FNF: Diego Magdaleno vs. Gilberto Leon & Bernabe Concepcion vs. Juan Martinez RBR

The fight's going to go like this all 8 rounds and then it's going to be a shutout robbery for Concepcion. :roll:

 

Round 3

Martinez pushes Concepcion to the ropes with a hard 1-2. Martinez pops his jab and strafes to the left and right alternately with quick bouncing steps. Right to the body by Martinez. Concepcion is backed into a corner and absorbs several shots on his guard but also gets hit to the body and there's a FLUSH right to the jaw through the gloves that rattles him a bit. Martinez is landing hard stuff, setting up his right with his jab and using lots of side to side movement coming in. Concepcion tries to jab his way out of a corner and Martinez allows him to walk out but also slips the jab with a quick yank back of his neck and tucking his chin. Martinez jabs and watches Concepcion, who is taunting him and dropping his hands leering and showing his mouthpiece. Now it's a firefight as Concepcion trades with Martinez!

30-27

 

Round 4

Martinez continues with his loose kinetic flow running from either shoulder through his neck and to the other side, keeping his spine skewed from his waist at random angles and never staying in a straight line for more than one second. Concepcion isn't throwing any punches, just keeping his guard up. Martinez is jabbing at him, now sliding diagonally back but still the only one throwing. Concepcion comes forward and lands a good two-handed combo to the chin. Martinez gets his hands up and keeps circling. Overhand right from Martinez. Concepcion comes driving in with a 1-2 to the body and it sort of cascades off of Martinez's torso while catching some arm.

Roach is talking to Teddy and Brian complaining about his fighter's lack of energy and acknowledges that he feels they've been losing the whole way so far.

40-36

 

Two best things about Brian Kenny sitting ringside calling the fights as play-by-play guy:

1) No Tessitore

2) No studio chats with Dan Rafael sweating bullets all over the desk and fogging up ESPN's camera equipment.

 

Round 5

Martinez is landing really nice stuff, walking forward again. Martinez looks like he might be going for the KO - and he might just get it! Martinez is landing his straight right behind the jab and even getting in some uppercuts as he bounces around and attacks with his body bent at angles and always behind multiple stiff jabs no matter how his body's aligned. Really nice stuff from Martinez. Martinez is throwing a 1-2 and hook-2 while bouncing after Concepcion. They trade punches a bit and the crowd starts to get into it. Concepcion again resumes his inactivity, just staying behind his guard and trying to keep out a majority of Martinez's punches. Concepcion is knocked back by a partially caught right hand. Concepcion misses a chopping 1-2.

50-45 Juan Carlos Martinez

 

Round 6

Martinez jabs and then deflects a counter jab with his right hand. Martinez looks totally in control. Martinez comes forward with confidence, but keeps applying pressure intelligently. Martinez is still moving around and constantly flowing despite having not stopped since the first bell. Martinez is landing jabs and rights to body while crouching in on bent lead knee before snapping back out to the safety of his circling position. Martinez is completely outboxing Concepcion. The Pinoy misses just about everything as Martinez simply turns his cheek from jabs (or lets them fall between his tucked chin and chest) and counters hard. Nice hook and right hand by Martinez, backs Concepcion into the ropes. Concepcion tries to stage a rally with his back still leaning into the foam and lands a few shots - but not enough to steal his first round.

60-54 Martinez

 

Round 7

Martinez chases Concepcion to the ropes but misses a couple of wide hooks, before straightening the left out and landing his jab. Concepcion has his hands down, staring intently at Martinez. Concepcion eats a big right hand and gets his hands up but keeps trying to swat at Martinez when the Mexican presents himself as a target coming in. Martinez is much better at moving his head and defending overall, and is able to land without getting hit much or at all. Nice right hand by Concepcion, his best of the night. Martinez isn't phased and stays right in close, jabbing in at his opponent. Martinez stays smart, bouncing in and out on his toes. Concepcion lands another big shot, a left hook but Martinez takes it very well. Martinez keeps backing Concepcion up and landing his own shots. Another lead right hand by Concepcion clips Martinez on the chin as he's pulling back. Martinez is showing ever so slight signs of tiring with these few shots finally landing for the Filipino.

70-63 but that was Bernabe's best round.

He needs a KO to win, but if the trend continues of Martinez's defense falling apart he just might get it.

 

Freddie Roach implores his man to go after Martinez and finish it.