West New York amateur boxer Jean Pierre Valencia scored a second round knockout at the Kingdom Boxing Gym in Philadelphia yesterday.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The 22-year-old prospect from West New York forced three standing eight counts against slick southpaw Jose Ortiz to force a referee’s stoppage.
The crowd at Ortiz’s home gym began the fight cheering loudly for the 30-year-old Ortiz, but was quickly silenced by the heavy right crosses and body punches from Valencia.
“It was my personal mission to get revenge for the boxers from Esmeraldas,” said Valencia, who moved to Barcelona, Spain at age 17 and relocated to New Jersey this past June.
The boxer known as “El Verdugo de Esmeraldas,” or “The Executioner of Esmeraldas,” now trains out of Little Mac Boxing in North Bergen.
Valencia came to “The City of Brotherly Love” with vengeance on his mind, as he sought to even the score 27 years after a boxer from his hometown of Esmeraldas, Ecuador named Segundo Mercado was knocked out by boxing legend Bernard Hopkins of Philadelphia in a world title fight.
He celebrated by running the “Rocky Steps” outside of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and enjoying a Philly Cheesesteak at Max’s Steaks with head trainer Ryan Songalia and assistant David Almodovar.
The win is the second straight in a week for Valencia, who dominated Mitch Desir the week before in Trenton to earn his first victory since coming to America. His amateur record now stands at 8-1.
The win was the final tune-up for Valencia before competing in the New Jersey Diamond Gloves tournament, which kicks off on October 8 and runs through November 6.
“I’m going to knock all of my opponents out,” exclaimed Valencia, who will compete in the 156-pound novice division.
Valencia’s stablemate, Peter Roldan of Englewood, will represent Little Mac Boxing in the 203-pound open class division.
Roldan, 28, is a 2013 N.J. Golden Gloves champion and is seeking his first Diamond Gloves title after two runner-up finishes.
