The Exterminator

I covered a boxing match for the Tucson Citizen and despite fights full of professional no-names, it ended up being one of the greatest sporting events I had ever attended. Dudes scrapping trying to kill each other, Hooters girls being whistled in the sleaziest way possible, guys filling a table with empty beer bottles then creating bizarre chants, taunting an opponent as he lays lifeless on the mat, coming into the ring while R. Kelly plays in the background, entering the ring with a skull bandanna covering half your face. Yeah, I am down with all of that.

The uncut article from the Citizen is below, along with what may be my favorite quote ever (which got cut) in bold.

Spending 40 to 50 hours a week drilling holes in concrete under the Tucson sun is not part of the normal boxer’s training routine. But for local welterweight Adan Leal, it’s part of the grind.

On Friday night the termite-exterminator-by-day, boxer-by-night Leal continued his undefeated professional career, improving to 6-0 by defeating Carlos de la Cruz (10-8) in four rounds at Desert Diamond Casino.

“I give all the credit to (de la Cruz) because I gave him everything I had and he was still standing,” said Leal, who had recorded five consecutive knock-outs coming into Friday’s fight.

“I got a little disappointed because I got tired in the third round,” said Leal, who added that if it were not for a back pain which flared up in the third round he believes he would have been able to knock out de la Cruz (McAllen, Texas).

Leal’s goal is to build his stamina in the coming weeks of training. He hopes to fight in a six-round bout on Aug. 31.

Leal wakes up at 5:30 and drives from Nogales, Son., to Tucson to work as a termite exterminator for Truly Nolan. After working in the sun for hours, Leal heads to his gym at 5 p.m. to train until 7.

Leal said his back pain in the fight were unrelated to a back injury he suffered on the job a month ago.

Despite his long work weeks – which undoubtedly affect his training regime - Leal loves his job.

“There is going to be one day when I am not able to work any more because of the fights,” Leal said. “I love what I do. I love termites, I love the whole pest control industry and I love boxing.”

•In a heated main event super lightweight Francisco Bojado (18-2), defeated Rogelio Castaneda Jr. (23-13-3) 1:30 into the 10th round on a TKO.

Bojado’s victory was announced to cheers - as well as boos, from fans who were still upset by his two jabs that connected as Castaneda was falling down early in the 10th.

“The ref didn’t do a very good job, he should have stepped between us,” Bojado said of his late hits.

Bojado, from Los Angeles, didn’t waste much time after he lost a point from the dispute and was quick to attack Castaneda (Sacramento, Calif.) with a flurry of left and right jabs, which ended the match.

“I knew he was still hurt so I had to just go in and finish the job,” Bojado said. “It was the last round so there was no holding back.”

•In the co-main event lightweight Jose Santa Cruz (25-2) defeated Dario Esalas (29-9) in the second round as the referee declared a TKO.

•Local middleweight Roberto Miramontes’ (0-1) professional debut could not have gone much worse, as he was knocked out 2:31 into the first round by Deferson Legrand (2-0) of Queens, N.Y. Miramontes lay unresponsive on the mat for 30 seconds before regaining consciousness. Ringside doctor Lawrence D’Antonio said he suffered a very mild concussion.