A LITTLE BLOOD ALOT OF GUTS AND SOME OF THE BIZARRE FRIDAY NIGHT IN RENO
April 20, 2024
Simon Ruvalcaba
Ringside
It was a night that going into the show you heard alot of experts say 50/50 as in how competitive each bout looked on paper. Friday night’s Let’s Get It On Promotion’s card at the Reno/Spark Covention Center hosted by the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa had proof of just how competitive the show was as 2 out of 5 bouts where draws while 2 of the other 3 where exciting and played out with solid victories.
In the main event youth was served as Ricardo ‘El Nino’ Sandoval of Riverside, California outworked 8 year pro veteran and local favorite Oscar ‘Chapito’ Vasquez to earn a unanimous 8 round decision, 80-72 on all three cards for the shutout victory to improve to 13-1 (8). Vasquez falls to 15-2 (3). Oscar seemed to be looking for his rhythm all evening as Sandoval was more assertive and quicker to the punch. For Sandoval, who in his last appearance in Reno defeated Olympic Alternate Brent Venegas, this victory over Vasquez raises his stock to legit contender status. For Vasquez who had not lost in 6 years, it was an emotional back stage demeanor that had Oscar talking retirement after the tough loss.
In the co-main event, Sacramento, California’a Blake ‘The Beast’ McKernan improved to 8-0 (6) and claimed the W.B.U. Cruiserweight belt with a 3rd round stoppage of Mexico’s Daniel Arambula. After 2 rounds of stalking and finding his range, Army and Iraq War Veteran McKernan picked up the pace in round 3 and a barrage of punches that staggered Arambula from one side of the ring to another forced the Referee stoppage as Arambula’s corner was throwing in the towel. Official time was 2:15. Arambula falls to 4-3 (1).
In a heated 4 round Lightweight contest, Carson City, Nevada’s Diego Elizondo, a local favorite, and St. Louis’s Canton Miller battled to a 4 round majority draw. The bout featured good action with heated exchanges, tackling and low blows as both fighters refused to back down from each other. In the end judges scored 40-36 for Miller, while the other two scorecards agreed with Punchline ringside scoring of 38-38 for a majority draw. Elizondo now 2-0-1 and miller is now 3-1-1 (1).
Oscar’s Brother Santos ‘Titos’ Vasquez battled Puerto Rican Bryan Aquino in a 6 round light flyweight bout. Action was slow the first two rounds but then picked up in round 3. The southpaw Aquino was picking his shots while Vasquez would stalk in with stiff rights. It was a tactical fight that Punchline scored 58-56 for Vasquez. Official scorecards where 58-56 Vasquez, 58-56 Aquino and 57-57 for the draw verdict. Vasquez now 5-2-2 (3) while Aquino is now 11-2-1 (5).
In the night’s opening bout Cuban Heavyweight Frank Sanchez Faure 6-0 (6) of Las Vegas via Cuba, looked to continue his climb up the Heavyweight ladder against veteran Lamont Capers 9-12-4 (1) of Brooklyn, N.Y.
Sanchez came out fast and landed some heavy blows from his still developing raw style. Towards the end of round 1 a point was deducted from Capers for excessive holding. The 2nd round got started and seconds in with Capers along the ropes, it appeared he may have taken a shot that dropped him clear out of the ring with ringside officials unable to react fast enough, Capers dangerously hit the Reno/Sparks Convention Center’s cement floor. It was ruled that he was shoved out of the ring and unable to continue the bout was ruled a No Contest.
About the Editor
Army Veteran and former Professional Boxer Simon Ruvalcaba started boxing at the age of ten and Had a 71 fight amateur career which featured a 139 lbs. 1998 8th U.S. Army Boxing Championship out of Camp Casey, Korea and a spot on the prestigious Army Boxing Team at Fort Hood, TX. After a journeyman pro career of 18 fights, which included sparring sessions with many champions and contenders including Julio Cesar Chavez and Pernell “Sweat Pea” Whitaker, Simon started writing and has contributed to many publications and websites including fighthype.com, pound4pound.com, Tahoe Daily Tribune (South Lake Tahoe, CA), Nevada Appeal (Carson City, NV). He has also been the Boxing Instructor for Ken Shamrock and The Lions Den and was MMA and Bareknuckle star Paige VanZant’s first boxing coach!
Born and Raised in South Lake Tahoe, California he now resides in Sun Valley, Nevada and spends as much time as possible with his Sons Gabriel and Oscar! Beyond boxing, Simon is an all around sports fanatic and is passionate about the teams that he roots for. Simon also works as a Sportsbook Supervisor for Caesars Sportsbook in Lake Tahoe.
