Diaz Stops Lacey in Four!

ByBoxing Press

One Punch Productions returned to the DoubleTree Westshore in Tampa on Friday night with “Ballroom Brawl!”. Headlining the action-packed card was Tampa’s own Carlos ‘Bam Bam’ Diaz (9-4-3, 7 KOs), 123.5 -pounds, squared off with former Mario Lacey (7-7-4, 6 KOs), 125-pounds. Lacey was a last minute replacement, accepting the fight with only two days notice. Diaz was originally scheduled to fight former IBF flyweight champion Francisco Tejedor of Columbia. The Columbian had been on a losing streak as of late, dropping his last ten bouts and fifteen of the past seventeen. The California State Athletic Commission has placed Tejedor under medical suspension from his last bout in the state. Diaz took advantage of this turn of events, jumping back into the win column after coming off an exiting eight-round draw with Backlin Medrano and dropping the four bouts prior to that. The bout started fairly even, with Lacey’s activity winning him in the first round. As time progressed, Diaz caught Lacey with a nice right and left hook that put him through the ropes in the third. Diaz would look to end the night early, landing a beautiful combination finished with a huge left hook to drop Lacey for a nine count. Although he rose, he would taste the canvas shortly after, as Diaz pushed him back into the ropes and ended the night with a huge right hand to drop Lacey and cause his corner to call the match at the 2:31 mark.

In the co-main event of the evening, Andre Eason (14-3-0, 6 KOs), 147-pounds, met William Rojas (5-10-0, 3 KOs), 147.5-pounds. Eason was returning to action after a six month layoff since his defeat to highly talented Francisco Bojado. Eason pulled off a unanimous decision victory, with judges scoring the bout 79-73 and 77-75 twice. Eason was able to take the bout with more accurate punching and better controlling the action. The judges’ scorecards seem closer than the bout really was, as Rojas was never able to establish himself in the fight.

Undercard:

Carlos Manuel Rivera (3-0-0, 1 KOs) W-TKO2 Freddie Solomon (0-3-0)

Edvan Dos Santos/Barros (5-1-0, 5 KOs) W-TKO2 Elvin Peluyera (4-6-0, 3 KOs)

Jason Gant (3-0-0, 1 KO) W-SD4 Rob Ochoa (1-1-0, 0 KOs)

Abiser Santizo (2-0-0, 1 KO) W-UD4 Anthony Vazquez (5-3-0, 1 KO)

Herling Lopez (3-1-1, 1 KO) W-TKO2 Jim Maloney (4-9-2, 3 KOs)

Tampa Bay’s last night of boxing proved to be an exciting one, full of action, excitement, and glamour. The originally scheduled main event had to be postponed, when Gene Molen suffered a back sprain in training. Also, one of the undercard bouts had to be changed when debut David Purdue pulled out of his second fight in a row—not the best way to try and start a professional boxing career. In response to the recent events with Tampa Bay’s Tyrone Booze, former WBO cruiserweight champion, Butch Flansburg, the National Boxing Association President, started a charity to help aid Mr. Booze in his time of need. For further information on Mr. Booze or to arrange a donation, please contact myself at 813-317-4350.

The region has grown into a mini-Mecca of boxing, playing host to light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver along with newly-crowned IBF super middleweight titlist Jeff ‘Left Hook’ Lacy. In attendance this night were the “Coalminers Daughter” Christy Martin, IBF Junior Middleweight champion Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy, and USBA Middleweight champion Daniel Edouard. The event was promoted by One Punch Productions in association with Everlast. Promoter Terry Trekas promises more action and great boxing as 2005 comes around.