Modesto’s Gaxiola wins pro fight debut at sold-out SOS Club

His opponent didn’t hit the floor, but Michael Gaxiola was happy nonetheless in coming away with a victory in his first professional fight.

Gaxiola, who boxes out of Bad To The Bonz boxing gym, won a majority decision over Victor Torres in the last of five fights at an energetic SOS Club on Saturday night.

The  120-pound Modesto boxers threw a lot of punches but landed few to remember. Still, it was Gaxiola who won on two judges’ cards while tying on another.

“I gave him a West Side whuppin’ like I said I would,” said Gaxiola, 20.

Neither boxer landed many memorable punches, and both felt the other head-butted.

“I came out here to do my best,” said Torres, 20. “My performance was good. He didn’t hurt me.”

The five four-round fights were met with enthusiasm from the crowd of about 600 at the sold-out SOS.

In the best fight of the night, another Modestan scored a victory. Gilberto Mendoza, 24, won a split decision over Stockton’s Don Jose in a bout matching probably the two best technical fighters of the evening.

Jose, with a boisterous crowd clearly in his corner, came out fast and furious, but Mendoza didn’t get flustered and began chipping away.

In the third round – the best round of boxing on the evening – both fighters swung away and caught each other often as the crowd cheered.

In the end, the judges gave the nod to Mendoza.

The opening three fights provided a lot of hard hitting and one knockdown.

Midway through the first round of the third fight, Marcos Hernandez of Fresno sent Will Walters of Sacramento to the canvas with a hard left hook. Walters seemed momentarily stunned but gathered himself quickly as the referee counted.

The two went at it over the final three four-minute rounds with Hernandez landing blows as Walters looked to stay close and work from the inside. When it was over, Hernandez, wearing shiny silver trunks,  scored a unanimous decision.

“Happy I won, but I could have done better,” said Hernandez, who improved to 3-0 as a professional.

In the opening fight, Tulare’s Vicente Guzman, 31, came out aggressive against his younger opponent, landing occasional rights to the body and head. As the fight progressed, Chris Avila, a 21-year-old from Stockton making his pro debut, was having success with an accurate uppercut.

In the end, Guzman, who  entered the ring with an 0-4-1 professional record, according to BoxRec.com, won by unanimous decision for his first victory.

One of the most entertaining bouts of the night pitted Sacramento’s Darren Mallard, 24, and Madera’s Rocky Richardson.

Richardson came out swinging with a lot more energy than his opponent. He was clearly the better fighter early in the bout and looked to be on his way to victory in the third round when he forced Mallard across the ring and into the ropes.

But Mallard, who had a big contingent, rallied, hitting Richardson hard in one of the better exchanges of the night. Richardson seemed to get a burst of energy, scored some points in the fourth round and came away with a draw.

This story was originally published September 6, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Modesto’s Gaxiola wins pro fight debut at sold-out SOS Club."