Roman Gonzalez vs. Manuel Vargas RBR

Round 8

Gonzalez comes out and immediately throws a hard jab, blocked...then a hard right, blocked. He pushes Vargas to the ropes and assaults him with several hooks. Vargas leans against the ropes and absorbs them. Vargas gets back out to the middle of the ring and gets picked apart with jabs from Gonzalez, who slides around the outside in smooth circles. Vargas isn't having as much success this round as in the last few, as he can't get in close. Wild hooks from Vargas without his feet set are spotted miles away by Gonzalez, who steps easily back and counters without skipping a beat. Vargas is hooked to the body and sent into the ropes, but bounces right back. Vargas tries some body shots but eats some jabs. They exchange and Gonzalez's head is snapped back by another stray shot. The pace finally slows a bit.

79-73 RG

 

Round 9

Gonzalez quadruple jabs Vargas in the face, driving him back into the ropes and following up with a double right cross. Gonzalez is throwing nothing by itself, putting everything together in bunches. Vargas is swinging low at the body but not getting any clean touchees. Gonzalez rolls in the pocket and makes Vargas miss a bit. Gonzalez staggers back across the ring, but may have slipped on the logo as nothing really landed just before that. He still looks sharp as he gets into a rhythm on the outside landing jabs and right hands (now throwing fewer punches in each attack). Vargas is trying an overhand right now but can't reach Gonzalez with it. Headbutt, Vargas down, Gonzalez warned. They resume and pick right up where they left off, Vargas hooking hard at the head of Gonzalez and on the receiving end of shorter straighter punches.

 

Round 10

Vargas's face looks like dog meat. Gonzalez targets it with his jab and some wide right hands around the side. Vargas keeps hooking with both hands, and starts flipping out some uppercuts to change it up a bit. Gonzalez is backing away and pawing with his jab and right hand from too far away to land them. Vargas is barreling inside and forcing the action. Hard right hand clips Gonzalez as he backs up and Vargas follows up with a hook inside. Shoeshine to the body by Vargas. More body shots by Vargas, as Gonzalez taps him on the face with soft jabs and half-hooks.

Vargas round.


98-92 Gonzalez

 

Round 11

Gonzalez comes out very fast, blitzing Vargas into the ropes with a dozen unanswered short punches. Vargas pushes his way out at last, and starts swinging wildly (telegraphing everything) to back Gonzalez up. Gonzalez circles to his left, trying to get things to settle down and line Vargas up with his 1-2 from outside. Gonzalez skips away when Vargas cuts the ring off or charges in with blind punches. Gonzalez throws several hooks to the head and keeps circling. Vargas is slinging both arms out wide and trying to rip Gonzalez's head off. Gonzalez has started to find his sweet spot again and is now outboxing Vargas pretty smoothly. Gonzalez jabs and moves, not letting Vargas near.

 

Round 12

Gonzalez starts with about six or seven unanswered hooks to push Vargas back into a corner. Vargas comes back, predictably - and hooks high and low. Gonzalez takes a FLUSH pair of hooks to the floating rib and chin. Vargas' hands seem to be getting faster in the 12th. Crazy. Gonzalez tries double and triple hooking Vargas away. Gonzalez just wants to stay on the outside and get to work on his more technical offense. Vargas is just pressing his way in and trying to drag Chocolatito into a street fight. Gonzalez doesn't take the bait. Gonzalez stays smart, jabbing from the outside and throwing several hooks when Vargas bows down and rams in. Vargas keeps punching until the bell!!!

9 rounds to 3 for Gonzalez

 

It looks like Gonzalez won a decision and retained his belt.

No more details (no audio). Sorry.

 

For someone who was so outclassed on paper (and throughout the fight itself) Vargas gave one hell of an effort.

That was the scariest experience Chocolatito has probably ever had in the ring.

 

Before this slips under the radar...this is a strong candidate for FOTY so far. I urge everyone to watch.


Here are the championship rounds:
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This is after the pace slowed down. :scaredas:

 

In case you can't tell, Chocolatito Gonzalez is in the dull blue trunks with white stripes. Chango Vargas is in the shiny blue trunks.