The November 23rd edition of Telefutura's Solo Boxeo Tecate was telecast from the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California. In the opening bout, Bobby Pacquiao, Filipino legend Manny's soon-to-be 27-year-old brother, took on IBO Inter-Continental super featherweight champion Fernando Trejo in a non-title bout scheduled for 10 rounds. It was Bobby's 7th bout in the United States. He was 4-2 in his previous 6 including wins over Carlos Navarro, Carlos "Famoso" Hernandez, and Kevin Kelley but he'd lost his last two to Hector Velazquez (DQ-11) and Humberto Soto (KO-7). Trejo, a 33-year-old veteran from Mexico, owns wins over Darling Jimenez, Jose Armando Santa Cruz (who would now be Ring Magazine's lightweight champion if it weren't for two myopic judges), Luis Arceo, and, most recently, Juan Ramon Cruz, and is currently ranked #13 at 130 pounds by the WBC.

Trejo won 2 of the first 3 rounds on TTR's card but was floored by the southpaw "Sniper" in the 4th round. Pacquiao then picked up his 28th victory against 13 losses and 3 draws when Trejo could no longer continue because of an apparent arm injury. Pacquiao's 13th career stoppage win came at 1:14 of the round. Telefutura reported Trejo slipping to 29-12-4 with 17 KOs but BoxRec now lists his record as 30-13-4 with 18 KOs.

The brevity of the semi-final allowed Telefutura to show a 6-round lightweight bout between unbeaten lightweight prospect Juanito Garcia of Phoenix, Arizona and Los Angeles-based Mexican journeyman Juan Figueroa. The 21-year-old Garcia (13-0, 5 KOs) had a relatively easy job outpointing Figueroa (5-7-1, 3 KO's), winning by scores of 58-56, 60-54, and 60-54. TTR concurred that Garcia had pitched a shutout, winning 60-54.

In the main event, former WBC welterweight champion Carlos "Tata" Baldomir was matched with tough Chicago journeyman Luciano Perez. It was Baldomir's first fight since losing to Vernon Forrest in a bout held to fill the vacant WBC super welterweight title. Perez had lost 2 of his last 3, sandwiching a win over hapless John Vaughan between losses to welterweight contenders Jesus Soto Karass and Richard Gutierrez.

Full Telefutura Card


From the opening bell, Baldomir seemed a bit slower than usual probably due to the extra poundage he was carrying. He outweighed Perez 157 to 152. Despite his weight, Baldomir won the first round and started well in the second. Perez, though, took over, driving Baldomir to the ropes and outworking him for the rest of the round. The two exchanged bombs at the start of the 3rd round but settled into a more strategic battle as the round went on. Near the round's end, the action again heated up with Perez landing a solid left hook to Baldomir's jaw.

The ex-champion held a edge over the next 5 rounds, eking out 3 rounds, losing one, and fighting to a stalemate in another. Perez evened up the fight on TTR's card, 86-86, by taking the 9th round. Baldomir was busier, landing more, but Perez had the best sequence, scoring with a hard 3-punch combination. With Baldomir regaining his composure and again busy, Perez again stole his thunder by blasting the Argentinian with a hellacious left hook just before the bell.

Baldomir looked good in the 10th and final round. He boxed well, utilizing effective in-and-out movement and punctuated his winning the round with a well-timed straight right-left hook combination.

When the scores were read, Baldomir emerged victorious by majority decision- 95-95, 97-93, and 96-94. TTR had Baldomir winning by a mere point, 96-95.

The win improved Baldomir's record to 44-11-6 with 13 victories coming by KO. Perez, who gave a good account of himself, slipped to 15-7-1, also with 13 wins by KO.