I finally caught up with this on HBO GO (find out how to do so yourself here: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=328262) Heading in, my feeling was that Ramos would be too slick for Sugar Shimoda and would outpoint him comfortably. I was surprised at what was said by those who watched it live (while Cintron-Molina had my attention on the Rios-Antillon Showtime undercard). It was surprising to hear that Shimoda outclassed him for several rounds. It was even more surprised to hear that Ramos had come from behind to spark him. The first couple of rounds were actually close enough to go either way, IMO. Not a lot between them. Shimoda landed some straight lefts, but Ramos got rights in. Rounds three through five were a slow burn, with Shimoda picking up his intensity and imposing himself on Rico physically. You could see Ramos' will starting to melt as the sniping pressure and unintentional headbutts started to break him down. In the fifth, Shimoda started to look downright Mexican with his body attack. Ramos was countering just enough to narrowly lose every exchange, unwilling to seize the day and use his obviously quicker hands to take it to Shimoda despite the risk. The sixth was more akin to the first two as Ramos got his shots in, particularly that fast right hand. If anything, you'd think that favored right was the weapon he'd turn things around with if he landed one on the sweet spot. Nope. Shimoda got cocky after backing Ramos up with his southpaw 1-2 to the body, straying too close and got buttered up with an initial short left hook that had him wobbling. Then Ramos hounded Shimoda and iced him with the one big left hook that Kellerman called a "one punch knockout", but really that earlier left hook went a long way toward setting it up. Interesting fight. Shimoda was definitely in control and probably ought to have been ahead at the halfway point, although I'm not sure it was necessarily as wide as a six round sweep as one judge and some posters had it (or even the 59-55 the other two official judges and Lederman had). It could have been as close as 58-56 or even dead level. In any event, Ramos was lucky to find that left hook. He really hit the lottery. He was not slick enough to just coast and pot shot his way through rounds as I'd guessed. He also has more concussive power than many of us really thought. Shimoda is a large super bantamweight and a good fighter, but may not be a terribly intelligent one. If they do it again, how differently does it unfold? :think
Shimoda exerted a lot of energy in those early rounds and it was starting to slow him down after the 6th which left him recklessly open to get decked. In the rematch I see Shimoda being more tentative to avoid getting haymakered again and more controlling of his stamina to go full 12 rounds. This will cause those rounds that were close for him in the first fight to now be toss-up rounds which will likely favor the champion and more marketable fighter which is clearly Ramos. I see 115-113 scorecards across the board for Ramos which could easily be scored for Shimoda.
I was pleasantly surprised at Shimoda's early success as well. Ramos is used to controlling the pace, and Shimoda's aggression was taking him by surprise. Basically, Shimoda wanted it more. Shimoda needs to turn over his punches more and set his feet occasionally to really get Ramos's respect however. I'd like to see Shimoda come to the US and get some quality coaching.
I was very surprised at the result. I have seen Ramos fight live/on the television and he's never impressed me. I always thought he lacked killer instict, was content to just pitty pat with shots and score points, rather than entertain.
