Óscar Andrés Rivas vs. Ryan Rozicki & Terry Geffrard Osias vs. Joaquin Adrián Murrieta Lucio RBR

They keep showing this video package hyping up Beterbiev vs. Browne as though it were the biggest card of the year.

I guess it might be GYM's biggest of 2021...

 

Like a stretched out piece of watermelon (or sour apple) taffy.

 

Gaby Mancini, now there's an old school, obscure boxing name.

Definitely not the first fighter most would free-associate with that last name, unless they're Italian-Canadians of a certain age.

 

Kim Clavel is pretty pretty.

 

Beterbiev looking svelte. That's either a super slimming suit or he has lost some muscle mass. I could have sworn he was broader-shouldered than that. Wouldn't have recognized him in the crowd, honestly, aside from the face.

 

Well in fairness the limit of the weight class is 224lbs. Rivas came in 1¾lbs below that - nothing stopped Rozicki from coming in anywhere up to 224 even. With more notice, who knows, maybe he would've.

It's supposed to be a junction for big/strong cruisers and small heavies to meet, which is pretty much what is taking place.

 

Óscar Andrés Rivas vs. Ryan Rozicki, 12 rounds @ bridgerweight

 

He's untested and unproven, sure - but I wonder, is Rozicki all that much of a step down from By-By Jennings coming off two consecutive losses (to Rivas himself and then Joyce, both in 2019) and then a 2-year layoff, really? Would it have sincerely augmented the prestige of this inaugural championship all that much were it Rivas vs. Jennings II on the marquee instead?

 

Think what a baller move it'd be for The Bruiser to come in on 21 days notice with nobody beyond his shores having ever heard of him, and snatch this belt he was never supposed to even get within sniffing distance of.

 

Round 1

Rozicki meets Rivas in the middle of the ring, leaning into him, catching jabs on his bent forearms, squeezing his knuckle pads over his eye sockets. Rozicki ducking, bobbing, coming up with a looping right up top or left hook on the body. Rivas shoves a few strong jabs into the hairline of Rozicki, lining them up, taking his time, going for emphasis rather than flash. Straight combos by Rozicki, shredding the wrists of Rivas aside. Rivas answers with a left hook on the jaw and then converts to a left uppercut. Rozicki hurt late, rocked against the ropes with several power shots, but stays up and is saved by the bell.

10-9 Rivas