Vazquez Ends Valbuena’s Title Dream

Thirty-four seconds into the 12th round of Thursday’s main event at the Olympic Auditorium, referee James Jen Kim wrapped his arms around Jose Luis Valbuena, stared into Valbuena’s glazed eyes and told the fighter his dream of winning the vacant International Boxing Federation junior-featherweight title was over.

Valbuena didn’t protest.

He had been solidly beaten by Israel Vazquez (36-3, 26 knockouts) in front of a crowd of 2,812. Valbuena, who had never before been off his feet and had lost only once previously in the last seven years, was knocked down by Vazquez in the fourth round and again in the opening seconds of the 12th.

When Vazquez (24-3-1, 14) followed up the knockdown in the final round with several devastating punches, Jen Kim moved in to end the bout.

“He was very awkward, very difficult,” said Vazquez of Valbuena, who uses a southpaw stance.

Valbuena’s best weapon was the low blow. He floored Vazquez three times with the illegal punch, twice drawing warnings from Jen Kim.

“It’s very emotional,” said Vazquez, as he looked at the IBF belt around his waist. “I don’t have the words to describe it.”

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Bantamweight Roger Gonzalez entered the ring for the semi-main event unbeaten with plans for a big-money fight against IBF champion Rafael Marquez on the horizon.

Instead, Gonzalez (23-1, 17) left the ring a knockout victim at the hands of Jhonny Gonzalez (22-4, 20) after going down for the third time in the sixth round at the 2:42 mark.

Jhonny Gonzalez learned before the fight that his opponent was already set to fight Marquez. Jhonny Gonzalez’s anger at being taken for granted gave him the extra motivation he needed, he said, to pull off the upset.