FOTY! Agbeko and Perez

Good summary. This was a good fight, but I never had the FOTY feeling when I was watching it.

And I agree Perez won too, but very narrowly.

 

Fight of the year to me.

 

This was a very, very good fight. It was a nail biter going into the 12th. The fight started with Perez doing really well early on and getting the better of agbeko. However, as the mid rounds hit, it seems almost as if agbeko figured Perez out and started getting into the rhythm and made adjustments to come back. The momentum in the fight going into the mid late rounds was in agbeko's favor. At that point, I was pretty sure he was going to win it. However, after the clash of heads, it seemed Perez got second wind, and that point he refocuse to come back strong and edge it out at the end, IMO. There was a bit of everything; good back and forth action, some strategy, and controversy. What more could you want, besides a KO.

 

My suspicion is the only reason people aren't willing to entertain the idea of this as a FOTY or top candidate is the lack of drama in terms of one guy being hurt enough to nearly get stopped. Had either of these guys had anything less than superhuman punch resistance, I guarantee you there would have been drama - they are both big hitters, and threw bombs throughout. The commentators kind of touched on this point - "there are so many shots landing and at such a frenetic pace that you almost miss and get desensitized to the big ones". There were at least 100 highlight-reel-KO-worthy punches thrown. These guys just have, in addition to terrific offensive skill and natural power, INSANE chins. They shouldn't be penalized for that. :nono

People love drama, that's fine. These guys can't help it if they can take a punch too well to ever be in serious trouble! This was definitely FOTY or top 3, and if you're the type that gets bored watching guys not get KO'ed by daisycutters and IED's and thus unable to appreciate sustained action like this, that's your problem. People only think Lopez vs. Mtagwa belongs in the conversation because a heavy favorite was badly hurt and nearly stopped. Lack of that kind of drama aside, Perez vs. Agbeko was clearly the better and more entertaining fight.

 

I wish the fight was in a bigger venue with more people. I think the right guy won and would love to see a rematch.

 

Was this on showtime?

 

yea.

 

That was one of the craziest things while watching! My blood was absolutely boiling yet that meager little crowd was completely listless but for a few moments.

People who discount this as FOTY, as stated above, probably have very fickle and shallow reasons for thinking some ugly sloppy crap like Lopez vs. Mtagwa was better - a) the hot prospect getting buzzed by a big underdog and the suspense of wondering whether there'd be a violent KO upset and b) that NYC Boricua crowd was INTENSE and going much crazier for a far inferior fight than the sedated audience at Perez vs. Agbeko, creating a more exciting "atmosphere".

Watch both fights with the sound off, and knowing the outcome already, and try to tell me Lopez vs. Mtagwa was more entertaining. I dare you.

 

Dude. There's no need to attack people for having an opinion.
You are correct about the crowd though. That was the first thing I noticed when it became obvious that the styles matched.
Imho FOTY does need to have some drama/crowd interaction in it.

 

Wasn't attacking you personally, I'm just still in shock that some people have dismissed it and brought up Lopez vs. Mtagwa of all things as a clearer candidate. :yep

 

Matter of opinion man.I'm sensing some destain from you.

Each to their own.I agree with the guys who said Lopez-Mtagwa was better.
Not saying this wasn't.But everybody opinion.
I was the only guy who said Hernandez-Escobedo was a FOTY candidate due to the action,back and forth fight,big comeback by the old Famoso and the situation coming into the fight,atmosphere,etc but no one considers it.

 

Thing is, I was there (MSG Wamu Theater for Lopez vs. Mtagwa). It was a very exciting atmosphere, and for a very ugly and sloppy slugfest it was entertaining enough and I certainly didn't ask for my money back. Other than the drama, though (revolving around whether or not JuanMa would be starched) there really wasn't more action. There were far more momentum shifts, in terms of guys alternating rounds back and forth, between Perez and Agbeko.

The Escobedo fight was cool.

 

I disagree.I thought even without the last round Lopez-Mtagwa was a great fight especially in the second half of the fight when Juanma was getting caught more nad more.
Molitor-Ruiz had momentum shifts itself yet if you've seen it once you prolly won't ever try to see it again.

 

JMM-Diaz is still FOTY for me.

 

Yup. Same here