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PROMO

SOS, pro boxing in valley have plenty in common
By Jeff Jardine; Modesto Bee.com August 27, 2014 [1]

REPORT

Modesto’s Gaxiola wins pro fight debut at sold-out SOS Club[2]
By Brian Clark; [email protected] (209) 578-2362 | Modesto Bee.com | September 6, 2014
His opponent didn’t hit the floor, but Michael Gaxiola was happy nonetheless in 
coming away with a victory in his first professional fight.
Gaxiola, who boxes out of Bad To The Bonz boxing gym, won a majority decision over 
Victor Torres in the last of five fights at an energetic SOS Club on Saturday night.
The 120-pound Modesto boxers threw a lot of punches but landed few to remember. 
Still, it was Gaxiola who won on two judges’ cards while tying on another.
“I gave him a West Side whuppin’ like I said I would,” said Gaxiola, 20. Neither 
boxer landed many memorable punches, and both felt the other head-butted. “I came out 
here to do my best,” said Torres, 20. “My performance was good. He didn’t hurt me.”
The five four-round fights were met with enthusiasm from the crowd of about 600 at 
the sold-out SOS.

In the best fight of the night, another Modestan scored a victory. Gilberto Mendoza, 
24, won a split decision over Stockton’s Don Jose in a bout matching probably the 
two best technical fighters of the evening. Jose, with a boisterous crowd clearly in 
his corner, came out fast and furious, but Mendoza didn’t get flustered and began 
chipping away. In the third round – the best round of boxing on the evening – both 
fighters swung away and caught each other often as the crowd cheered.
In the end, the judges gave the nod to Mendoza.

The opening three fights provided a lot of hard hitting and one knockdown.
Midway through the first round of the third fight, Marcos Hernandez of Fresno sent 
Will Walters of Sacramento to the canvas with a hard left hook. Walters seemed 
momentarily stunned but gathered himself quickly as the referee counted.
The two went at it over the final three four-minute rounds with Hernandez landing 
blows as Walters looked to stay close and work from the inside. When it was over, 
Hernandez, wearing shiny silver trunks, scored a unanimous decision. “Happy I won, 
but I could have done better,” said Hernandez, who improved to 3-0 as a professional.

In the opening fight, Tulare’s Vicente Guzman, 31, came out aggressive against his 
younger opponent, landing occasional rights to the body and head. As the fight 
progressed, Chris Avila, a 21-year-old from Stockton making his pro debut, was having 
success with an accurate uppercut. In the end, Guzman, who entered the ring with an 
0-4-1 professional record, according to BoxRec.com, won by unanimous decision for his 
first victory.

One of the most entertaining bouts of the night pitted Sacramento’s Darren Mallard, 
24, and Madera’s Rocky Richardson.
Richardson came out swinging with a lot more energy than his opponent. He was clearly 
the better fighter early in the bout and looked to be on his way to victory in the 
third round when he forced Mallard across the ring and into the ropes. But Mallard, 
who had a big contingent, rallied, hitting Richardson hard in one of the better 
exchanges of the night. Richardson seemed to get a burst of energy, scored some points 
in the fourth round and came away with a draw.