Nugaev upsets Maicelo, stops Peruvian star on FNF

Nugaev upsets Maicelo, stops Peruvian star on FNF
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
April 6, 2013


SANTA YNEZ, Calif. – In his native Peru, Jonathan Maicelo's celebrity is on par with Justin Bieber's in the United States. Out there, he has a national Coca-Cola commercial, as well as one with Frito-Lay. According to his manager Nelson Fernandez, his fights are viewed by 49 percent of the country and men allow their wives to kiss him.

On Friday night, in front of a small crowd at Santa Ynez, Calif.'s Chumash Casino, Maicelo fought in his first televised bout in the United States, meeting tough Russian Rustam Nugaev in the ten-round main event of ESPN2's Friday Night Fights.

Maicelo fought a toe-to-toe battle with Nugaev, eventually getting caught by a massive right hand in the eighth round, and will now be famous stateside due to the highlight reel knockout he was on the losing end of.

When the initial main event between Marvin Quintero and Ammeth Diaz fell out just a few weeks ago, Maicelo jumped at the opportunity to make American television for the first time.

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Holt vanquishes Diaz in three

Holt vanquishes Diaz in three!

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

May 13, 2011

In an effort to re-establish legitimacy amongst the top tier in the junior welterweight division, Kendall “Rated R” Holt [27-4, 15 KOs] scored a one shot third round stoppage of former fellow world champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz [38-7, 27 KOs] in the ESPN Friday Night Fights headlining bout from the Chumash Casino & Resort in Santa Ynez, California.

Controversy surrounds Kauffman's first defeat

Controversy surrounds Kauffman's first defeat
Mark E. Ortega
Special to Reading Eagle
September 20, 2009

SANTA YNEZ, Calif. - Reading native and Exeter grad Travis Kauffman suffered the first loss of his professional career via fourth-round knockout at the hands of Tony Grano in an exciting heavyweight contest that featured lots of back and forth action Friday night at the Chumash Hotel and Casino.

Kauffman (18-1, 15 KOs) was controlling the fight up until there was about a minute left in the fourth when Grano (16-1-1, 13 KOs) was able to land a few serious overhand rights that stunned the previously undefeated fighter.

Once Kauffman was badly hurt, he elected to try and duck punches instead of holding on. Kauffman moved straight back while he was against the ropes and hit his head on the front of a camera that was being held on the apron.

On top of that, there were a few other controversial moments that may have helped Grano recover when he was badly hurt earlier in the round.

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