Gutierrez earns draw after losing title

It was a wild 24 hours for Jesus “Chuy” Gutierrez.

On Thursday night, the undefeated lightweight from Las Vegas lost his World Boxing Council United States Championships title on the scale when he failed to make the 135-pound limit. Gutierrez weighed 140.2 pounds and was able to get down to 138 to keep his date with Angel Hernandez.

On Friday, Gutierrez and Hernandez battled to an eight-round majority draw at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, a decision that left the 26-year-old Gutierrez angry at himself.

“It wasn’t my best performance, but I felt like I still won,” said Gutierrez (13-1-1), who was ahead 77-75 with one of the judges while the other two saw it 76-76. “There’s nothing I’m happy about. I’m disappointed in myself, and I’m getting back into the gym and getting back to work.”

Gutierrez was working the body, but Hernandez was able to come over he top, connecting with some solid scoring blows. Gutierrez was not willing to box. Instead, he wanted to slug and trade shots with Hernandez.

But his corner managed to convince him to do otherwise. He boxed more in the third round and began to control the fight. But he quickly reverted back to his slugging style, and he and Hernandez beat up on each other, which entertained the crowd.

Hernandez suffered a cut over his right eye early in the sixth round, and Gutierrez was all over him, trying to end it. But Hernandez was resilient, and though he was taking a lot of punishment, he was able to finish the fight. Hernandez dropped to 9-5-1.

“He didn’t do anything that hurt me,” Gutierrez said. “He didn’t impress me. But I’m not going to make any excuses. It is what it is.”

In the main event, Richard Commey knocked Bahodir Mamadjonov down in the eighth round and went on to score a technical knockout win to capture the vacant International Boxing Federation Intercontinental lightweight title and remain undefeated.

Commey (22-0) landed a nice combination that caught Mamadjonov on the chin. He hit the canvas but beat the count. However, he appeared to be out of gas, and Commey swarmed all over him, raining blows down on Mamadjonov until referee Riobert Byrd stepped in and stopped the fight at the 1:48 mark.

Mamadjonov (17-2) effectively landed a counter right hand early on against Commey, who was off-balance most of the fight as found himself lunging at Mamadjonov with a wide stance. But Commey showed a good chin. He took a right uppercut in the sixth round and, though a bit wobbly, managed to stay on his feet.

By the eighth round, Mamadjonov was tiring. He was dropping his hands, and Commey was connecting far more effectively than earlier in the fight. It set up the TKO as he finished off Mamadjonov.

On the undercard, Las Vegas featherweight Sal Lopez made a successful pro debut as he won a four-round unanimous decision over Michael Gaxiola. Lopez was ahead on the scorecards, 40-35, 39-36 and 38-37.

Lopez used an effective right hand to constantly tag Gaxiola (3-2). It was an overhand right that knocked down Gaxiola late in the first round. Gaxiola had his moments, particularly in the fourth round when he landed some clean shots. But it wasn’t enough to spoil Lopez’s debut.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.