Licona Returns to Ring, Scores Narrow Victory

Marcos Licona took nine months off to let his injured left hand heal and it showed Thursday night in the main event at the Battle in the Ballroom at the Irvine Marriott.

But Licona took his narrow split decision victory over Tiger Smalls of Campo as a sign of better things to come. The last time he fought, he suffered his only loss to current World Boxing Champion Carlos Navarro.

“Yes, this was an important win for me,” Licona, who fights out of the Westminster Boxing Club, said through a translator. “I am only going to go up from here.”

The eight-round featherweight bout was closely contested. Smalls (12-5) used his left jab very effectively to keep Licona away. Licona (11-1-1) landed several combinations in each round.

Judge Chuck Hassett scored it 80-72 in favor of Smalls. Judges Raul Caiz and Lou Moret had it 77-75 in favor of Licona.

Smalls was livid after the fight.

“How’d one judge give me every round and the others only three of eight?” he asked. “Whether I won or lost I think the judging system should be changed.”

Julio Gonzalez (10-0) of Huntington Beach knocked out Calvin Coombs of Lancaster in the fifth round.

Despite his 5-13 record, Coombs scored well with judges in the first round of the light heavyweight bout.

But Gonzalez, who attended Edison High, took the second round, landing several uppercuts to Coombs’ head.

Hassett stopped the bout 36 seconds into the fifth round after Gonzalez, clearly in control, landed a solid right uppercut and then a big left hook that staggered Coombs.

Miguel Avila, ahead on all cards in his junior middleweight bout with Tony Garcia, got the victory when Garcia’s corner threw in the towel in the fifth round. Referee Lou Filippo didn’t see the towel, which remained in the center of the ring for several seconds while Avila pinned Garcia against the ropes and hammered away.

In a welterweight bout, Octavio Suarez of Downey won a unanimous four-round decision over Jeff Crawford of Huntington Beach. Crawford, of the Westminster Boxing Club, was making his fourth professional appearance.