It was an interesting night of boxing at the Pechanga resort on Dec. 9, 2004, as heavyweights Michael Moorer (former heavyweight champ) and Vassiliy Jirov fought a well paced contest.  Jirov led throughout but a chopping left hand from Moorer in the 9th dropped Jirov.  He got up but referee Pat Russell decided he was too unsteady to continue.  The ref made a good call.  Jirov did not have his feet under him and in boxing that is not a good position to be in.  Below are the photos and my  brief comments.

HOME PAGE


1.  Jirov ducks down low.

2.  

3.  Lefties exchange right jabs.

4.  When Moorer had rom to punch he was
dangerous.

5.  Jirov did some heavy body work.

6.  Heads colliding caused cuts to Jirov.  He was penalized a point for using his head.

7.  Moorer's jab was sharp.

8.  Jirov gets in under the elbows.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.  As you can see, Jirov was doing most of the punching.  He was clearly winning but still not hurting Moorer that badly.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.  Heads close together.

24.

25.

26.  Hey, elbow or no elbow, you got to come in with the punch.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.  This is the knockout punch.  Unfortunately
it happened away from me with Moorer's back to me.  Oh well, maybe next time.

32.  Celebration time.

33.  One old pro to another.

34.

35.

36.


In the co main feature of the evening, Robert (the Ghost) Guerrero won the NABF featherweight championship with a KO Win at 41 seconds of round four over the champ Cesar Figueroa of Mexico.  Guerrero showed good movement and power.  Now it might be ready to move in on the big boys.


37.  Guerrero (in red) keeps his distance.

38.  Figueroa had trouble finding the lefty.

39.

40.  Guerrero worked upstairs and downstairs.

41.  Close but no cigar.

42.

43.

44.  Excuse me Mr. Guerrrero, you seem to be
stepping on my foot.

45.

46.

47.

48.

49.  Lefty vs. Righty always seems to result in
near head butts and foots on foots.

50.

51.

52.

53.  Sneaking one in there.

54.  That long reach...

55.  Well, even the good ones get hit.

56.  Ouch!

57.

58.

59.  To finish the job at hand.

60.  Trap him on the ropes.

61.  He breaks out of there, but stay on top
of him.

62.  The ref has seen enough and stops it after
another knockdown.

63.  Hey crowd, who's da man?

64.  He's pointing to something on his back.
I'll have to email him and ask him.


65.  The happy winner.

66.  The new champ.

In other fights, rising heavyweight star Cristobal Arreola made short work of Benjamin Garcia scoring a KO at 21 seconds of Round One.  I heard
him mutter that he had to warm up and that's why it took so long.  Let's see how he does against better opposition.  He's fluid and can punch,
that I could see.


67.  Arreola (in white) jumped right
on his opponent.

68.  Two bulls, who will land
first?

69.  It is Arreola with a crusing
right hand.

70.  Garcia is not getting up from that punch.

71.  An easy day's work.

72.  Arreola shows a softer side.

73.  The winner.



In other fights:  Heavyweight Jason Gavern of Scranton, PA. won convincingly over Charles Wilson of Los Angeles.  Wilson had his moments but
Gavern showed more movement and combination punches.  


1.  Gavern in white trunks.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.  I guess I resized this one one resize
too small.

17.  I was beginning to worry that I didn't
have any photos of Gavern on offense.

18.

19.

20.

21.  Both guys got the same idea at the
same time.  Cover up!

22.  Solid right.

23.  This led to...

24....this.

25.  And this.

25.  A West Coast win for an
east coast fighter.


In a four round jr. welterweight bout, Lorenzo Reynolds of Saginaw, Michagan made a successful pro debut in decisioning Sean Rogers of Van Nuys, CA.
Both men showed good speed and combinations but Reynolds was just a little quicker (and a lefty to boot).


1.  Reynolds (white waist band) lands left.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.  Hands wind up in strange positions sometimes.  

7.

8.

9.

10.  Down low.

11.  Rogers had the right idea--using that
right to counteract the lefty.

12.

13.  Again, that moment, when both fighters
get their gloves up and find themselves.



To end our coverage: Heavyweight Travis Walker KO'd Sal Farnetti in the 2nd round.  Walker showed patience and precision punching in breaking down Farnetti.


1.  Walker on left, Farnetti on right.

2.  Farnetti was willing and did some punching.

3.

4.  A little wide.

5.  Straight gets there first all the time.

6.

7.

8.  Farnetti has to get himself in better shape, as
this photo proves.

9.

10.

11.  Downstairs hurts.

12.

13.  Farnetti's not quitting.

14.  Now it's coverup time.

15.  When your hands are locked in you can't punch.  Refs don't like that and they...

16.  ...stop the fight.