Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and renown promoter Lester Bedford brought Fistic Fireworks to Ft Worth last night with great fights, pretty girls and crowd-pleasing entertainment at Sundance Square, the 4th annual of these events.  The guest of honor was 4 time World Champ Roberto “manos de piedras” Duran, a great champion & ambassador for boxing!

In the main event underdog David “the Destroyer” Lopez of Tucson, 26-13 (17 KO’s) thrilled the packed house, winning by TKO at 1:58 of the sixth round over a game Epifanio Mendoza of Columbia, 24-4-1 (22 KO’s) in the middleweight division.  In rounds 1 - 3 both felt each other out, but in rd 4, Mendoza took control with several vicious left jabs and overhand rights, rd 5 saw him continue that pattern until Lopez scored with a hard body punch at the end.  It hurt Mendoza, who collapsed on his stool between rounds.

Round 6 saw Mendoza fighting hurt and Lopez pressing him continuously with a vicious body attack and flooring him at 1:58.  Ref waives it off and Mendoza claims the WBC Latino Middleweight Belt!

In the other featured event, middleweight Ft Worth’s own Brian Vera, 10-0 (7 KO’s) scored a 5th rd KO over Marcus “wrecking ball” Hicks of Dallas, 5-4-1 (2 KO’s) in a crowd pleaser.  Vera pressed the action to Hicks all night with vicious body and headshots.  Hicks showed he came to fight, but could not solve Vera's aggression and gritty defense.  His wicked body & head shots caused Vera to receive a standing 8 count in rd 4, but Vera came roaring back in rd 5 with serious left & right body & head shots which put Hicks down at 2:05 for the count.  KO for Vera and the Texas Middleweight Championship too!

In other action:
Houston’s featherweight Miguel Albares, 2-2-1 lost a hard fought 4 rd majority decision to Midland’s Jaime Villa, 1-0-0 (0 KO’s). Scores 38-38, and 2 @ 39-37.

Jr. Lightweight Elias “Lazer” Lopez of Dallas, 3-0 (1 KO) TKOed Jesus Guzman of Ft Worth, 3-3 (2 KO’s) with an aggressive body & head attack, which chopped Guzman down over 4 rds.  Guzman’s eye and nose were bloodied so severely that the doctor said stop and the ref did at 1:21 of rd 4.

The girls made the crowd buzz with excitement as Ft Worth’s pretty bantamweight Vanessa Juarez, 1-0 earned a dominating 4 round victory over Maria Contreras of Houston, 1-4. Juarez was TORRID all 4 rounds with a withering body attack, wicked jabs and hooks to Contreras head and a NO MERCY attitude. Scores were 40 – 36 all.  Look out girls in her division!  She is coming for the championships!

In conjunction with Lester Bedford of the Bedford Agency, De La Hoya presented the sell-out crowd with top-notch fighters and lots of action, for which the fans roared their appreciation many times. Oscar & Lester plan to bring several such events in Texas cities this year.

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