Solo Boxeo - Luis Cruz vs. Eric Estrada RBR

:good

 

Round 1

Cruz firing a strong jab. He doesn't have the quickest hands, but his timing and power are both very impressive. He has Estrada rocked a few times early, playing the mongoose as Estrada rushes in to try and land on the run. A nice 1-2 downstairs lands for Cruz. Estrada is discouraged from opening up much, and simply backs away with his hands low. Cruz chases him down and pounds on him.

Big 10-9 round for Cruz

 

Round 2

More jabs from Cruz, followed by a monster right hand. Estrada bunny-hopping around, wasting energy, and letting his hands stray low. Estrada tries falling in with a combination; he punches from very weird angles, almost Calzaghe-like. His guard also splits and wavers a bit - his forearms still held at 90 degree angles but with like a foot of space between his arms, plenty of space for Cruz to fire down the middle. Cruz is waiting patiently. He jabs when Estrada is in range. Estrada's head seems fastened by a rod onto his neck and spine - there is no movement of it, even when he's dodging and hopping and throwing his weird combinations. Cruz lands a nice 1-2 and Estrada responds with a borderline-low bodyshot. They flurry to the bell.

20-18 Cruz.

 

Round 3

Estrada hopping and jabbing now. He is getting countered regularly by the economical and powerful Cruz. Cruz keeping up a disciplined defensive guard (tight, unlike Estrada's) and is stalking effectively, with no wasted motion. Cruz falls a bit short with a lead right but it batters Estrada back into the ropes even landing on his arms.

30-27 Cruz

 

Yeah, I DVR'ed and was playing catch-up, been fast-forwarding through the between-round time. :good

 

Round 4

Cruz fires a lead right and Estrada wraps his arm up like an octopus; their heads come dangerously close to clashing. Another lead right, and they tie up again. Estrada ducks down low and tries to slap the body of Cruz. Cruz jabs, upperhooks, and attacks the body. Cruz only punching in good spots, refusing to follow Estrada around with his jerky movements and popping into and out of a crouch. Cruz makes Estrada miss by simply putting on the brakes as Estrada launches his odd counters.

40-36 Cruz

 

Round 5

Estrada now pressing forward, and Cruz boxing off the backfoot. Hook to the body, then upstairs. Cruz accurate and moving his feet well. Estrada making him a little uncomfortable with his strange angles and constant crouching. Cruz trying to just hit the target when it's available. Estrada dipping in exaggerated fashion, his head below his waist. What a kooky style. Another short counter hookercut lands for Cruz. He is up five rounds to zip.

 

Round 6

Cruz is now stepping up his attack, with jabs and lead hooks. Body punches when Estrada extends the accordion of his long gangly body have him wobble into the ropes. Cruz then goes to work headhunting. A delayed reaction to a temple shot has Estrada take a knee, but he wobbles off his knee and nearly sprawls out. It is stopped.

Cruz looks good.

 

Next up - 12-0 (10) Jayson "Maravilla" Velez vs. 5-5 (1) Juan Cruz, super bantamweights.

Round 1

Velez is a tall, skinny kid. He won't be at SBW forever. He looks well-schooled in the early going. He walks Cruz down with a jab. As Cruz backs into the ropes Velez begins to follow the jab with a long, sharp right hand. It lands, and has a whip-like impact. Cruz fights his way out of a corner but looks unwilling to get into a prolonged exchange with the younger fighter. Velez leans over and attacks the body of Cruz, landing nicely. He lunges in with lead right hands and Cruz backs away from them.

10-9 Velez

 

Round 2

Velez immediately pins Cruz into a corner and begins to work him over, firing high and low, and mixing up his punches. He looks smart for his age, patient, taking a short step back to get full extension on his power. Cruz ties him up. The ref breaks it and Cruz goes to touch gloves. Velez obliges him, and then immediately begins to hammer him to the head and body. This is developing into a bad beating. Velez throws his full bodyweight into his body-punching. Cruz is trying to hold his ground, back against the ropes, and firing off shots hoping to make his offense into a defense.

20-18 Velez

 

Round 3

Jayson Velez fighting like a much wiser boxer than you'd think at 22...and making Juan G Cruz appear much older than 27. Velez gets his shots off, and then keeps firing with his free hand as Cruz ties up the other. When Cruz manages to swallow both arms Velez simply goes slack until the ref breaks it up. Cruz tries some body work of his own but eats a hard little hook turned over into his chin by Velez. Cruz retreats across the ring and Velez catches him at the opposite ropes, and drops him to his knees with what looks very much like a liver shot. Cruz gets up at ocho and claims he's bueno. Velez jumps on him, showing good finishing instinct but not smothering himself, tagging Cruz, taking a half-step or quick lean back to get into the sweet spot of range, and goes right back to work before Cruz can pull himself together. Velez all over Cruz but can't quite put him away.

10-8 round makes it 30-26 Maravilla