Battle at the Boat 86 March 31, 2012	Brian Halquist at the Emerald Queen Casino Story by Ricardo Ibarra Photos by Malisa Callahan
Showcasing his skills in front of a nearly sold-out crowd, lightweight prospect Jose Hernandez used slick boxing skills and a consistent work rate to entertain the fans and out point Kenyan native Peter Oluoch last Saturday night at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington. The bout headlined the 86th installment of Brian Halquist Productions' Battle at the Boat, the longest running boxing series in the Pacific Northwest. From the opening bell Hernandez, of Fort Worth, Texas, set the tempo of the bout, moving laterally and snapping his jab in the face of his opponent. Hernandez maintained control throughout the early rounds, easily out landing and countering the onrushing Oluoch with crisp one-two combinations. In the fourth round, though, Oluoch mounted a comeback, pressing with a sustained rally that gave the crowd an exciting back and forth round that saw both men land hard power shots in close. Hernandez was able to settle back into a rhythm once again in the fifth and maintained control for the remainder of the bout, cruising on to a unanimous decision victory. The judges scored the bout 98-92, 98-92, and 99-91 awarding Hernandez his thirteenth career victory.	Hernandez lands a left Hernandez lands a right
Pucek presses Medel	In the co-main event of the night Maywood, California's Lissette Medel won a hard fought unanimous decision over Ft. Langley, BC's Sarah Pucek. Medel, the shorter of the two, countered very well in the bout, laying back as Pucek worked her way in close and landing solid rights over her jab. Pucek made the fight a close one by pressing the action, but it was Medel's power shots that got the attention of the judges. All three scorers had the bout a shutout at 50-45.
Fight of the night honors belonged to Nate Serrano, of Yakima, Washington and Sacramento, California's Nicholas Balestra. The two gave fight fans one of the most exciting rounds of the year so far. After a tentative and slow first round, both fighters came out swinging in the second round. A vicious right cross on the chin dropped Serrano on the seat of his trunks early in the round, leaving him seemingly on unsteady legs and in trouble. Almost immediately after the action was allowed to resume, though, Serrano came back with his own right hand, dropping Balestra for a mandatory eight count. Serrano pounced as soon as the referee called for the two to fight, landing a series of power shots along the ropes and dropping Balestra once again. Balestra would make it to his feet one more time, but after taking a barrage of shots along the ropes the referee mercifully stepped in and called the fight, awarding Serrano the TKO victory at 1:54 of the round.	Serrano and Balestra trade punches
Lampkin lands the left	In a four round welterweight bout Portland, Oregon's Ray Lampkin Jr., the son of Northwest boxing legend Ray Lampkin, made his professional debut a successful one, winning a unanimous decision over Beau Hamilton of Montague, California. Lampkin used quick combinations and good lateral movement to control the majority of the bout. Hamilton was able to find openings for his right hand, but he was not quick enough to compete on a consistent basis with the slicker Lampkin. All three judges scored the bout 40-36 for Lampkin.
Kent, Washington's Issac Tadeo was impressive in his first foray into the professional ranks, scoring a third round knockout over Kalispell, Montana's Jessie Uhde. Tadeo dropped Uhde early in the first round with a double left hook and once again in the third, before ending matters with a barrage of unanswered punches along the ropes that prompted the referee to stop the bout at 2:01 of the round.	Tadeo batters Uhde
Ammudio lands his left	In the opening bout of the night San Francisco, California's Jonathan Zamudio won a four round majority decision over William Fernandez of Kelso, Washington. Fernandez had a good start to the bout, using his jab and movement to keep his opponent at range and opening up in the pocket with combinations. Zamudio picked up his pace in the second round, though, and began to close the distance with solid aggression. As the fight progressed it was the aggression of Zamudio that controlled the pace of the fight. The judges scored the bout 38-38, 39-37, and 40-36, giving Zamudio his first win as a professional prize fighter.
Danny Bonaduce served as the Ring Announcer	What ever happened to Amy Hayes? She's back in the ring announcing fights with the same flare we remember.
The Battle at the Boat returns to the Emerald Queen Casino June 2nd.	Brian Halquist continues to serve as a promoter of the fights at the Playboy Mansion . Click here to see the story.