Citizen Staff Writer
The Bounce
STEVE RIVERA
srivera@tucsoncitizen.com
Ossie Duran says the judges aren’t doing David “The Destroyer” Lopez any favors.
Giving him wins – something the Duran camp said happened Friday night in a boxing match at the Desert Diamond Casino – won’t help long-term.
“He’s not benefiting from being given these gifts,” said Phillip Schevack, Duran’s adviser. “In the short run he is, but not in the long run.”
Lopez won by unanimous decision in front of a sellout crowd in the main event, which was televised on ESPN2.
Duran, from Ghana, claims he won the junior middleweight fight.
“You could see by his face,” said Duran (23-7-2). “Look at mine, it’s clean.”
Lopez, who is under the guidance of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, had a deep bruise under his right eye. He admitted it was one of his tougher fights in recent bouts.
“He’s a very good boxer who moves a lot,” said Lopez, who improved his record to 38-12. “He has a lot of qualities. But it was a good experience for me.
“It was good to be in the ring with someone like that.”
Lopez added he’d be better prepared for a bigger fight if he gets one. His camp expects one soon.
Lopez struggled in the early rounds but recovered late. He said he had to be tentative early because he didn’t know much about Duran and was cautious.
Conversely, Duran said he saw nothing from Lopez.
“I didn’t see tough,” Duran said. If he’d go to a party – he can’t go to a party (and look good),” Duran said, referring to Lopez’s bruised eye.
Duran said Lopez won because Tucson is like a home court for the Nogales native. In Lopez’s past 13 wins, he’s won seven at Desert Diamond Casino.
“This is like his living room,” Schevack said.
• In other fights Friday: Karl Dargan defeated Rudy Valdez by TKO in the fourth round; Hector Sanchez defeated DeMarcus Corley by unanimous decision; Hylon Williams won by unanimous decision over Derrick Moon; Rock Allen won by unanimous decision over Adan Hernandez; and Tucsonan Eric Woods fell to Andrae Carthron by TKO.