Amnat Ruenroeng vs. McWilliams Arroyo RBR

I like how the frame is frozen on the one little fella looking like he's about to squat to take a poop, then the other one has the poop puddle looking mark on the back of his trunks, so that it looks like he already did. :hat "Fight through the pain like Duran never could."

 

This was an absolutely atrocious fight. I scored the fight for Arroyo, 7-5 rounds, 115-113 points, giving Ruenroeng the 1st, 2nd, 6th (despite referee Pat Russell ruling a knockdown for Arroyo), 7th, and 8th rounds. I thought the 9th and 11th rounds were the most difficult to score, but most of the second half of the fight was difficult to score, because in those rounds the fight deteriorated into a choice between Arroyo's ineffective aggression or Ruenroeng's constant negative clinching. I was shocked the three official judges were as close in agreement as they were, although I suspect they had wide variations in their round-by-round scoring.

The 1st round was very quiet, as both fighters stayed in the center of the ring, mostly exchanging jabs. Ruenroeng's jabs were a little sharper, plus he had a decent L body-R body-L head combo early in the round, and he mixed in a few soft jabs to the body.

Again in the 2nd round, both fighters stayed in the center of the ring, mostly exchanging jabs, and again Ruenroeng's jabs were a little sharper. Arroyo had a couple moments, including a good L hook to the body early in the round, and later a decent L hook to the head, and one particularly sharp jab. But late in the round, Ruenroeng had success countering Arroyo's jabs; he countered one with an overhand R, another with a double jab, and another with a double jab plus a grazing R-L to the head.

Ruenroeng began the 3rd by peppering Arroyo's gloves with two L hooks and a potshot flurry, steering Arroyo into the ropes. The two then exchanged jabs and some missed shots, then clinched. Arroyo landed a decent L uppercut, then wildly missed an overhand right, which Ruenroeng followed with two grazing head shots; the two then clinched, during which time Arroyo landed four good body shots. Both missed power shots. Arroyo landed two L uppercuts, then a nice double L uppercut and a L hook to the head, which briefly staggered Ruenroeng. Ruenroeng threw a flurry into Arroyo's gloves, then both wildly missed power shots, clinch. The two exchanged left uppercuts, Arroyo missed a left uppercut which Ruenroeng countered with a pretty good R-L combo to the head. The two exchanged left hooks to the body, Arroyo landed a L uppercut, Ruenroeng then peppered Arroyo's gloves with a straight L-R combo and a potshot flurry.

Ruenroeng began the 4th with a potshot double jab, Arroyo landed a L uppercut, then the two clinched, during which time Arroyo landed a R-L to the body. Arroyo wildly missed an overhand right, clinch. Ruenroeng landed a decent overhand R, then threw a flurry into Arroyo's gloves, then clinched (Arroyo was now visibly frustrated with the clinching). Arroyo landed a jab, then wildly missed two overhand rights. Arroyo landed a R to the body and a R-L to the head, then Ruenroeng missed an overhand right which Arroyo countered with a decent L hook to the head. Ruenroeng missed a looping left hook then initiated a clinch (it was at this time the referee first spoke to Ruenroeng about his clinching). Arroyo missed a right, Ruenroeng clinched, pushed out, and landed a L-R to the head. Arroyo landed a L uppercut, Ruenroeng threw a flurry into Arroyo's gloves, clinch. Arroyo landed a L hook to the head, then a left uppercut, then bulled in low headfirst, so Ruenroeng clinched him. Arroyo wildly missed an overhand right, then connected with a good L hook to the head, and a grazing L uppercut. The two exchanged flurries into each other's gloves, and Arroyo wildly missed an overhand right.

The 5th began with a brief exchange of jabs, Arroyo landed a grazing overhand R to the head and a L to the body. Ruenroeng landed a decent overhand R, Arroyo landed a decent overhand left. Arroyo landed a L uppercut, and again was on the front foot, backing up Ruenroeng. Arroyo wildly missed a left uppercut and three overhand rights, Ruenroeng missed an overhand right. Arroyo threw a left hook and left uppercut, both blocked. The two exchanged wildly missing power shots, Arroyo threw a flurry into Ruenroeng's gloves. Arroyo again stalking, Ruenroeng clinching, during which Arroyo landed a digging L to the body. Arroyo stalking again, landed a L hook to the body. The two exchanged straight lefts, Ruenroeng's a little sharper. Arroyo stalked Ruenroeng into a corner, and landed an overhand R, a L to the body, and a L to the head, then bent low into Ruenroeng, so Ruenroeng clinched. Arroyo had a right-left hook combo blocked, Ruenroeng clinch. Arroyo landed a jab-L hook combo to the head, Ruenroeng clinch (the referee had some sterner words with Ruenroeng about his clinching). Ruenroeng threw a few potshot jabs, Arroyo responded with a good solid L hook to the head, knocking Ruenroeng backwards a few feet. Arroyo slipped to the canvas. Ruenroeng clinched.

The 6th began with an exchange of jabs, then Ruenroeng landed a decent straight R to the head. Arroyo stalked forward, Ruenroeng threw a brief flurry into Arroyo's gloves, clinch. Arroyo landed an overhand R, then a L hook, then another overhand R, then in a clinch he landed a L to the body. Arroyo again stalking forward, Ruenroeng going backwards. Arroyo landed two L hooks and a good jab. Ruenroeng responded with a good R hook-L uppercut combo, followed by a good R uppercut-L hook combo. Both missed power shots, then Ruenroeng landed a R uppercut, Arroyo landed a L hook, Ruenroeng landed a straight R. Arroyo threw a right hook into Ruenroeng's gloves, Ruenroeng countered with a really good right uppercut, clinch, Ruenroeng half-pushed Arroyo down to the canvas for a slip. Then, Arroyo landed a L to the body, the two exchanged missed power lefts, then Arroyo threw a sweeping right hand while Ruenroeng ducked; it appeared the punch landed on the back of Ruenroeng's right shoulder, and he fell forwards down to the canvas for what surely should have been ruled a slip, but it was ruled a knockdown by the referee; Ruenroeng was up at 6. The two then alternated missed punches and clinches, Arroyo landed a L uppercut, Ruenroeng landed an overhand L.

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Arroyo began the 7th by landing 3 decent jabs. Ruenroeng landed a decent overhand R, a jab, then a double jab, then a straight R to the body. Ruenroeng then landed a decent R-L-R-(R uppercut) combo to the head. Arroyo landed a jab, which Ruenroeng countered with a grazing overhand right, and then Ruenroeng pushed Arroyo, for which he received a warning by the referee. Arroyo landed a jab, Ruenroeng missed an overhand right, Ruenroeng clinched. Arroyo missed an overhand right, Ruenroeng clinched. Arroyo missed a jab-overhand right combo, clinch. Ruenroeng landed a good straight R, Arroyo missed a left, Ruenroeng clinched. The two exchanged wildly missed punches, Ruenroeng clinched. Arroyo bulled Ruenroeng into the ropes, Ruenroeng clinched. Arroyo missed an overhand right, then ducked his head low, Ruenroeng clinched. Arroyo then landed three decent body shots and missed an overhand right, and Ruenroeng landed a decent overhand R at the bell.

In the 8th, Arroyo missed an overhand right, Ruenroeng threw a 1-2 into Arroyo's gloves. Arroyo landed a jab, Ruenroeng countered with a decent straight R. Ruenroeng clinched. Arroyo missed an overhand right, Ruenroeng clinched. Ruenroeng landed a decent R hook-L hook-straight R combo to the head. Arroyo landed a jab, Ruenroeng countered with a nice straight R, Ruenroeng clinched. Arroyo missed an overhand right, Ruenroeng clinched. Arroyo lunged forward with a potshot straight right, which Ruenroeng countered with a decent R hook to the head. Two more clinches. The two exchanged missed straight punches, Ruenroeng clinched. Ruenroeng then threw a 6-punch flurry consisting of L-R hooks which landed around Arroyo's gloves, then a straight L-R and L-R hooks into Arroyo's gloves. Ruenroeng closed the round by clinching, pushing Arroyo into the ropes.

In the 9th, Ruenroeng threw a few rights into Arroyo's gloves, Arroyo missed an overhand right then landed a few digging body shots, then Ruenroeng clinched. Ruenroeng threw a potshot jab and an overhand right into Arroyo's gloves. Arroyo landed a jab and a grazing overhand R, Ruenroeng clinched. Ruenroeng threw overhand R, L, R into Arroyo's gloves. Arroyo threw a L-R into Ruenroeng's gloves. Ruenroeng missed two rights to the head, Arroyo landed a left to the body. The two exchanged overhand rights into each other's gloves, Ruenroeng landed a grazing R uppercut and a R to the body. Arroyo missed a wild looping left, Ruenroeng countered with a grazing R hook to the head, Ruenroeng clinched. Arroyo missed an overhand right, Ruenroeng clinched. Arroyo threw a R-L-R, grazing Ruenroeng with the last right while Ruenroeng was against the ropes. Rueneroeng missed a potshot flurry, Arroyo missed a wild looping left, Ruenroeng clinched; during this clinch, Arroyo landed a L hook to the head, Ruenroeng landed a R uppercut, and the two exchanged a few grazing punches.

The 10th began with Ruenroeng landing a L uppercut, clinch, Arroyo landed a L hook to the head. Ruenroeng landed an overhand R, clinch. The two exchanged jabs, Arroyo wildly missed an overhand right, Ruenroeng clinched. Exchange jabs, clinch. Ruenroeng pushed Arroyo backwards, and the referee had a word with him. Arroyo missed an overhand right, Ruenroeng clinched; during this clinch, Arroyo landed two L hands to the head. Arroyo missed a L-R to the head, Ruenroeng clinched. The two exchanged potshots, Ruenroeng clinched. Ruenroeng landed a good right to the body, Arroyo missed a wild looping left hook, Ruenroeng clinched. Arroyo missed a wild overhand left, Ruenroeng clinched, then the two exchanged L hooks to the head, Arroyo's being the sharper. The two tied up, Ruenroeng pushed Arroyo into the ropes. Arroyo lunged forward, landed a grazing L hook to the head, Ruenroeng clinched. The two then grappled in close with each other, both fell down to the canvas, Ruenroeng on top of Arroyo; the referee had a word with them both. Ruenroeng closed the round with a potshot flurry into Arroyo's gloves.

Ruenroeng began the 11th with a L-R into Arroyo's gloves, then he clinched. Arroyo badly missed a left hook, Ruenroeng clinched. Ruenroeng landed a potshot L-L-R to the head, Arroyo landed a potshot double jab. Ruenroeng landed a straight right, Arroyo countered with a L hook to the head. Ruenroeng landed a grazing overhand R, then pushed Arroyo to the canvas for a ruled slip; Arroyo was very upset, but the referee just told Ruenroeng “no more pushing”. The two exchanged jabs, Arroyo missed an overhand right, Ruenroeng clinched. Arroyo stalked, Ruenroeng went backwards and then lunged forward to clinch. Ruenroeng landed a jab, Arroyo wildly missed an overhand right, Ruenroeng clinched. Both missed overhand rights. Arroyo landed a decent jab-overhand R combo. Arroyo moved in with his head low, Ruenroeng clinched. Arroyo missed an overhand right, Ruenroeng clinched. Ruenroeng landed a decent L hook to the head, then threw a potshot flurry into Arroyo's gloves.

The 12th began with a couple clinches. Arroyo landed an overhand R, Ruenroeng clinched. Ruenroeng threw a couple potshots then clinched. Ruenroeng landed 3 potshot jabs, Arroyo clinched. Arroyo now stalking again, Ruenroeng retreating. Arroyo landed a left to the body, then moved twice moved in with his head low, and Ruenroeng clinched both times. Arroyo landed a grazing overhand R, Ruenroeng clinched. Arroyo missed a L-R combo. Ruenroeng threw a potshot L-R, Arroyo landed a decent jab, Ruenroeng missed a left and then clinched. Arroyo stalking again, threw an overhand right which Ruenroeng stifled in a clinch. Arroyo missed a potshot flurry, Ruenroeng landed a couple potshots to the head, then clinch. In the last 10 seconds of the fight, Arroyo stalked, missed a looping left, then there was a clinch, then Arroyo bulled forward and tackled Ruenroeng, with both going down to the canvas as the final bell rung.

As mentioned, this was an atrocious fight, and difficult to score. Neither fighter scored many clean punches. Neither fighter was effectively aggressive, although when there was an aggressor, it was most often Arroyo. Neither fighter had an apparent advantage in ring generalship; Ruenroeng had success with his jab in the first couple rounds but then went away from it, while Arroyo seemed to be largely headhunting, wildly missing numerous single power shots to the head. Given the large number of punches that each fighter threw into the other's gloves, I suppose both fighters could get some credit for their defense, or at least keeping their guard high. But neither fighter showed effective head or body movement, lateral movement, or footwork in the ring. It really was a very mediocre performance by both fighters.

Dishonourable mention goes to referee Pat Russell, who was absolutely HORRIFIC in this fight. By my count, Ruenroeng initiated at least 75-80 clinches during this fight; Russell first spoke to him about it in the 4th round, but even though Ruenroeng clinched increasingly more often as the fight went on, Russell never even gave him a formal warning. Ruenroeng also pushed Arroyo several times, including twice to the canvas. Russell also appeared to badly blow the knockdown call in the 6th round. Finally, for good measure, Russell twice misheard the 10-second warning as the end-of-round bell (in the 6th and 11th rounds). Simply put, his performance ruined the integrity of the fight. Even though I do not think the official decision can be considered a robbery, I do think Arroyo deserves an immediate rematch, with a COMPETENT referee in charge.

 

T. Inoue dominated him with movement and intelligent boxing so I'd guess Shiming would beat him. Fukuhara was beaten by Takuma on his debut pretty easily.

 

More the idea that I think anyone Takuma shuts out in fight #2 should be beaten by Zou. Takuma didn't look anything like his brother in the fight, he moved and boxed and moved, and moved (you know, the "boring" stuff).

Fahlan's big break is his win over a semi-dead Ryo Miyazaki (even Zou would have stopped that Ryo). A draw with Fukuhara is hardly an impressive feat.

I think Takuma at this point certainly needs more time to get his man strength before fighting for a title (still not seen his recent fight though) though he should have the speed and movement to beat Zou in a similar way to how he beat Fahlan.

Shame footage of Takuma is hard to come by other than the Fahlan bout