Thompson Boxing Promotions “New Blood” Results: Carlson Wins WBC Latino 118 lb. Title

PHOTO CREDIT: CARLOS BAEZA / THOMPSON BOXING PROMOTIONS

ORANGE, Calif. – In what proved to be the toughest fight of his young career,Carlos Carlson (13-0, 9 KOs) boxed and brawled his way to an eight round unanimous decision win over the tough as nails and equally determined Javier Gallo (21-9-1, 12 KOs). As a result, Carlson captured the WBC Latino Bantamweight Championship in the main event of Thompson Boxing Promotions “New Blood” series in front of a sold-out crowd at theDoubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif. Scores were 78-74, 77-75, and 78-74.

“This was an extremely difficult fight, but I am proud of the way I performed and I am excited to put this championship on my resume,” said Carlson, who remained undefeated. “No one was going to stop me from winning this title. Not even Gallo, who is a tough warrior that never backed down and always kept coming forward.”

“We are please and excited at how Carlson was able to fight and box his way to victory,” saidKen Thompson, president of Thompson Boxing Promotions. “He was in a battle from the start and showed to everyone why we think he has a great shot at doing special things in the bantamweight division.”

Prefight buzz suggested this would be a thrilling affair between the Tijuana, Mex. natives, and it certainly provided fireworks from beginning to end. In the first, Gallo came out as the aggressor, backing Carlson into the ropes, and forcing him to fight on the inside. Gallo outworked Carlson and made him look uncomfortable.

“After the first round, I knew this was going to be a battle,” Carlson said.

In the second round, an accidental head butt left Carlson with a cut over his left eye. It looked deep and troubling, but his corner effectively sealed it between rounds and it never became an issue.

Carlson hurt Gallo in the second with numerous headshots and had a chance to finish him, but Gallo, wisely, wrapped him up. An explosive third round saw Carlson continue his momentum. He landed crisp blows to the head and body, while Gallo connected with a few of his own. Every time Carlson landed a strong combination, Gallo shook it off and returned the favor. Gallo would appear hurt, yet seconds later would march forward and engage the taller Carlson.

The fourth and fifth rounds went back and forth with both boxers landing quality combinations. There were moments, in almost every round, when Carlson and Gallo put boxing aside and participated in technical and spirited brawls, much to the delight of the crowd.

“They say styles make fights and I guess our styles complement each other,” Carlson said.

Carlson, known as a consistent body puncher, instead, relied on a series of straight rights that rocked Gallo throughout the fight. In the sixth round, Carlson almost knocked him out again, but Gallo proved to be tough as concrete and would not go down. Ultimately, Carlson showed more consistency round-over-round, which was enough to earn him his first title as a professional.

In other action:

The co-main event pitted southpaw Isaac Zarate of Los Angeles against Christian Torres of Guadalajara, Mex.

Zarate and Torres, both active bantamweights that enjoy the free swinging environment of the middle of the ring, put on a great back and forth fight. Zarate, however, landed more frequently, had a better command of the ring, and displayed better skill. Zarate accorded himself well to score a unanimous decision win (59-55, 59-55, 58-56). Zarate improves to 7-1, while Torres drops to 3-5.

Heavyweights Justin Davenport of Lake Arrowhead, Calif. and Jonnie Rice of Santa Monica fought to a majority draw. One judge scored it 39-37 for Davenport, while the other two scored it 38-38. Davenport’s record reads 1-0-2, 1 KO, and Rice notched a draw in his professional debut.

Colombian lightweight Cesar Villarraga and Osman Rivera of Highland Park, Calif. had an entertaining four round fight. After a pedestrian first round, Villarraga came out hungrier in the second and worked the body with strong left hooks. Villarraga moved well and showed superior defense on his way to a unanimous decision win (40-36, 39-37, 40-36). Villarraga goes to 2-0, 1 KO, and Rivera drops to 2-6.

Featherweights Joet Gonzalez of Glendora, Calif. and Cesar Martinez of Los Angeles engaged in an excellent six round fight. Gonzalez started fast and connected with a half dozen straight rights in the first round.

In the second round, Gonzalez repeatedly punched Martinez into the ropes. Martinez made a late rally, but Gonzalez had already won the round by a wide margin. From the third round forward, Martinez ate plenty of punches, as he was unable to mount an effective defense against the more accurate Gonzalez. Gonzalez won via unanimous decision (59-55, 58-56, 59-55) and improves to 6-0, 1 KO, while Martinez goes 4-2-1, 1 KO.

Super welterweights Neeco Macias of Tehachapi, Calif. and Victor Altamirano of Moreno Valley, Calif. opened the “New Blood” show.

Both fighters were content to slug it out, with neither boxer showing much interest in defense. Macias connected early in the first round, leaving Altamirano with a bloodied nose. Altamirano threw a lot of punches, but most were off target. Macias worked himself into a unanimous decision win, 40-36, across the three scorecards.

“New Blood” was presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions in association with Antonio Leonard TNT Productions and sponsored by Lucas Oil, in association with KCAL 96.7 Rocks!, KOLA 99.9 and LATV Networks.

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