Miguel Espino W8 Arturo Ortega...Middleweight prospect Miguel Espino tuned up for a possible August TV appearance with an eight-round unanimous decision win over Arturo Ortega Saturday night in Sylmar, California. Espino wasn’t too happy with his performance despite winning nearly every round. “I say a C+, B- performance,” he said after the bout.

The former Contender participant was being a little tough on himself. Espino put on an impressive display of combination punching en route to the points win over Ortega, a rough-and-tumble type fighting out of Phoenix.

The mauling Ortega pressed Espino consistently, coming forward behind wide punches. He managed to get Espino against the ropes regularly but couldn’t get much through the guard of the 27-year-old.

Espino varied his attack impressively, hammering hooks to the body before going upstairs. The body attack paid dividends, as Ortega’s punches lost steam by the 5th round.

A low blow by Espino cost him a point in the seventh. Referee Jack Reiss deducted a point after an Espino hook strayed low, causing Ortega to take a knee. It appeared Espino may be able to secure a late stoppage in the last round, as he let his hands go with a tired Ortega pinned in a corner.

Official scores were 78-73 twice and 77-74 for the victor, who expects to be back in the ring later this summer. Espino ups his record to 16-2-1 with 5 KOs. Ortega slips to 12-5-3 with 7 KOs.

“I’m already scheduled to fight in August,” Espino said. “We’re still trying with Manny Cota Promotions to settle something with ESPN or Showtime. It is almost 100 percent I am fighting in August, whether it works out with TV or not.”

“ The fight was awkward. The guy had a real awkward style,” he said. “I got to work on my body punches. Got to work on things I needed to work on.”

“I made it way too close like my trainer (John Bray) said. Way too close than it should have been. But it is what it is.”

The win made it seven consecutive victories for Espino since he lost to Peter Manfredo Jr. on the show. Hopefully, he will get to showcase his talent on television again soon.

With some of the prelims falling through, there were only 2 bouts at the Army National Guard before the main event. Lowell Brownfield won a close but unanimous six round decision over Roberto Valenzuela in a junior welterweight match up. In the opener, junior lightweights Mario Juarez and Carlos Hernandez battled to a four round majority draw.

Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett had been slated to appear in an exhibition but the bout was nixed by the state commission, according to Shiflett.

Fighters in attendance included “Contender” season one winner Sergio Mora, former heavyweight contender Jeremy Williams, and unbeaten female prospect Kai West. Joe “Are you ready” Martinez was the ring announcer.