A makeshift main event turned into one of the best fights of the year.
In the end, it was Vladimir Hernandez who made the most of the last-minute opportunity in a brave points win over Raul Garcia. Scores were 94-93, 95-92 and 96-91 for Hernandez in their ProBox TV headliner Wednesday from ProBox TV Events Center in Plant City, Florida.
The junior middleweight bout was first set up as the night’s main event. It was elevated to the top slot when Lester Martinez (18-0, 15 knockouts) failed to close out the fight. The Ring’s no. 8-rated super middleweight fell ill after Tuesday’s weigh-in. He was forced to withdraw from his showdown against Joeshon James (9-0-2, 5 KOs).
James was left with a ringside view for the night, but at least was provided with a worthy replacement.
The tremendous ten-round affair began as a showcase for the Dominican Republic’s Garcia (13-2-1, 11 KOs). The 25-year-old from Santo Domingo started strong and even had Hernandez on the canvas in round three. Garcia’s left hook was dialed in as he built an early lead.
True to his career scouting report, Hernandez refused to fade away.
The 35-year-old southpaw from Stockton, California took control of the fight in the fight. Garcia was briefly stunned by a shot to the temple. A badly delayed reaction saw him fall to the canvas, although it could be called a slip. Referee Michael DeJesus ruled him out by contact and issued a count.
Garcia came back in the middle rounds but struggled to keep Hernandez (16-6, 7 KOs) at bay. It cost him big in round eight.
Hernandez connected with a left and right hook left hand combination to send Garcia to the canvas late in the eighth.
The momentum shift did not last long. Garcia got up and stormed back at the end of the round.
In the last two rounds, Hernandez got his win.
Three months after a knockout of the year worthy victory over Guido Schramm in this very venue, Hernandez was unable to repeat the finish here. It didn’t come from a lack of trying. Garcia couldn’t guard against Hernandez’s clean uppercuts. He responded with his left hook, but was shot down in an otherwise winnable fight.
Hernandez has now won two straight and started six of his last eight. Two of the wins during that span came against former unified 154-pound titlist Julian Williams and undefeated Lorenzo Simpson. His losses over that stretch were to then-undefeated talents Jesus Ramos and Troy Isley.
Garcia is now just 1-2-1 in his last four starts. He dropped a split decision to Leonardo Ruiz last August 23 at this venue.
Also on the show, Jaycob Gomez (11-0-1, 7 KOs) stayed perfect with a second round stoppage of Jerry Perez (14-5-1, 11 KOs). Their lightweight co-feature was stopped between rounds when Perez’s corner chose not to let him out before the start of the third.
