind an active jab and then quickened his pace in the third and fourth to secure the rounds and the fight. Molina took the fight by unanimous decision.