BOXING IN IRVINE : Ruelas Gets 1st-Round Knockout

The best fighter in the nine-year history of the monthly boxing program at the Irvine Marriott was in action Thursday night. But not very long.

Rafael Ruelas scored a knockout at one minute 45 seconds of the first round in front of about 1,000.

Ruelas’ visit to Irvine was little more than a pit stop on the way to much bigger things.

Ruelas (38-1, 30 knockouts), of Sylmar, is the No. 1-ranked lightweight contender in the world by the World Boxing Council and the International Boxing Federation.

He is scheduled to take on Freddie Pendleton for Pendleton’s IBF title Dec. 30 in Las Vegas.

As for Thursday, Ruelas hardly got loose before dropping Conny Lopez of Mexico.

“He was overmatched,” Ruelas said of Lopez. “But there are not many people that get in front of me that aren’t going to be.”

Ruelas entered the ring to a loud ovation and did nothing to disappoint his fans, many of whom stood in line for autographs afterward.

Ruelas used only a strong left jab for the first 30 seconds, giving the impression he could win the bout with one hand.

When he finally used his right hand, it had immediate effect. His first right sent Lopez (18-6) down for the first of three knockdowns. Lopez bounced right back up but was on his back again less than 30 seconds later, thanks to a flurry of punches.

Bert Gilliam, the referee, wiped off Lopez’s gloves and said “Here we go again,” after the second knockdown and Lopez boldly, and maybe unwisely, approached Ruelas again.

But a strong left sent Lopez right back down and the bout was stopped.

“I just came here to do my job,” Ruelas said. “If (the knockout is) there early, I’ll take it. I’m not going to give the guy any unnecessary chances.”

The fight of the night was between middleweights Randy Smith of Duarte and Kenny McCullough of Van Nuys. Smith won a split decision, 40-38, 39-37, 38-39.

Each fighter was near going down in the first round. McCullough landed five consecutive lefts in the third that had Smith nearly finished.

McCullough started the fourth with a quick knockdown but Smith rallied back to dominate the rest of the way and split the round, 10-10, on all three cards. The fighters got a standing ovation and close to $100 was thrown into the ring.

Alvaro Velasquez, a lightweight from Stanton, got his first professional victory with a second-round knockout of Bruce Becker of Campo.