Chavez Finishes Off Solorio in Eighth at Irvine

Ernie Chavez of Santa Ana won his fourth Irvine Marriott main event of the year Thursday night with a victory over Mario Solorio of Oxnard in a 147-pound bout in front of 1,078.

Chavez was credited with an eighth-round knockout. On the advice of Michael DeLuca, the ringside doctor, Solorio--who had bled almost nonstop from early in the third round--didn’t answer the bell in the eighth.

California boxing rules don’t recognize technical knockouts.

Chavez (12-0) had already defeated Javier Moreno, Juan Villa and Hedgemon Robertson in main events earlier this year at Irvine.

It was the seventh knockout for Chavez, who was in control for most of the bout. Only in the second round did Solorio (10-2) exhibit better skills.

Solorio’s tactics were clear from the start, as he tried to tie up Chavez inside, not allowing him much punching room.

But Chavez worked well off the breaks, using a strong left to score as Solorio tried to move back inside.

Chavez used a long left followed by a short right hook to slow Solorio in the third.

Then there was the matter of blood. Chavez landed a solid uppercut later in the third that started the blood flowing from Solorio’s nose.

By the time the fight was stopped, both boxers, their shoes and referee Chuck Hassett were covered with blood.

“He was hard to control,” Chavez said. “I couldn’t get him under, so I just worked my hands more for speed than power and kept after him.”

Shane Kaplan of Irvine, who was supposed to fight Thursday, didn’t because of an injury to his left arm suffered in training. Kaplan had two knockouts in two appearences at the Marriott.

John Armijo, the fighting lifeguard from Huntington Beach, will be featured in the main event Oct. 25. Armijo is coming back after five months off because of a hand injury.