Contreras Rematch a Mismatch

VENTURA — Eddie Contreras tried the belt on for size and decided he liked the fit.

“I feel I won this belt not against him,” Contreras said. “I won it against everyone I’ve ever fought.”

Four years after turning professional, Contreras, a 24-year-old from Santa Paula, claimed the California lightweight title with a devastating first-round knockout of Mike Dallas of Bakersfield before about 400 spectators Thursday night at The Derby Club in Seaside Park.

Contreras, 12-1-3 with five knockouts, landed a hard right to the temple that dropped Dallas to both knees.

Moments later, after a woozy Dallas twice dropped to the canvas without being hit, referee Marcos Rosales stopped the bout with 23 seconds remaining in the round.

Contreras, who emerged with a welt under his left eye, said he felt sluggish and came to life only after being hit.

“I was cold,” he said. “I threw a lazy jab and he caught me with a left hook. Then I hit him with a short inside right and I knew he was hurt. I hit him again and I knew he was done.

“I was surprised. I heard this time he was ready to fight.”

Contreras, a protege of trainer Eduardo Garcia of La Colonia Youth Boxing Club in Oxnard, recorded a second-round knockout against Dallas in his last fight in October.

Dallas, 30, whose record fell to 12-13-1, remained seated on a stool in a neutral corner for several minutes while Contreras received congratulations and posed for photographs.

Dallas said afterward he plans to retire.

“I just opened up too soon,” a dejected Dallas said. “I should have came out boxing. I didn’t work the angles.”

In another bout, Antonio DeSantiago of El Monte recorded a four-round unanimous decision over Ramon Villanueva of Port Hueneme.

DeSantiago won every round on every judge’s card to improve to 4-0. Villanueva is 2-8.

In a four-round junior-featherweight bout, Israel Corea of Oxnard won a four-round unanimous decision over Leon Norfleet of Torrance in both fighters’ professional debuts.

Corea, 23, under the tutelage of Eduardo Garcia, survived a first round knockdown and won every remaining round on all judges’ cards. Norfleet landed a short right that dropped Corea.

Two scheduled four-round bouts were canceled because the fighters failed to provide sufficient pre-fight medical information to the state athletic commission.

Carlos Madrigal of Oxnard was scheduled to face Ivan Salazar in a lightweight bout.

Nick Martinez was scheduled to fight Julian Samaha in a middleweight bout.

The bouts were rescheduled for Feb. 19 at the same venue.

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The Scorecard

Results from the Derby Club at Seaside Park

* Lightweight

Eddie Contreras (12-1-3) def. Mike Dallas (12-13-1), knockout, 2:37 first round.

* Lightweight

Antonio DeSantiago (4-0) def. Ramon Villanueva (2-8), four-round unanimous decision.

* Junior-featherweight

Israel Corea (1-0) def. Leon Norfleet (0-1), four-round unanimous decision.