Fortune Hunter Scores Marriott Shocker

On paper, a mismatch. In the ring, a bloodbath.

In the books, an upset for Cesar Rendon.

Rendon, a late replacement Wednesday night for Mexican champion Salvador Maciel, won his own title, the World Boxing Board Penta super-heavyweight crown. He stopped Justin Fortune in six rounds before an estimated crowd of 500 in the Warner Center Marriott’s Grand Ballroom.

Weighing 201 pounds, 14 pounds fewer than his opponent, Rendon knocked Fortune down in the second round and finished him off in the sixth by slashing an already-open cut over his opponent’s left eye.

Fortune, a stocky former Olympic power lifter from Australia, connected with solid, wicked body punches throughout the fight, but Rendon, staying composed, picked his spots effectively.

Rendon doubled up with right-handed punches to break Fortune’s nose and send him to the canvas midway through the second round.

In the third, a left-right combination opened up the gash that would eventually bring the fight to a stop.

By the start of the fourth round, Rendon’s white trunks were pink from Fortune’s blood, and just before the end of the sixth round, he caught his opponent again, sending a stream of blood flowing from the eye.

Fortune made it to his corner, but referee Robert Byrd stopped the fight on the advice of ringside physician Adam Karns.

Rendon improved to 9-4-1 with his eighth victory by knockout. Fortune’s record slipped to 12-4-1.

Stymied in two previous title tries, Antonio Ramirez, a 26-year-old veteran, again came up short--way short--in his attempt to wrest away the North American Boxing Organization featherweight championship from Jose Luis Noyola.

Ramirez battled gamely, but lost a unanimous decision to the faster, more-fit reigning champion.

However, Noyola (16-0-1) failed to put Ramirez away after knocking him down in the first round.

Ramirez, like the champion, weighed in at the featherweight limit of 126 pounds. He fell to 15-14-1.

In a six-round preliminary event, Rodney Jones stopped Floyd Weaver 2:39 into the fourth round of their junior middleweight fight.

A few of Weaver’s punches appeared to land below the belt, prompting referee Raul Caiz to warn him twice for low blows in the first round. Caiz took a point away early in the third round.

The punch that ended it was a left uppercut that lifted Weaver off his feet and onto his back, where he stayed for more than a minute.

Jones (11-2 with six KOs) has won three fights--all by knockout--at the Marriott since November and has won six in a row.

Weaver is 13-5-2.

Danny Lujan of Salinas won the night’s other six-round bout, taking a split decision over Carlos Rubio in a battle of junior welterweights.

Rubio, who knocked Lujan down with three seconds left in the opening round, outpointed his opponent, 58-55, on one judge’s card, but was on the short end of a pair of 57-56 scores.

Lujan improved to 9-2-1. Rubio, who is 18 years old, fell to 11-3-2.

Danny Perez won a unanimous four-round decision over O’Neil Reed in a junior welterweight bout.