Boxing Result: Honorio Shuts Out Hilario to Retain NABO Title

ByMichael Worden

With a nearly perfect and utterly dominating performance on Friday night, NABO Lightweight champion Martin Honorio, 28-4-1 (14 ), retained his title by outclassing the previously unbeaten Wilton Hilario, 12-1-1 (9), at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California.

From the first round on Honorio utilized a strong jab and his far superior boxing skills to neutralize any attack that Hilario brought. Hilario charged forward at a consistent pace, however the champion managed to frustrate and young fighter and it began to show in the middle rounds.

Midway through round six, Honorio landed a series of hard shots from both the left and the right side that sent Hilario to the deck. The young fighter was quick to rise to his feet however Honorio quickly landed another hard right hand that sent Hilario once again to the canvas. While it appeared that the fight was just about over, Hilario managed to hang on and make it to the end of the round.

From that point on it was all Honorio as he pounded his way through Hilario on route to a unanimous decision. “I had him hurt but I couldn’t finish him but I was ready for 12 rounds,” Honorio said after the bout, “I’m happy because I m one step closer to a championship and I hope this helps me get there now.”

The official scores were 120-106 and 119-107 twice.

This impressive win might set up bigger fights for Honorio in the near future against one of the many bigger names in the lightweight division.

In an all action junior featherweight bout, Los Angeles native Rico Ramos, 15-0 (9), scored an impressive KO over journeyman Cecilio Santos 24-13-3 (14). Ramos showed off his powerful left hook from the opening bell of the first round, landing the shot almost at will. Midway through the fourth round Ramos dropped Santos with a left to the body and Santos was unable to regain his legs before he was counted out.

The official stoppage was at 1:19 into round four.

In a junior welterweight mismatch, local favorite Michael Dallas Jr., 12-0-1 (3), destroyed Fabian Laque, 20-13-4 (11), in just one round. Dallas Jr. was in control the entire round and landed a hard combination just before the bell to send Laque to the ground. Laque was able to get to his feet however the referee took one look into the fighter’s eyes and called at halt to the bout at 2:58 of the first round.