Manny Robles Jr. concluded his busy year Thursday night in the season finale of Fight Club OC.
Robles Jr., 20, in his fifth bout of the year, controlled the fight from the start and cruised home with the unanimous decision victory over Jair Quintero in front of a crowd of 1,312 at The Hangar at the OC Fair and Event Center.
“I thought he did very, very well,” trainer Manny Robles Sr. said of his son. “He had good ring generalship and pretty much controlled the fight from beginning to end.
“I knew this kid (Quintero) was not a pushover. When they offered us the fight, I took it. Overall, he stayed composed, he listened, worked well behind the jab, speed, good body work and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
One judged scored it 60-54 and the other two had it closer, 58-56.
“My opponent was better than I thought,” Robles Jr. said. “He came out to win. It was a tactical fight. I was able to pick my punches and try to go to the body early to slow him down.
“I think I did a good job. He came with everything. I was able to stay calm and patient.”
Robles Sr. said he would like his son to enjoy the holidays. Robles Jr. (9-0) said he would be ready to return to the ring in January.
His 2014 included a stop in Indio, Fairfield and two trips to Mexico.
“I want to be in there as many times as I can,” the younger Robles said. “At least five-six fights like this year. Hopefully, maybe my next fight with be an eight rounder.
“I never stop working. I’m always in the gym …. I never know when I’m going to get that phone call and they tell me you’re fighting in two weeks or three weeks, so I’m always in the gym getting ready … it has been a busy year.”
In the co-main event, Joshua Conley improved to 10-0 with a unanimous decision victory over Paul Mpendo.
Conley had the only knockdown of the fight when he sent Mpendo to the canvas late in the second round off of an overhand right. After that, Conley was in firm control against the rugged Mpendo.
The scores were 60-53, 60-53, 60-52. This was Conley’s third fight of the year.
Luis Mora (4-0-1) and Jonathan Zamudio (1-1-2) left the crowd applauding and continuing the old tradition of throwing money in the ring after their four-round fight.
The fight ended in a draw, but both fighters did their job of pleasing the fans thanks to a high-energy, slugfest of a fourth round that saw both fighters landing heavy and clean punches.
Mora, who has has a full-time job for the city of Los Angeles working for Mayor Eric Garcetti, was making his debut for Roy Englebrecht Promotions.
In the opening fight of the night, Marcos Hernandez of Fresno improved his record to 4-0 with a third-round TKO victory over Corey Muldrew.
Hernandez had a pair of knockdowns in the second and two more in the third, leading the referee to finally stop the fight 1:05 of the round.
Heavyweight Matt McKinney (1-0-1) picked up his first victory of his professional career with four-round unanimous decision victory over Tamis Long (1-1).
