Story And Photos By Boxing Bob Newman
Slim Promotions put on a rocking card at the National Guard Armory in Caldwell, Idaho.
In the main event, Boise’s Ruben Manrajos and Salem, OR’s Esera Iosefa went at it in a scheduled five round heavyweight clash. Early in the first round, a vicious left to the body by Iosefa had Manrajos almost doubled over and wincing. Moments later, a bad clash of heads sent Manrajos to the canvas in pain, but the referee missed the collision and called it a knockdown.
Later in the round, a legitimate knockdown was scored and again, Manrajos survived. There was some confusion between rounds as Iosefa’s corner thought the bout was being stopped by Manrajos’ corner. The action resumed as the bell rang though, but not for long. Another vicious combination sent Manrajos down for a third time, this time in his own corner for good the time was 0:39 of round two. Iosefa improves to 3-1, 1 KO, while Manrajos falls to 0-1-1.
The semi-main event saw saw an interstate cruiserweight rivalry between Nampa’s William Dunkle and Boise’s Martez Branston, Sr. Dunkle had switched over from MMA to boxing and came into this fight with one loss to his record. This was a geriatric affair as Branston is allegedly 50 years old making his pro debut while Dunkle is 43! The first round was sloppy with hardly any punches landed. In the second round, after a bad miss by Branston, Dunkle chased after him and landed a crushing left to the jaw which sent Branston through the ropes and on to the ring apron. He got back through the ropes and beat the count but was in no condition to continue. The referee waved it off at 2:27 of the second. Dunkle evens his record at 1-1, 1 KO, while Branston starts out at 0-1.
Hometown boy Esteban Jimenez made his pro debut against Atlanta, GA’s Brandon Hughes in a scheduled four-round welterweight tilt. Halfway through the round Hughes landed a series crushing blows that had Jimenez sagging against the ropes and eventually going down in center ring. Jimenez beat the count and barely survived the round. Hughes tried to bum rush Jimenez as soon as the bell rang to start the second, much to the chagrin of the uninitiated crowd, who felt he was cheating! Jimenez held his own for the remainder of the fight and appeared to possibly go down seconds before the end of the bout the referee ruled it a slip. It was a close affair as evidenced by the judge’s cards: 38-37 for Jimenez and 38-37 twice for Hughes by split decision. He now moves to 2-0-1, 1KO. Jimenez starts out 0-1.
Opening the show were welterweights Eli Luna Hernandez (Nampa, ID) and Jovanis Rodriguez Pallares (Tacoma, WA) in a scheduled four-rounder. Pallares appeared to be the stronger of the two. While Hernandez was a bit faster. Hernandez was sporting her bloody nose early in the second round courtesy of Pallares’ jab. There was plenty of infighting, holding and wrestling which seemed take its toll on Hernandez who was visibly wilting by the fight’s end. The judges sought a 40-36 twice and 38-38, for Pallares, by majority decision. This record is now 2-0-1, 1. KO. Hernandez starts out at 0-1.
