the what fights did you watch today\scorecard thread.

Juan Francisco Estrada UD12 Milan Melindo

This is Estrada entering Prime Estrada territory, he just about summitted against Viloria, now here come the real deal and tbh I don't think he's got off that pan yet - I think he's still prime. He's a god damn best. Straight to work at the body and he's layering the right from the start but my memory is this bing his best left-handed display though anything boxed at that time fo night is prone to mis-memory on my part.

Wow, Melindo wins the first round with a booming, narrow left hook at the bell, catches him flush, he's in repose on or near the ropes for a moment, he didn't like that, it made him sad. Melinod takes back a round he was losing at the last momentito. I have him taking the third, tight with a similar hard punch but early, followed up with a nice guard-splitting uppercut just shy of half way; so after 6 I have it close.

After that, Estrada takes over, and how. This is a combination performance in terms of left/right, Estrada is weaving with the left, combining push jab, uppercut, left hook to the body, winging hook upstairs and a series of feints to open up his man for a slingy straight right and a menacing, infrequently used uppercut. Melindo is no joke and despite the wideish score I ended up with I ddin't feel like he was ever out of the fight, he had a certain menace of his own and I enjoyed his straight right hand very much. Anyway, after an intense and brutal 10th round, worth tracking down even if you don't fancy the rest of the fight for some reason (and it's worth it), Estrada seals teh deal in the eleventh. You can see from the start that Estrada knows he's there for a big punch and whether they are inside or out, he is throwing them and landing them - I thought poor Melindo more folded under the fuselage than got caught with a shot, though if there's a better uppercut/hook (or right) combo in the sport, I don't know it.

Once again though, a fight where a fighter's inability to run rounds together made it impossible for him to win, he just couldn't get Estrada dominated for more than about forty seconds at a time, it's just never going to be enough.


Estrada: 2,4,6,7,8,10,11*12.
Melindo:1,3,5,9.

*Melindo down.

116-111 Juan Francisco Estrada.

 

Roman Gonzalez UD12 McWilliams Arroyo

Stiff straight punches brings Arroyo the first, winning that battle of the jabs and most of what went down the middle. Both seeking the body but not ready to put it on the line yet. Single left hands bring Arroyo the early part of the second, too; he has a blueprint here the guy, the question is will Gonzalez go away from him, and if he does, how does Arroyo survive? The answer in the second, he covers up and moves slowly away looking for a countering opportunity. Interesting that this echoes Estrada's slow start against Melindo...probably just for me though...

Here he goes in teh third; tightened up the punches, narrowed up the shots, going in as far as he can - take the closest distance on offer, weaving the punches, he knows where Arroyo is now and that's all that early showing was for. Find out where he is, now try to build teh steam and drive him back, turn destroyer. Arroyo holds the line just enough to stop Gonzalez gathering that wool but Jesus Chris it looks painful. And the sole of one of his shoes has fallen off

Tough boy. You might argue Gonzalez had de-eletid him though, if that's a word...it isn't.

Gonzalez:3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12.
Arroyo:1,2.

118-110 Gonzalez.

 

Akira Yaegashi UD12 Javier Mendoza

Big fight this, Mendoza ranked number two at the time - it's also Yaegashi's only meaningful victory, I guess, post-Gonzalez (ouchie). Glorious footwork from Yaegashi early, beating and moving, serpantine attacks, sometimes a single punch often 2-3, double hooks tot he body, one-twos, this is very beautiful. Straight elfts and lead hooks as Mendoza moves across him in the second, Mendoza diffing to the body. Mendoza is sort of trying to rush Yaegashi when he moves, risky business, Yaegashi brings it in a bit though, Mendoza wins that round to the body for me but gets very badly hurt by dual straight rights at the bell - got over-eager, got punished, harsh. Very good action.

Yaegashi puts the brakes on in earnest in the third seeking to follow up on those rights - it's a very good round of boxing, all narrow actions, short punches before Yaegashi starts once again to move. Again, Yaegashi is outlanded but again, he lands dual right hands to hurt his man as the round winds down, patient, strong, direct. Yaegashi would be behind if not for those late right hands in two and three.

The blow for blow exchanges in the fifth are absurd, just madness, southpaw left for orthodox right. I thought Mendoza nicked that one but holy ****. What's interesting is Yaegashi fought this style against Gonzalez, less low hands, but essentially move and rally, and got ****ing steamrolled. Here it's so much fun. Yaegashi, that chin and heart combo, always sure to throw back after he's hit. I can't believe i skipped this first time around. Opening of the seventh it looks moemetarily like Yaegashi might go! Mendoza fades but ags the seventh, maybe not quite out of it yet. Yaegashi must love this. What a crazy man.

This is an advert for the difference between a fight that is one-sided and a fight that is scored widely for one or the other. Yaegashi wins nearly every single round, and hurts Mendoza in many rounds, but he himself is hurt several times and Mendoza lands many hard punches on him. It's not complicated to score, Yaegashi is just better, but it's legit warfare for real. VIcious, vicious stuff. Yaegashi just decided to go toe-to-toe and go the best of it and Mendoza, because seek and destroy was his mission, has nowhere else to go. Some of this is mad.

Yaegashi:1,2,3,4,6,8,9,10,11,12.
Mendoza:5,7.

Official: 120-107, 117-111, 119-109

 

Milan Melindo SD12 Hekkie Budler

This one was controversial but not for the scoring but for cuts sustained by Melindo which were treated during the doctor's examination, which is against the rules. I actually think a rematch was ordered, but that never happened. These are two workmen and these are rather workmenlike performances, but no in a bad way. Melindo looks for jab upstairs, right hand anything, Budler is prioritizing pushing flurries that are two -handed, prodding with one hand or the other. Close tough rounds. Second is so close one punch settles it for me, a left hook to the body with seconds remaining - the next punch is framed the same but was very low, looked actually too low to cause the type of pain Buddler appeared to be in from it, but his point was made! Melindo will have to be careful now.

Melindo off to a cracking start, Buddler there for the uppercut through two and three and that's a bit of a difference maker in terms of the scoring. Melindo also appears to have made up his mind Budler can't hurt him if he is careful and he is ready to lead or counter under pressure. He's probably just about controlling the real-estate too. Budler is daring punches but Melindo feels to steady for him. He out-shoots Budler when it comes to it. Incidently, I like the format this is broadcast in - it's no commentary with many detailed replays during the 1 minute.

This is not a hot pace and it will not change without action up the fight's rhthym and Budler sees this and steps it up in five. Works well for him two, although he gets clattered with a couple of horrible looking left hooks, head and body. Think he finally grabs a round although Melindo again lands the best punch of the frame right at the end there, two right hands. Good fight this. Cut opened on Melindo in the sixth causes some consternation and this appears to be the first time that adrenaline is applied to the cut after the bell rings to begin a round and the doctor looks, which causes the trouble. Budler opens the seventh with big gesture boxing, coming long from the outside after showing some light movement, works here might cost him when it doesn't. Still, Budler wins a key round to stay in the fight with a decent adjustment. He just can't get through a round without getting hit hard though and so often at round's end.

Good fight. Melindo just that bit neater and the KD in the final round makes it feel real safe. Budler's people even appealed on that - it was messy, but there was a punch.

Melindo:1,2,3,4,6,9,10,11.
Budler:5,7,8,12*.

*Budler down on a squabble.

116-111 Melindo

Official: 113-115, 115-112, 117-110