VICKSBURG, Miss. (Aug. 26, 2007) – For two agonizing, long years, Victor “Joe Boxer� Valenzuela waited to get fast-talking, loud-mouth Charles “Krazy Horse� Bennett back in the cage.
It was worth the wait.
In an impressive performance, Valenzuela (6-2-2) rallied from an early knockdown to register a stunning 3:23 first-round submission (tap out due to strikes) over Bennett (18-14-2) of Ocala, Fla., in their highly anticipated grudge rematch in the main event on ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series Saturday.
EliteXC presented the event from the Vicksburg Convention Center. It aired on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
“This is as good as it gets,’’ said a jubilant Valenzuela. “I shut the ‘Horse’ up and then shut him down and out. This was vindication for me like you would not believe.�
“It doesn’t get any more personal for me than this. I am on cloud nine. All I heard from the time we fought our first fight (Aug. 5, 2005) was what he was going to do to me in the rematch.�
“I showed him and the world what I am all about. I dealt with adversity and kept my composure after going down. I was stunned but not hurt. I weathered the storm and the best he had to offer.�
“I showed the heart of a champion. Champions get up.’’
Bennett (http://krazyhorse.proelite.com/) dropped Valenzuela in the bout’s early moments, but “Joe Boxer’’ (http://joeboxer.proelite.com/) rebounded to score two knockdowns of his own. Moments after the last knockdown, the abbreviated but exciting fight was over.
“I knew he was through and had nothing left after his barrage of punches,’’ Valenzuela said. “I proved I could talk the talk. This is just the greatest feeling in the world.’’
A disconsolate Bennett had little to say afterward. He made no excuses. “I should have not been in such a hurry after I knocked him down. I should have allowed him to get up. Instead, I got a little excited and maybe punched myself out.�