ESPN2: Jason Robert Quigley vs. Freddy Hernández Gómez & Christian González vs. Rey Pérez II RBR

After the commercial break is another installment of the Mexico vs. Philippines rivalry...and what I had thought would be the co-main event.

 

Christian González vs. Rey Pérez II, 8 rounds @ lightweight

 

Rey kicked his ass last time, in this same venue. Chimpa has so far had mostly AWFUL luck against Pinoys, looking to not get swept 0-3 in a row against them. (a win here would pull him level with Team PI at 2-2, having beaten Jhon Gemino in 2016)

 

Round 1

Pérez is walking González into jabs and check hooks with the left while stepping diagonally leftward and in reverse, then zigzagging in with a quick step rightward and in & tying up. González is unable to get off up close except with some light body taps, all of his combination headhunting rolling off the bicep & turned-in shoulder of Pérez. 1-1-2 by Pérez stepping in, then ducking before González can retaliate. Very sloppy right hand coasting in by González, falling into countering range as Pérez steps away behind a jab.

10-9 Pérez

 

Ah, yeah, that makes sense. Funny, that match wasn't even listed on BoxRec as recently as this afternoon (like 3.5 hours ago )

 

So far not seeing anything to suggest that Chimpa has improved or can avenge the defeat here. This is still a stylistic nightmare for him.

 

Round 2

Pérez is backing into the ropes as González whips in overhand rights, battering the guard and then hooking the body. González is fended off with a pair of short prying uppercuts delivered from the chin of Pérez where both fists are bunched together in their resting state. Pérez is getting muscled into the ropes where hooks are slung into his gut as he raises his arms to cover up and defend against González's lead rights.

10-9 González

19-19

 

I take it back, if he can keep up the stifling pressure like he did in the second then we can say Joel Diaz's presence in the corner was a difference maker. (last time he was absent, helping Lucas Matthysse in his match vs. Tewa Kiram that same weekend)

 

Round 3

González is grinding Pérez into the ropes and keeping him there, smothering him and walloping the body nonstop. Pérez can't get anything going. Hook & uppercut combos from González, keeping his lead foot stomping on Pérez's or bumping heels with him. Rough constrictive aggression from the Mexican. Low blow from Pérez, landing on the ref's blind side, then a clinch. González retaliates with a sustained flurry before the bell.

10-9 González

29-28 González

 

Round 4

González is keeping the action contained in a phonebooth, where he is diligently plugging away downstairs and shrugging off Pérez's numerous fouls (rabbit punches, low blows, and jerking clinches). Pérez is just getting pushed up against the ropes like a middle schooler against the lockers being shaken down for lunch money. Nothing in his arsenal emancipating him, so he remains in the cycle of spoiling and fouling until he can clinch and burn the clock.

10-9 González

39-37 González

 

Hurtling rapidly toward a trilogy.

 

Round 5

González is working light underhanded arm-punch combos into the sides. Lou Moret gives Rey Pérez a hard final warning - "no more grabbing him, alright? Next time is a point. " . A few clean legal counters strewn in by Pérez - but mostly he's only connecting on low blows. Moret warns him for those as well (and fails to follow through on his threat as Pérez holds several more times). González is also warned for roughhousing inside, holding & hitting. Lumpy jab lands for González. Pérez whips a hard left hook into the liver while planting his feet after positioning himself off to González's right.

10-9 González, closer

49-46 González

 

Round 6

González is jabbing at the head of Pérez and missing. Nice counter rights by Pérez spiraling just out of reach. González is throwing sloppy lead rights at the navel and then jiggering himself up-periscope at the last minute to sweep a left hook. González is hitting glove when he aims high and elbows downstairs. Pérez is blocking well and then holding when González arrives inside. Nice pair of flush counter uppercuts by Pérez, snapping González's head back. Another long clinch by Pérez, abruptly letting go and snapping back the head with an uppercut again. Combo blocked by Pérez, grinding forward and pumping in a couple of body shots. González is given a stern final warning for applying headlocks.

10-9 Pérez

58-56 González