LEMOORE -- Once an Olympic hopeful, two-time Golden Gloves national champion Aarón Alafa opened his professional boxing debut with a victory last Thursday at Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino.
After tallying numerous amateur titles, Alafa, a native of Visalia, will now be keeping tabs on his victories in the pro ranks after a split-decision victory last Thursday at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino.
Alafa's spent most of the last 11 years dreaming of an Olympic medal, something that, after two attempts, will never came to fruition. Last year he finished just a single bout short of making the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. And in 2004, Alafa was short by two bouts for the Athens-bound Olympics.
The amateur ranks are over for the 23-year-old Alafa. He is focusing on the pro ranks, rightfully so, after eight national boxing championships, including back-to-back Golden Gloves national titles in 2006 and 2007, and even a world boxing title belt.
Without any of the protective head gear worn by the amateurs, the 118-pound bantamweight Alafa earned his first professional victory in a 36-39, 38-37, 38-37, split-decision over Harvey Phillips of Cleveland, Oh.
"I had a good experience. And I know now what to expect against my next opponent when it comes up," said Alafa."It was different. It was my first pro fight, and now I know what to expect."
Phillips' performance garnered support among the fans at Tachi Palace's bingo hall, where some in the audience felt perhaps a draw would have been sufficient.
While competing for a spot on the Olympic team, Alafa was granted $1,500 a month for his training and competitions. The subsidy was paid by USA Boxing, where Alafa also served on the Board of Directors and on the U.S. Olympic Commitee.
In Alafa's corner is his father Arturo Alafa and Visalia's Mayor Jesús Gamboa, both of whom first trained him as a youngster.
Other fight cards.
World champion in the straw-weight division Carina Moreno of Watsonville didn't fight because Korean fighter Dan Bi-Kim had discrepancies in her paperwork. The pair were the scheduled main event of a 10-round women's flyweight bout.
Jessica Rakoczy of Las Vegas won a unanimous decision over Cindy Serrano of Brooklyn, New York. Rakoczy improves to 29-3 and 10KOs. Serrano falls to 15-3-1 and 7 KOs.
Oakland's Tony Hirsch improved to 5-1-1, 2 KOs after he defeated Raymundo Ortega (1-2, 1 KO) of Oaxaca, México.
Theron Johnson of Chicago, Illinois, opened his professional debut after a four-round heavyweight victory over Rudolph Louis of Oakland, who improved to 3-3.
James Ventry (5-4, 3 KOs) of Niagara Falls, NY. won his scheduled four-round welterweight bout at 1:23 seconds of the first round over Jason Varnell (2-4) of New Blaine, Ark.
To see more photos, visit the gallery at vidaenelvalle.com.