Irvine Boxing : Marchena Defeats Puente in 10

Ramon Marchena defeated California super featherweight champion Greg Puente by a split decision in a 10-round non-title fight Monday fight in front of 1,490 at the Irvine Marriott.

The judges ruled 95-94 and 97-94 for Marchena of Westminster and 96-93 for Puente of El Monte.

Marchena (17-3) controlled the early rounds and scored a knockdown at 1:32 of the second round. Puente, fighting for the first time since he won the California title in November in a 12-round decision over Francisco Segura, quickly got up and did not appear to be hurt.

In the middle rounds, Puente (9-2-3) started to land a series of strong combinations and opened a slight cut above Marchena’s right eye in the seventh round.

Puente spent much of the fight trying to trap Marchena on the ropes but Marchena consistently was able to escape to the center of the ring.

“I knew he kind of outboxed me,” Puente said. “But I felt for aggressiveness they should have given me more (points).”

Marchena attacked Puente’s body for most of the fight and in the final two rounds appeared to be the stronger fighter. He finished the final round with a series of blows to the body as they stood toe-to-toe for the last 20 seconds.

In other fights:

At 163 pounds, Hector Jaimam (8-2-1) of San Diego stopped Tony Chicoine (6-2) of Orange in the second round when Jaimam opened a long deep gash above Chicoine’s left eye and the doctor advised against continuing.

At 131, Jonny Clouden (4-0) of Los Angeles knocked out Derrek Hudson (5-4) of Bakersfield in the fourth round.

Boxing Notes Heavyweight Lee Canalito of Texas, who is the managerial interest of actor Sylvester Stallone, was scheduled to fight Monday at the Irvine Marriott but reportedly slipped in the shower of a Hollywood hotel Sunday night and hurt his hand, which caused him to withdraw.

Stallone was supposed to be ringside but also canceled. Promoter Don Fraser said he would seek $1,500 financial compensation from Stallone for Canalito’s scheduled opponent’s (Dwain Bonds) travel expenses, hotel costs and license fee.