The main event of the evening proved that one needs to look beyond a fighter’s record when evaluating a fight. While Anthony Alvarado entered the fight unbeaten in his three bouts, Billy Wagner, at five wins and five losses, would not be an easy mark.

The opening round set the tone for the fight as both men threw effective punches; Alvarado threw heavier punches, but Wagner was able to answer by shooting his right at Alvarado’s head. Wagner settled in to a rhythm of counter punching in the second round, and he was able to land to Alvarado’s body and occasionally his head. Alvarado scored when he threw left – right combinations.

Wagner continued to throw counter punches in the third round, but that also meant that Alvarado was dictating much of the action. Wagner raised the question of a head butt at the midpoint of the round, and while the referee gave it a look, he saw no damage. Alvarado began to land more punches in the fourth round, and that slowed Wagner’s output.

In the fifth round Wagner showed how tough he is, and had he been in the ring with almost any other fighter, he would be dictating the action and scoring the points as he landed effective body shots. Alvarado landed a number of body shots as well, making this a close round. Wagner appeared to gain some momentum in the sixth as he moved out of Alvarado’s reach and was still able to land punches. Alvarado however regained the momentum as the round closed by landing shots to Wagner’s head and chin.

Alvarado was most accurate in the final round. While Wagner was able to answer, and score with body shots and the occasional punch to Alvarado’s head, it appeared that everything Alvarado threw landed.

After seven rounds all three judges agreed and scored the fight 70-63 for Alvarado who would remain unbeaten behind the unanimous decision win.

Alvarado's left catches Wagner's chin; Wagner's left connects to Alvarado's body

Alvarado catches Wagner with a left hook

Colantonio's right catches Anderson's chin

The co main event featured a couple of heavyweights, Aurek Anderson out of Eugene and Canadian Brandon Colantonio.

The pace of the fight was slow in the opening round as each fighter looked for an opportunity to land something heavy. When the two were close, Colantonio had the advantage as he was able to land his right to Anderson’s body. Colantonio continued to work Anderson’s body in the second round, though much of the round was spent with the men holding or leaning on the ropes.

Colantonio created some space in the third round and that enabled him to land punches with his arm extended. That also enabled him to keep Anderson moving to avoid being hit. Anderson had a good fourth round as he began to throw more punches and keep Colantonio moving.

Anderson continued to gain some momentum in the fifth round as he stayed closer to the center of the ring while doubling up with his left hand targeting Colantonio’s body. Anderson opened the final round landing a hard right hand to Colantonio’s head. The difference in the round was Colantonio’s ability to walk Anderson down and throwing body shots.

After six rounds one judge scored the fight 60-54; the second saw it 59-55; and the third scored it 58-56 all in favor of Colantonio who would claim the unanimous decision win.

Unbeaten Kevin Ochoa and Canadian Alessandra Singson faced off in a scheduled five round bout.

The opening round was close as both men threw jabs and looked to follow them with body shots. Ochoa gained a slight edge in the round as he started to land with greater frequency in the closing minute as both men engaged in quick exchanges. The second round started slow, but a minute in Ochoa started to smother Singson with combinations that landed to Singson’s body. Ochoa continued to pressure Singson and when he found an opening he threw a hard right that caught Singson to the head and dropped him.

The referee stepped in and waved the fight to an end a 1:11. Ochoa would remain unbeaten behind the TKO win.

Ochoa lands his left while Singson covers up

Torrico's right just misses a ducking Manrajos

Christian Torrico, another Medford fighter, had a large contingent of fans in the crowd as he made his pro debut facing Angel Manrajos. Manrajos had fought once as a professional, but these two men showed some fighting skill in the opening round. Torrico landed the heavier punches in the round, but Manrajos moved well and as the round drew to a close, he began to land punches to Torrico’s body. In the second round, Torrico continued to throw body shots, and often his left found a target on Manrajos’ body. One of those lefts landed hard at the midpoint of the round and dropped Manrajos.

The referee reached the ten count before Manrajos stood, giving Torrico the knockout victory at 1:56 of the second round.

In the second fight of the night two men who travelled a good distance stepped in for a four round bout. Jermiah Sierra came in from Anchorage, Alaska, while Jovan Alayon made the trip from Honolulu, Hawaii.

Initially both men seemed content to throw jabs and move to create effective punches. Then just under a minute in, Sierra landed a straight left that dropped Alayon. Alayon rose and gathered himself and stepped toward Sierra swinging his right. Alayon caught Sierra on the chin and dropped him at the minute and a half mark. Sierra stood, but his legs were not too steady. As the men continued to exchange punches, Alayon again caught Sierra with a right to the body followed by one to the head with thirty seconds left in the first. Sierra would not stand, and the referee waved the fight to an end at 2:52 of the first.

Alayon would claim the TKO win.

Alayon catches Sierra with a left to the body

Garcia shoots his left at Valencia

The opening fight of the evening featured Medford fighter Rafael Valencia facing Jose Garcia who was making his professional debut in a four round affair.

The first round featured a number of big rights, though neither man was able to land in the early moments. Then Garcia changed his focus to target Valencia’s body. Doing so enabled Garcia to land some heavy shots. Garcia’s body assault continued in the second round, and he was more consistent in catching Valencia as he stepped forward. As the round drew to a close, Valencia began to cover up and block the body punches, but they were taking a toll as Valencia’s punch output slowed.

Valencia did not answer the bell to start the third round, which meant that Garcia would claim the TKO victory at 3:00 of the second round.

The Ring Card Girls