Unbeaten welterweight Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley survived some rocky moments in the second round to bounce back and win a unanimous eight round decision over Eli Addison of Charlotte, North Carolina. Friday night’s bout headlined the latest installment of Thompson Boxing Promotions popular “Path to Glory” Series at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California.
After the 5’6 Bradley appeared to take the first round with his customary body attack, a strange sequence of events occurred in the second stanza. Bradley stepped in with a right, and the taller Addison fell to the canvas in an apparent slip from the boxers’ feet getting tangled up. As referee Jerry Cantu wiped off Addison’s gloves after he arose, a disoriented looking Bradley stepped toward Cantu, smiling with his gloves in a ready position. Cantu told him to step back, and the action resumed with Bradley obviously stunned.
Implored by cornerman Stoney Jackson to finish off Bradley, Addison was unable to put to put together an effective combination to end matters for the local favorite. Bradley weathered the storm (no pun intended), and by the end of the round was again ripping hooks to Addison’s body. No solid punch visibly landed by Addison during the exchange prior to the slip, and Bradley trainer Joel Diaz later informed reporters that it was a clash of heads that stunned his charge in the second.
The bout took on a familiar pattern in the third, as Addison looked to jab and move and mix in the occasional power shot while Bradley looked to get inside. Bradley was able to catch his opponent with his back to the ropes for stretches, and unleashed hooks to the body with both hands before coming upstairs with hooks and uppercuts. Going into the final round, it appeared that only some last round dramatics from Addison would save the unbeaten 18 year old from certain defeat on the scorecards.
Addison came out for the last round letting his hands go, but soon found himself in a corner absorbing more punishment. After a left hook to the body by Bradley, it appeared that Addison was ready to fold. The youngster hung in there however, and won praise and admiration for his toughness after the bout from fans, media, and the promotion.
Judge Monique Rendon tabbed Bradley, from Palm Springs, CA, the winner by a score of 78-74, while Marty Denkin and Jose Cobian scored it for him by scores of 79-73 and 80-72. With the win, Bradley improved his record to 12-0 with 6 KOs. Addison slips to 8-1 with 3 of his wins coming by stoppage. Bradley retained his WBC Youth Welterweight title (designed for boxers under the age of 23) with the victory
“I kept sticking to the game plan. Pressure, pressure, pressure” said Bradley after the bout. “I knew eventually he was going to wear down. Body punching was the key.”
“The second round, I don’t know what it was. It might have been a headbutt in close,” he said. “I felt a little dazed, but I’m in such good conditioning my legs (will) stay up”. Bradley showed poise after the apparent butt, riding out the stormy waters with defense and a bit of clinching until his head cleared.
A good-sized crowd was treated to more solid action on the undercard. In the co-feature, Rialto CA junior lightweight Dominic Salcido upped his record to 8-0 with 5 KOs with a fourth round TKO win over Odilon “Odi” Rivera. A flurry by Salcido had Rivera in trouble on the ropes, causing referee Jose Cobian to intervene at 1:44 of the round. Rivera, a native of Mexicali, slips to 5-8-2 with 3 KOs. Salcido’s quickness and boxing skills were too much for Rivera, who had gone undefeated in his last four bouts before facing Salcido.
Sytel Wilbarn of Los Angeles made a successful pro debut, winning a four round unanimous decision over a defensive minded Francisco Rubio of El Salvador. Rubio was reluctant to lead against the quicker Wilbarn, who spent much of the bout as the aggressor and scored effectively with double jab-right hand combinations early. Rubio started to taunt Wilbarn in the third, and ate a solid jab for his trouble in the fourth. Wilbarn was staggered by a left near the end of the fourth after switching to lefty and getting tagged. Rubio falls to 0-2.
Rafael Garcia wore down the tough Mario Franco in a fast-paced featherweight four rounder to earn a unanimous decision victory. Garcia, fighting out of Carson, CA, improves to 3-0-1 with 1 KO. Los Angeleno Franco slips to 0-4.
In the opening bout, junior welterweights Felipe Campana and Adrian “Relentless” Tait battled in a hard fought four rounder conducted mainly at close quarters. Both men landed some solid shots, but two of the judges deemed Tait more effective. Scores were 39-37 twice, and 38-38. With the majority decision win, Tait improves to 2-0 with 1 KO. Campana falls below .500 to 2-3-2 with 1 win inside the distance.
Prior to the main event, promoter Ken Thompson honored former lightweight champion Rodolfo “Gato” Gonzalez with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Also in attendance were trainer Jack Mosley, heavyweight prospect Chris Arreola, and famed cutman Chuck Bodak. The ring announcer was Danny Valdivia.
Thompson Boxing Promotions returns to the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario on Friday April 21st.
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