Sports Briefs: Menifield smashes to another victory
GCC product improves to 5-0 in MMA
Faced with some early adversity, former Glendale Community College linebacker Alonzo Menifield remained undefeated with another stoppage victory on Dec. 8 when he earned a technical knockout over Otavio Javali in the semi-main event of the Legacy Fighting Alliance 28 card in Dallas.
The end came via ground-and-pound punches just 32 seconds into the second round of the light heavyweight bout.
Menifield (5-0) has won all of his bouts inside the distance as he survived a staggering left hook by Javali (9-5) in the opening exchange to start his career with his fifth straight knockout.
“His left hand hurt me as you all saw,” Menifield said in the postfight interview on AXS TV. “Overall, I started to feel him go away so I knew I had him. … I hit that second win and I was able to get him.
“I took him down because it was there and I didn’t want him to hit me with the counter left because he’s good with it.”
As has been a trademark, the mohawked Menifield came out fast, opening with consecutive one-two combinations before a counter left hook from Javali stunned him and pushed him back. After firing off a high kick and then a leg kick, Menifield caught a low right kick from Javali and deftly turned it into a takedown, moving swiftly into side control. Menifield eventually took his opponent’s back and went for a rear-naked choke, but the fight worked back to the feet. The former Vaqueros standout stayed clinched tight to his Brazilian foe and, using brute strength, Menfield picked Javali up over his head and dumped him on the canvas. Javali worked the fight back up again, but a low knee from Menifield halted the first round. After the respite, Menifield began to settle in with his punches and some kicks before defending a Javali takedown attempt and turning it into one of his own. On the ground from half-guard, Menifield began landing some heavy ground and pound before going for a head-and-arm choke. With just under 30 seconds left, Menifield went wild with brutal elbows and punches until the first stanza concluded.
In the second round, a barrage of four punches led to a takedown from Menifield who took back mount and unleashed rights and lefts briefly until the referee stopped the fight. Javali emerged with a badly smashed and bloodied nose.
“I’m just learning as I go, so whatever comes, comes,” Menifield said.
Glendale boxer handed first defeat
Fighting the sixth unbeaten opponent in a row, Glendale boxer Adam Lopez was dealt his first loss on Dec. 8 against Stephen Fulton via majority decision in a featherweight bout in Hialeah, Fla. televised on Fox Sports 1.
Lopez (8-1, three knockouts) lost via judges’ scorecards of 78-74 and 77-75 for Fulton (12-0, five KOs) that overruled a 76-76 verdict. The Glendale News-Press scored it even.
Lopez consistently landed the harder shots, but his output, particularly his combinations, were sporadic, while Fulton, staying on the outside, was the busier fighter.
Falcons Winter Baseball Camp
The 22nd annual Falcons Winter Baseball Camp will run from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 27-28 at Stengel Field in Glendale.
The camp, conducted by Crescenta Valley baseball coach Phil Torres, will focus on hitting, pitching and more. The cost is $75 per person.
The event is geared for ages 7-13 during the 2017-18 school year.
For more information, contact Torres at (818) 249-5871, ext., 6110, or at cvbaseball@hotmail.com.
Volleyball league in Glendale
The United States Youth Volleyball League will hold registration for the 2018 spring season in Glendale. The program is geared for boys and girls, ages 7-15.
The eight-week developmental league will run twice a week and will cover basic skills. The league will run April 4 through June 2 at Maple Park, 820 E. Maple St., Glendale.
Practices will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and games will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturdays.
Registration is available online at www.usyvl.org. The registration price includes a volleyball, T-shirt and participation award.
For information on registration, visit www.usyvl.org, call (888) 988-7985 or email at info@usyvl.org.