Middleweight prospects Richard Brewart Jr. (left) and Joeshon James headlined a Thompson Boxing event in Ontario, California on September 23. Photo courtesy of Thompson Boxing
Sacramento’s Joeshon James made a name for himself Friday night at the expense of undefeated prospect Richard Brewart Jr., stopped in the seventh round of the Thompson Boxing Promotions undercard at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California.
James improved to 7-0, 4 knockouts. Brewart, who resides in nearby Rancho Cucamonga, drops to 12-1, 4 KOs.
The main event was a compelling clash between middleweight prospects. Brewart had fought the best opposition on paper and had fought Jaime Munguia in recent months, but James was the more effective fighter of the two.
During the first round, the taller James attempted to time Brewart with a jab, followed by a straight right to the head. Brewart was content to outjab Jones from the center of the ring.
James stunned Brewart with less than a minute left in the second round, connecting with a left hook to the head. James landed another left hook to the head and tried to follow through, but Brewart was able to hang on and get out of the round.
Brewart began attacking the body during the fourth round, landing with left hooks and rights. Brewart would also follow up with right hands to James’s head.
Early in the fifth round, James dropped Brewart with a right hand to the head. Brewart beat the count but fought on wobbly legs. Brewart fended off James by connecting to the body, also mixing in his attack.
Both fighters were on the attack throughout the seventh round, trying to land lead hooks or crosses to the head. Later in the round, James connected with a right uppercut, followed by a right cross. Moments later, a right hand dropped Brewart to the canvas in a corner. As referee Jerry Cantu administered eight rounds, trainer Henry Ramirez threw in the towel and saved Brewart from further punishment. The knockout time was 2:49.
In the co-main event, featherweight Isaac Avelar of Aguascalientes, Mexico defeated Roberto Meza by unanimous decision. The scores were 77-75, 77-75 and 78-74 for Avelar, who improved to 17-5, 10 KOs.
The southpaw Avelar, normally a counter puncher, was the aggressor for most of the fight. Meza attempted to match blow for blow with Avelar, finding some success as they both stood in the pocket and traded combinations.
A left hook from Meza connected early in the third round. Not to be outdone, Avelar connected with a sweeping left cross to Meza’s chin as the round concluded.
The pace of the fight slowed down during the second half of the fight. At first, Meza initiated exchanges, but then Avelar closed the distance, unleashing a flurry of punches. Meza looked exhausted in the seventh round and looked worse when the fight was over.
Meza, who resides in Temecula, California, drops to 15-3-1, 8 KOs.
In a minor upset on paper, lightweight Erick Garcia Benitez defeated Ruben Islas (6-1, 5 KOs) of nearby Rialto by unanimous decision. All three judges scored the bout 60-54 in favor of BenÃtez, who improved to 3-3, 1 KO.
Garcia, 28, practices law in his hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico.
In an action fight, welterweight Miguel Angel Barajas defeated Esteban Munoz (6-3, 4 KOs) of San Bernardino, California before calling things off at 2:37 of the sixth round. Referee Ray Corona stopped the fight. Barajas (3-2, 1 KO), who also lives in Guadalajara, had not fought for more than five and a half years.
In the opening bout of the undercard, Rialto’s junior featherweight David Salinas improved to 3-0-1, 2 KOs by knocking out Phoenix’s Alexis Salido (2-4, 1 KO) 50 seconds into the first round.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County, California, Star newspaper. He can be contacted by email at [email protected] or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing
