Boxeo Telemundo: Ricardo Espinoza Franco vs. Brandon de Jesús Valdés Daza RBR

Seventh a nigh unwatchable clinch-fest.

Dammit. This had such promise. :

 

Espinoza sandbagging the body repeatedly, as though swinging kettle bells into an invisible chute with its mouth at Valdés' stomach. The movement, jab, and counter right cross have all but disappeared from his repertoire as the Colombian now mostly just shuffles and surrenders ground until forced to clinch.

 

The worst case for Valdés, if he can avoid getting dropped in the last frame, is a draw. (which is what I'll have, assuming Espinoza keeps drowning him in body shots and smothering pressure against the ropes).

The commentators will likely have it a shutout for their guy. Curious to see what the judges in Florida serve up.

 

Very nice sustained battle in R10, both closing as strongly as they opened. Espinoza somehow looks sharper now than in the first nine, actually scoring jabs on the face of a tiring Valdés, while the younger man is uncorking some massive tear-drop hooks and landing flush at point blank.

 

Official cards:

98-92
97-93
99-91

UD for Ricardo "Hindú" Espinoza

 

Cuban prospect Jorge de Jesús Romero now takes on reliable Floridian gatekeeper Daniel Lozano in an eight-rounder in the co-feature, also in the super bantamweight division.

 

Yet another Cuban bringing moderate-to-good skills but little-to-no thrills.

 

Official cards:

76-76
76-76
77-75 Romero.

Majority draw.

Very boring.

 

Takeaway: both Valdés and Espinoza could be viable contenders (especially as super bantam is somewhat pedestrian at the very top, considering 'the man' is Rey Vargas and he's far away from anyone's p4p list)... Romero, based on having fought Lozano more or less evenly, is probably not going to rise as high as competing for a belt... which is good, because I'm set on seeing him again.