DAZN: José Encarnación Zepeda vs. Ivan Yurievich Redkach RBR

That was Evangelista's fifth time in his career getting blitzed in under a round. He's now on a 2-13 run since the loss to Isaac Cruz eight years ago.

Think he ought to call it a day.

 

Nathan Devon Rodríguez vs. Bryan Javier Mercado Alarcón, 8 rounds @ featherweight

 

10-9 Rodríguez

"El Morenito", a native of Pico Rivera just an hour's drive northwest of Temecula, has no problem dealing with a mobile southpaw...walking the goofy-haired Ecuadorian down and landing hurtful body shots.

 

Consistently finding a home for counter uppercuts on an opponent that isn't even all that open defensively / cooperative - is pretty noteworthy.

 

30-27 Rodríguez

I don't think we're lasting 8.

Granted, three of Mercado's five stoppages were corner retirements as opposed to being knocked out cleanly - but still.

 

Mercado has some obvious weak points that he can't disguise his pain in when hit - body and nose, both of which Rodríguez targets with jabs, right crosses and uppercuts while applying steady pressure.

 

Incestuous card... José Manuel Saant from our third bout fought Mercado to a draw in 2019, and was stopped by Rodríguez this past June.

 

Mercado has sporadic offensive bursts...mostly when Rodríguez sort of gets bored and checks out, letting himself drift into the ropes - but these have still all been dominant one-sided rounds.

 

NDR needs to work on his finishing skills...this could have been over by now.

 

I don't think Gabriel Rosado was expecting the camera to cut to him (so the pxp guy, Beto Durán, could plug a mobile phone company) - bro looks high AF.

 

Shutout for Rodríguez (80-71) on my card, but he isn't quite ready for prime time yet. Some kinks to iron out first.

Mercado - eyes busted up and mouth agape - was hurt badly in R8 but was allowed to spoil and escape again...until Rodríguez nailed him with a big left hook that finally put him down, but too late as he was saved by the bell.

 

Official cards:

79-72
80-71 x2

UD for Rodríguez

 

Rodríguez has some very good tools - and is only 20, but needs to improve his cardio, button down the "zoning out" and hone the killer instinct.

 

Cuts a decent promo, too. Humble, good-looking kid, neat haircut. Could build up a sizable following for himself in SoCal.

 

I haven't heard anything from King Gabe in a while...think he may have nodded off. Beto might have to call the main event solo.