Friday, March 29, 2024  |

News

Aficianado

Boxeo Telemundo: Dennis Contreras stops Hairon Socarras in 10

Dennis “Martillo” Contreras (24-10-1, 22 KOs) scored a spectacular tenth round KO over Hairon “El Maja” Socarras. Photo by Damon Gonzalez / LatinBox Sports
Fighters Network
13
Mar

Dennis Contreras is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with at 126 pounds.

Contreras dropped fringe contender Hairon Socarras twice before ending matters in Round 10, on Friday night, at the White Sands Rehabilitation Center, in Plant City, Florida.

With the victory, Contreras improves to 24-10-1, 22 knockouts, and has now won his last four bouts.

Friday marked Contreras’ third appearance on the popular “Boxeo Telemundo” series. In his previous bout on October 2, Contreras, Guadalajara, Mexico, knocked out Carlos Efrain Flores in Round 6. Flores entered the bout unbeaten.



Socarras was a genuine step up in opposition, despite suffering his first loss as a pro at the hands of Ryan Walsh in October 2019. Socarras rebounded from the TKO loss on the same card Contreras defeated Flores, stopping journeyman Julio Buitrago in Round 3.

From the opening bell, Socarras utilized his speed and distance to outbox Contreras. Early in Round 3, Contreras walked Socarras down, forcing him to stand and trade in the pocket. The tactic worked as a combination against the ropes dropped Socarras with about a minute left in the round. Socarras beat the count, holding off Contreras’ attack until the bell sounded.

Contreras continued to walk Socarras down during the middle rounds, connecting with lead and counter hooks and crosses to the head. In Round 7, a combination from Socarras momentarily stunned Contreras but he was able to grab onto Socarras to gather his senses.

Contreras regained momentum during the last two rounds. With about a minute left in Round 10, Contreras again backed Socarras against the ropes, where he connected with a left-right combination upstairs. Socarras staggered against the ropes, where a three-punch combination from Contreras dropped him to the canvas. Socarras beat the count but referee Dennis DeBon waved the fight off at 2:13.

After notching another knockout victory, Contreras believes a world title fight is not that far away.

“Socarras was hard, strong, fast and intelligent,” said Contreras, who is trained by former WBC featherweight titleholder Alejandro “Cobrita” Gonzalez. “He was outboxing me early in the fight but as the bout progressed, we figured out how to match up with him, punch for punch, especially to the body, and I think that’s what led to the knockout.

“Physically I felt fine. I felt strong. Hairon’s style was difficult but we knew how to outwork him. Now on to the world [title fight].”

In an all-action fight, junior middleweight Martez Jackson, of Valdosta, Georgia, defeated Chris Otero by unanimous decision. Scores were 39-37, 39-37 and 40-36 for Jackson, who improves to 5-4-3, 2 KOs.

Otero, who resides in Homestead, Florida, drops to 3-1, 2 KOs.

 

 

You may have missed:

WILL DENNIS CONTRERAS SPOIL HIS WAY INTO CONTENTION VERSUS HAIRON SOCARRAS?

 

 

Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October of 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @FSalazarBoxing.

 

 

SUBSCRIBE NOW (CLICK HERE - JUST $1.99 PER MONTH) TO READ THE LATEST ISSUE

 

SIGN UP TO GET RING NEWS ALERTS