Boxing:

Chatman Wins State Super Welter Belt

Ringside report by Felipe Leon Photos by Paul Gallegos

 November 18, 2010

Crowne Plaza Hotel

2270 Hotel Circle North

San Diego, California

With a busy boxing 2010 coming to a close, Bobby D. Presents in association with Jorge Marron

Productions made sure it came to end with a bang with their "Showdown at the Crowne" fight card last night

at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Mission Valley, a suburb of San Diego.

Earlier this year, Bobby D. and Marron brought the eyes of the boxing community to southern California

featuring undefeated Christopher Martin and more recently Filipino lightweight sensation Mercito "No Mercy"

Gesta on Telefutura's "Solo Boxeo Tecate" televised boxing series. Despite not having the television crews

for this fight card, matchmaker Jorge Marron did not disappoint putting together five exciting fights.

In the main event, Christopher "Last Chapter" Chatman (8-1, 4 KOs) once again stopped the upward climb

of a previously undefeated fighter, this time Cuban exile Lester "Cubanito" Gonzalez (11-1-1, 6 KOs) of San

Diego by way of Havana, Cuba, for the California State super welterweight title. The battle had all the

makings of a war with the extroverted Chatman thrash talking all the way from the weigh-in the the night

before, the traditional face off, during the introductions and in the actual fight.

In his previous bout, the twenty-six year old Chatman, who began boxing five years ago during a four year

stint in the Navy, stopped Alberto Herrera in four rounds last month to hand the Thompson Boxing promoted

fighter his first loss. Gonzalez in only his third fight in the last fifteen months, was awarded a tough earned

six round unanimous decision over the rugged Ibahiem King five months ago.

The lefty Chatman, who hails from the south side of Chicago but makes his home in San Diego, began the

first round going to the body from awkward angles while the thirty-three year old Gonzalez, who as a typical

Cuban amassed a lengthy amateur record before turning pro, tried to score from more traditional angles and

combinations including a right jab followed with a left straight cross. Resembling a shorter Jeff Lacy in

physique and facial features, Chatman easily slipped the announced punches from the slightly taller

Gonzalez. The second round brought an even busier Chatman who concentrated to the body of Gonzalez

who kept plodding forward with a constant jab. Gonzalez maintained a high guard that proved difficult for

Chatman to penetrate and "Cubanito" took the round with effective counter punching including two separate

well landed right hooks and a hard straight left near the end of the round.

Chatman, who is known for his hijinks such as the Ali shuffle, stare down and other assorted antics to win

over the crowd, was caught in the middle of one to start the third with a one-two combo from Gonzalez that

stopped him in his tracks. Chatman had no trouble settling down and getting serious as the fight turned to

the inside where he had the advantage with the shorter, more compact punches. Chatman took control of

the round with a high output of punches including the best landed punch of the night, a hard right uppercut

at close quarters that snapped Gonzalez head back. In a close fourth round, Gonzalez upped the ante with

good counterpunching from a distance, again scoring with straight left early in the round and a hard right

hook near the end of the stanza. The fight was fought evenly from the inside and the outside early in the fifth

round with both warriors going to the body effectively with Chatman being the slightly busier of the two but

having trouble scoring through the high guard of Gonzalez. By the end of the three minutes, it was all

Chatman with Gonzalez really withering at the end, not throwing much of anything and what he did, Chatman

slipped. Chatman even employed the "Mongoose defense" in the last seconds of the round as part of his

pranks in honor of beloved adopted San Diegan, Archie Moore.

The best round of the fight card was the sixth as Chatman put on a clinic of inside fighting as he manhandled

Gonzalez with his strength, pushing him around the ring and breaking through the defense of the Cuban

scoring punches at will while staying in the pocket and slipping punches with waist and lateral movement.

Gonzalez had his last hurrah in the seventh as he threw a few more punches than Chatman during the round

and scoring with a flush jab followed with a straight left to the chin while Chatman's back was to the ropes.

Chatman closed the show in the eight over an obvious tired Gonzalez, who had trouble defending himself and

keeping his balance. Chatman had no problem scoring with flush punches for most of the round to the point

where it seemed he would stop Gonzalez.

After the entertaining eight rounds, judge Barry Druxman saw it 77-75 while Eddie Hernandez scored it 79-73

and Fritz Warner with 78-74 awarding Chatman the unanimous decision and the CA State super welterweight

belt.

"I knew this was going to be a much tougher fight than Herrera," the affable Chatman said minutes

afterwards the bout. "Herrera was hand fed opponents up to the point that we fought while Lester is battle

hardened. He has a lot of experience and every punch he landed, he did so effectively."

Chatman mentioned that he would be moving down to welterweight in 2011, "I think with a little bit more

dedication, I can make welterweight and take anybody they put in front of me there."

City Boxing, Downtown 1059 14th Street San Diego, CA 92101

- Press Release courtesy of City Boxing \ Felipe Leon

- Photos courtesy of City Boxing \ Paul Gallegos

Subject to change

(11/23/10)