Christian M'billi Assomo-Hallier vs. Carlos Góngora Mercado & Simon Kean vs. Éric Lee Molina RBR

Stephen James Claggett vs. Rafael Guzmán Lugo, 10 rounds @ welterweight

 

I guess (contrary to lots of the advertising in various places) the heavyweights are in fact the co-main event.

(including several fight posters and I believe the promoter's official running order... oh well)

 

Round 1

Guzmán is jabbing the face and hooking the body of Claggett. Uppercuts inside by Claggett, doubling and tripling up with touches on the chest with both hands, but Guzmán is throwing more and slapping hard on the side with thudding hooks. When they step apart both are knifing across the gap with hard headhunting jabs. Claggett misses a combo at mid-range, swinging diagonally upward or down with either arm. Guzmán turns him and jabs him in the face from behind a tight guard. Heavy body blows traded both ways. Scooping uppercut on the beltline by Claggett. Hook up top by Guzmán.

10-9 Guzmán, super close

 

Actually kind of disrespectful this is subordinate to Kean vs. Molina, tbh.

Both of these guys are youngish (33 and 28) and on the precipice of being ranked & relevant in their division. Kean and Molina might be fun but they're older and neither of them amounts to a hill of beans in even today's weak HW landscape.

 

Round 2

Guzmán is sticking with his body assault, living up to his "Furioso" moniker with no signs of slowing yet. Claggett is starting to pop in a lead right hand upon separation, threading between Guzmán's gloves, and working uppercuts on the chest or light double-tap hooks on the side of the head in close.

10-9 Claggett, close

19-19

 

Round 3

Guzmán is circling and jabbing after some more close-quarter melee in the opening minute. Claggett following and forcing the pace, steadily but unhurried. Guzmán sucking a bit of wind and easing off, throwing mostly arm punches on the backfoot now. Claggett with long rights on the way in, Guzmán turning away from the ropes while blocking them.

10-9 Claggett

29-28 Claggett

 

Round 4

Guzmán is starting out quiet again but within about thirty seconds is baited into some massive pendulous body shot exchanges with Claggett. Both ripping each other with their bases set wide and feet anchored firmly. Guzmán with shoeshines on the face in a phonebooth, very little zip on anything though. Claggett is calmly setting to work, hooking into the skull and looping rights nearly as far around as Guzmán's kidney. Guzmán backs into the ropes getting his guard uppercutted until he responds with a couple of his own. Claggett taps him with a peashooter jab between his eyes a few times and then walks him down across the ring, with Guzmán tossing a combo into Claggett's forearms at the bell.

10-9 Claggett, close

39-37 Claggett

 

...is Guzmán's coach mentally challenged?

Serious question. His corner advice is fine, I just mean...