Solorio Knocks Out O.C.’s Vasquez in Seventh Round

Martin Solorio of San Diego played the role of villain Thursday night in the main event of the monthly boxing program at the Irvine Marriott, scoring a seventh-round knockout over popular Johnny Vasquez of Huntington Beach.

It was an intense bout that featured some outstanding exchanges, but in the end, Solorio (12-4) proved to be the stronger fighter.

Solorio controlled the first two rounds, but Vasquez (8-5) rallied in the next two as the crowd continued to cheer “Johnny, Johnny, Johnny.”

By the fifth round, Solorio had established his left hand, and Vasquez was slowly losing his ability to block it.

Early in the seventh, Solorio drilled Vasquez with a powerful combination. Soon after, Vasquez was trapped on the ropes, and after being hit twice, dropped his hands below his chest.

As the ring-side doctor was getting to his feet, referee Raul Ciaz stopped the bout with 17 seconds left in the round. It was Solorio’s seventh knockout.

“He’s strong,” Solorio said of Vasquez. “He’s got a lot of heart.”

Vasquez was trailing, 59-55, and, 58-56, on two judges’ cards and ahead, 58-56, on one at the start of the seventh.

Vasquez appeared to have a chance to take out Solorio in the third round when the fighters stood toe-to-toe and much of the crowd of 1,148 roared with each punch.

But Vasquez’s inside work came with a price as Solorio not only recovered from the attack, but also started to turn the tide with his left.

On the undercard:

Marius Frias (122 pounds) of El Centro dominated in the six-round semi-main event. He beat Oscar Saenz of San Diego, 59-55, 60-53, and 59-54.

Santiago Franco of San Pedro and Oleverio Ramirez of San Diego put on an amazing welterweight fight in the opening bout.

Ramirez dominated early and scored a second-round knockdown. But Franco (3-2) knocked down Ramirez (5-7) in the final seconds of the same round. Franco then used a short powerful left to knock out Ramirez early in the third round.