Promoter Matt Phillips and matchmaker Keith Weir are on a tear in the realm of Pacific Northwest boxing. They have sold out shows in Bremerton, Klamath Falls and the latest, coming up on April 20th in Clackamas. The Arena Wars Fight Series is making inroads in the area featuring local fighters and competitive matches.
The main event on the Clackamas card will feature Joseph Aguilar and Marquis Williams in a five round super middleweight bout. Williams, making the trip north from Houston, Texas, has scored two first round knockouts in his professional career. Aguilar, who has only lost once, dropping a majority decision, is on a three-fight win streak. Aguilar has also won two of his fights by way of the knockout, so this fight will feature two men with power.
The co-main event features local fighters Marco Cardenas, of Salem, facing Lorenzo Calderas out of Portland. Caldera enters the fight unbeaten with half of his wins coming by knockout. Cardenas can make the same claim as half of his wins too are the result of knockouts. Both men have gone the distance in the fights not decided by a knockout, and this six rounder will be a test of stamina and will. Labelling this the co-main is fitting as on any other fight card, this could be the main event.
Don’t be dismayed when looking at the records of Derick Bartlemay and Margarito Hernandez who will square off in a five round super lightweight fight. Both fighters have been in against tough competition and in many cases lost close decisions. Bartlemay won his las fight when he scored a knockout, while he dropped close unanimous decisions in fights that swung on the score of one round in the two fights prior to the knockout. In nine of his eleven fights, Hernandez has faced men with winning records, and he scored impressive wins in two of those fights.
In a cruiserweight fight, Alberto Rivas will face Alex Cazac in a bout scheduled for five rounds. Cazac will enter the ring after a layoff of three years, though he was on a three-fight win streak. Cazac’s only losses were to Carlos Villanueva and Richard Van Siclen, two top notch Pacific Northwest boxers. Rivas only loss is also to Villanueva, though he defeated Villanueva in a previous bout. These two men have been dominant in winning fights decided by unanimous decisions, so fans should expect a close fight.
Kevin Davila will look to get one back in the win column when he faces Aaron Thompson who after a lengthy amateur career, will make his professional debut in a four round middleweight bout. Thompson, out of Eugene, has been training in Portland. Thompson faced some tough competition as an amateur, and went the distance in each of his fights, Davila, as a professional, has also faced tough fighters and gone the distance. He is scrappy fighter and has shown no fear in the ring in his twelve-year career.
Haidon Allen is also making his professional debut after a solid amateur career. Allen will face Robert Jimenez in a four round super featherweight fight. Jimenez lost his only professional bout to unbeaten Julio Ocampo Hernandez in a close unanimous decision. The Ocampo Hernandez fight showed Jimeniz’s toughness, so Allen will have to be on top of his fight game. Allen trains with Victor Morales, and it appears that team Morales will be working Allen’s corner.
Rounding out the card, Anthony Alvarado will face Ricardo Reyes in a super welterweight fight scheduled for four rounds. Reyes lost by unanimous decision to Keven Ochoa in a very close fight February. Reyes scored a five round unanimous decision win in his only professional bout. The word on this fight is that though both men are early in their pro careers, they fight tough and battle through each round.
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