Unexpected Twist Gives Vasquez a Quick Victory Over Perez

The outcome of Saturday’s main event at the Marriott’s “Battle in the Ballroom” was predictable. The ending, however, was a little unusual.

Promising junior featherweight David Vasquez stopped Salvador Perez, a last-minute replacement, in 2 minutes 33 seconds of the first round when Perez turned his ankle while falling down. Vasquez (11-2, eight knockouts) landed a short left that knocked Perez off balance and sent him stumbling to the canvas.

Perez (3-3-2) of Quintanaro, Mexico, immediately grabbed his left ankle and rolled around on the ground while referee Vince Delgado counted him out. Perez stayed on the canvas for five minutes before he was helped to the training room. Ringside physician Michael DeLuca said Perez might have suffered a fractured ankle.

“I wasn’t thinking about one punch, I was thinking about throwing a combination,” Vasquez said. “I guess he got his foot caught in the canvas or something.”

Perez said he simply turned over on his ankle while falling down.

In the semi-main event, former Pan American Games champion Lamon Brewster of Indianapolis was too big and too strong for a helpless Fabian Mesa of Van Nuys. Brewster (4-0), managed by former Chicago Bear and Los Angeles Raider receiver Willie Gault, knocked out Mesa (4-3-1) with a left hook to the jaw and a left uppercut to the chin.

Next year, the Marriott shows will be moved to Friday night for the first time. Promoter Roy Englebrecht said the Marriott need its ballroom on Thursday night’s for conventions.

“I didn’t want to move, but I had no choice,” Englebrecht said. “We haven’t had one season ticket holder say they won’t renew.”