Breaking news from Pas-de-Calais, France: Juli Giner TKO8 Romain Jacob

...and the NEW super featherweight Euro champ! What a shake-up! :shock:

Giner entered with a 17-1 (7) record and had recently lost to & drawn with 30-23-4 Spanish-Dominican journeyman Ruddy "the Black Wolf" Encarnacion in his last two steps up in class...defending the Spanish featherweight title in their draw and failing to capture the EBU-EU featherweight title (a more specifically regional belt subordinate to its more well regarded "full European" title) in their rematch. Giner has no other notable opponents, having fought only in the insular bubble of the domestic scene in Spain.

Jacob, meanwhile, entered as the young undefeated incumbent European champion whom many thought could be at the fringes of world class following his string of three victories over Devis Boschiero & Ermano Fegatilli. He looked excellent on all three nights (although each contest was close and he didn't put that much separation between himself and either Italian rival...just did enough to shade the victory, which is plenty impressive enough a trio of results) and seemed to be improving each time out.

Giner is, as far as I know, the first to even knock Jacob off his feet.

 

This was originally meant to be a RBR thread (and indeed I had already entered the disclaimer & title), but in my efforts to find a way to watch (thinking it would be starting around now) I stumbled across the fresh result on Twitter. :!:

 

Will post video when found.

 

Speaking of Ruddy Encarnacion, he is challenging Oleg Yefimovych in Kiev for the WBA Continental and vacant European featherweight title on December 5th. At first glance that may have appeared to be a gimme for Yefimovych but considering the boost El Lobo Negro's resume and h2h standing just got, it could be less cut and dry than records and home advantage (Encarnacion is from the DR, and resides in Madrid, and both his draw and win over Giner came in the latter's home state of Cataluña) would suggest. :think

 

...yeah, went back and skimmed through my RBR threads for Jacob vs. Fegatilli and Boschiero I & II. There weren't any knockdowns scored by any party in those...and I highly doubt anyone he fought before them (during or prior to his run as 130lb French national champ) would have managed what Il Dottore or Boom-Boom couldn't.

Giner came outta pretty much nowhere, just like Jacob himself did (in spite of his pedigree as son of early-90's WBC super featherweight champ Thierry Jacob) with his surprise breakout performance in the first Boschiero fight.

 

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Wow...yeah, that was legit.

He set traps, wore him down, scored an uncontroversial authoritative knockdown (which itself nearly had Romain counted out) and then finished strong.

WTG "The Rock".

 

Giner was a 4/1 underdog.