Whitaker: Boffo, Socko Pro Debut

Lance Whitaker’s professional boxing debut was as easy as one, two, three.

“I know my ABCs,” a beaming Whitaker said.

That much was evident when Whitaker landed a left hook to the head of Johnny Keyes to record an emphatic knockout 1 minute 12 seconds into a four-round heavyweight bout Wednesday night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Keyes, 2-3, stung Whitaker with a strong right hand in the opening seconds.

But the 35-year-old fighter from Oakland wound up falling like a redwood and did not rise for several minutes. When he did, he argued that the fight should continue.

By that time Whitaker, 25, formerly the nation’s top-ranked amateur heavyweight, already was thinking ahead.

“It’s a little different than amateur fighting, but I like it,” said Whitaker, 40-6 in a career that included state and national Golden Gloves championships. “No headgear, no shirt. Nice breeze on my head. I want to get a few more of these under my belt.”

In time, Whitaker might fight for a belt, trainer Joe Goossen said.

“I’ve been telling people he’s going to be hurting people with that left hook,” Goossen said. [Keyes] didn’t even know he got knocked out, that’s how hard he was hit. This shows me a lot. This guy can go all the way.”

Whitaker, who was defeated twice on close decisions in the U.S. Olympic trials in April, didn’t waste time turning pro and turning to Goossen for training.

The road map from here, Goossen said, is more fights and soon.

“We’d like to put him in again in two weeks,” Goossen said. “He’s ready to go now.”

Bantamweight Arnulfo Bravo of Van Nuys, also in his pro debut, stopped Dario Lopez of Los Angeles 1:58 into the second round.

In the main event, former International Boxing Federation lightweight champion Rafael Ruelas (45-3) of Sylmar stopped Mike Walsh of Redondo Beach in the second round.

In a 12-round IBC junior lightweight championship bout, Carlos Hernandez of Bellflower recorded a TKO in the 10th round over Isagani Pumar of Stockton.

In another heavyweight bout, Eric “Butterbean” Esch recorded a technical knockout over William Harris when the fight was stopped late in the fourth round. Esch suffered a torn biceps and will be sidelined for about six months.

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