Contreras, Dallas Set for Rematch

VENTURA — Eddie Contreras of Santa Paula and Mike Dallas of Bakersfield have a score to settle when they fight for the California junior-lightweight title tonight in a 10-round main event at The Derby Club at Seaside Park.

Contreras, 24, is 11-1-3 with four knockouts--his most recent in his last fight in October against Dallas.

Before a sparse crowd at Oildale Raceway in Bakersfield, Contreras recorded a second-round technical knockout after opening a gash above Dallas’ left eye.

Dallas, 30, who was knocked down in the first round, claimed the cut was the result of a head butt and protested the fight being stopped at the end of the second round.

“I was unhappy that they gave him the decision,” said Dallas, who is 12-12-1. “At least, it should have been a draw. It’ll be sweet to fight him again. I’ll win this fight--just like I felt I would have won that fight.”

Contreras predicts another victory.

“I’ve had a rematch before, so I know how he feels,” Contreras said. “I know every fight is different, but I’m confident. Not because I beat him before but because I’ve trained hard. The last time, I took the fight with only two weeks to train.”

Contreras, a protege of Oxnard trainer Eduardo Garcia, is coming off two consecutive knockout victories. He stopped journeyman Jorge Ramirez in the fourth round in July.

Included on the card are Oxnard fighters Carlos Madrigal and Israel Beltran, and Ramon Villanueva of Port Hueneme.