Akira Yaegashi vs. Roman Gonzalez & Naoya Inoue vs. Samartlek RBR

Slow motion replay:

Right uppercut penetrates the guard and lands on the underside of Samartlek's chin.
Left hook digs into his ribs while Samartlek is still reeling from the uppercut.
Another right uppercut on the underside of the chin while Samartlek is still drifting involuntarily to one side from the body hook.
ANOTHER left hook on the body.
ANOTHER uppercut on the chin. (except this one just grazes as Samartlek's defensive instincts have finally begun to kick in as he moves backwards)

5/5

 

Yeah. :yep

That last one, though - Samartlek literally did nothing about it, didn't even tense up to absorb the blow. He was a punching bag at that point.

 

No, his sixth, beating El Confesor Hernandez.

He made his first successful defense here in his 7th.

Samartlek was a HUGE step down from Hernandez, actually.

 

Wow. Faster than anyone but El Nica.

 

I suppose you could make a case for Samartlek being given the chance to ride it out until the final bell or go on his shield (I'm actually not sure Inoue would have knocked him out cold in the remaining time) - I mean, he only had what, four minutes and change left? - but anyone who disagrees too vehemently with Gelasio Perez Huerta's decision must not care very much about the long-term and post-career health of boxers.

 

Agreed. I was just making the point that beating Samartlek in a world title defense in his 7th pro bout isn't even the most impressive thing on Inoue's resume.

His last achievement blows this one clear outta the water.

 

...but he was getting bombed at such a high clip for how long? That it was allowed to go into the eleventh, it almost becomes a question of "well, alright, so why not give him the extra few minutes to say he made it" - but I definitely agree with the stoppage. Just playing devil's advocate.


I actually don't think he necessarily would have been kayoed for a ten count or anything, or else he would have already by then. (but if he was knocked out clean in the final 1.5 rounds, finally succumbing to accumulation, it could have been a frightening scene and he may have been in serious medical trouble...)