Local fighters win big

Jim Riggio

BURBANK AIRPORT HILTON -- William Adamyan is just 20 years old, but he

is already showing tremendous poise in the ring.

On Thursday, the junior welterweight from Glendale improved to 6-0 in

his career with a unanimous decision victory over Eddie Estrella in one

of the undercard matches in Fight Night at the Burbank Airport Hilton.

“I had the reach advantage on him and I used it,” said Adamyan, who

graduated from Glendale High in 2000 and now attends Glendale Community

College. “He was a great fighter too.”

All three judges scored the four-round bout, 40-36. Estrella is now

2-4.

“I knew I won the fight because I threw and landed more punches and I

was the aggressive one,” Adamyan said. “I’m working hard, trying to make

it all the way.”

In the main event, Steve Quinonez of Cathedral City won a unanimous

10-round decision over Alex Ugalde of Mexico to improve to 25-6.

“He was a tough fighter,” said Quinonez, who holds the WBC Fecarbox

lightweight title. “I gave him some good shots and he took them.”

Referee David Denkin scored the fight, 98-92, while Chuck Hassett and

Gwen Adair both scored it 99-91.

Ugalde dropped to 11-7.

Carlos Hernandez of San Fernando, who fights for the Glendale Boxing

Club, won his pro debut, a four-round super featherweight bout over

Bakersfield’s John Allen.

“It was tough,” said Hernandez, who won a unanimous decision. “It’s

not like the amateurs. I had no protection on.”

In the heavyweight division, Steve Vukosa of Northridge improved to

8-0 with a six-round decision over Francis Royal, the 2000 National

Toughman Fighting Champion. Royal dropped to 6-4-1.

“I could have finished better, but he started grabbing a little,”

Vukosa said.

Vukosa said he now wants to step up and fight better competition.

“I’ve got a really good trainer in Freddie Roach and I want to show

him that I’m learning something,” Vukosa said.

The only fight that didn’t go the distance was a light heavyweight

bout between Gerald Graham of Long Beach and Turay McNeal of Los Angeles.

Graham (1-1) earned his first pro victory by knocking out McNeal (1-2)

at 1:30 of the first round.

The card, which was promoted by RW Productions, featured Jimmy Lennon

Jr. as the ring announcer and several celebrities were in attendance

including “Weird Al” Yankovic, Drew Carey, Mario Lopez and Ali Landry.