Sanchez brothers have victorious fight night

Muñoz dominates against Texan

Jason Sanchez came oh, so close to doing what no professional fighter has ever done — stop Raymond Chacon short of the prescribed distance.

But Sanchez will happily take a lopsided victory by sixround decision in the main event of a professional boxing card Saturday night at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.

Sanchez (7-0, three knockouts) chased the elusive Chacon throughout the bout. He caught up with the Los Angeles fighter in the fourth, flooring him with hard right hand. But Chacon (6-20) was up at the count of eight and resumed his defense-first strategy to extend his knockout-less streak.

“It was patience and just pressure,” Sanchez said of his winning formula. “He ran a lot, so it was good experience.”

The judges’ scores were 60-54, 60-54 and 59-55, all for Sanchez.

In the night’s co-main event, Albuquerque welterweight Hector Muñoz (24-18-1, 16 KOs) dominated Texan Hector Garza (3-18, three KOs) en route to a victory by fifth-round TKO.

Muñoz has made his living fighting and losing to some of the best fighters in four different weight classes. But none of those who defeated Muñoz ever had to chase him down.

Saturday, against an overmatched “opponent,” Muñoz chased Garza from ring post to ring post.

Only in the second round, when Muñoz in his eagerness failed to keep his hands up, did Garza have any success in countering the Albuquerquean’s relentless pressure.

Muñoz gradually slowed Garza’s movement and, in the fourth, brought it to a complete stop with a right hand that dropped the Harlingen, Texas, fighter in his own corner.

Garza was down once more in the fourth and twice in the fifth before referee Rocky Burke called a halt at the 2:19 mark. In other bouts:

Albuquerque junior middleweight José Luís Sanchez (5-1, two KOs) overpowered Zamir Young (1-5-1), dropping him twice with left hooks en route to a victory by fourround unanimous decision. The official scores were not announced.

Albuquerque featherweight Jose Osorio (5-2-1, two KOs) blasted out a victory by fourround, unanimous decision over defensive-minded Georgian Stephon McIntyre (2-22-2) no KOs). The scores were 40-36, 40-36 and 39-37.

Albuquerque junior lightweight Alex Olguin (8-1, five KOs) disposed of Ramiro Torres (4-32 two KOs) of San Antonio, Texas, in just 1:04 of the first round.

Albuquerque junior middleweight Eduardo Ortiz took a four-round majority decision over Oliver Parker of Blanding, Utah. The scores were 39-37, 39-37 and 38-38. It was the pro boxing debut for both. Parker, who trains in Albuquerque at FIT-NHB, is 5-6 as an MMA fighter.

Las Cruces featherweight Ayanna Vasquez scored a four-round unanimous decision over Bosque Farms’ Katie Ramirez. Both were making their pro debuts. The scores were 40-36, 40-36 and 39-37.

The Young-José Luís Sanchez fight was competitive through the first round-anda-half before the Albuquerque fighter dropped Young with a thunderous left hook.

Young got to his feet and lasted the round, only to be dropped with another left hook in Round 3. Sanchez finished strong in the fourth, cementing a lopsided victory.

The night’s opening bout didn’t last as long as the prefight introductions. Albuquerque junior lightweight Holguin dropped Torres twice, once with a left hook, then with a right, before referee Burke stopped the mismatch at 1:04 of the first.

The outcome was no surprise, given Torres’ horrendous record.

Ortiz used faster hands, better defense and a higher skill level to control the action against Parker for most of four rounds. Parker made the bout competitive with some heavy body shots.

Vasquez was a USA Boxing national amateur semifinalist three years ago, and her edge in experience was reflected in more accurate punches as she banged out a victory over Ramirez.

Vasquez became a mother just seven months ago.™