New ABO North American middleweight champion Raul Lizarraga (right), who fights for the Temecula Boxing Training Academy, exchanges punches with Argentina’s Luis Alberto Vera at Commerce Casino Saturday, July 30. Valley News/Andrez Imaging
LOS ANGELES – Extending his undefeated win streak to nine, all by way of knockout, Murrieta boxer Raul Lizarraga wasted no time Saturday, July 30, defeating Luis Alberto Vera in the first round of their middleweight bout. As part of the All Star Boxing Promotions card, held at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles County, Lizarraga and Vera were fighting to attain the vacant American Boxing Organization North American Middleweight title belt.
All signs pointed toward the younger fighter, Lizarraga, who is just one month shy of his 21st birthday, as he stepped into the ring for the six-round bout. Fighting out of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Vera (11-20-2, 1 KO) had lost seven of his last eight bouts. Six of those losses for the almost 35-year-old boxer were by knockout.
Before Lizarraga winning the title, the vacant ABO North American Middleweight belt was held by Patrice Volny, who was the reigning champion since September 2018. Volny lost his belt to Esquiva Falcao in the IBF’s middleweight rankings in 2021. A gruesome gash above the left eyebrow of Falcao was too much to withstand forcing a technical split decision over Volny in their elimination match.
The cut he sustained during the sixth round prohibited the Brazilian southpaw from continuing on the pay-per-view portion of the Terence Crawford-Shawn Porter undercard. Judges Tim Cheatham (58-56) and Don Trella (58-57) had Falcao in front at the time of the stoppage, including an incomplete sixth round they were required to score in accordance with the Association of Boxing Commission’s regulations. The belt could not be given to Esquiva due to the technicality.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
