FPI: Vincenzo Picardi vs. Cristian Zara & Leonardo Balli vs. Daniel Evaristo Quiróz Muñoz RBR

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@CST80 @IntentionalButt @Serge @kirk @Rumsfeld @McGrain @The Professor @Sammy123 @PinoyProdigy @Drinquor @Drew101 @Chuck Norris @KiwiMan @UnleashtheFURY @lewis gassed @Russell @Boxing Prospect @mirkofilipovic @lepinthehood @JordanK2406 @Pimp C @Willie Maeket @Robney @f1ght3rz @Somachenko @Max Thunder @Reg @Bustajay @nellybc @Kapparino @pistal47 @eltirado @HamburgBuam @GK BOX @escudo @rorschach51 @MVC! @latineg @BigBone @Ukansodoff @Loudon @dinovelvet @pincai @bandeedo @C.J. @Boxed Ears @robert ungurean @Power_tek @Dance84 @RockyMarciano @George Crowcroft @roughdiamond @Leoh @SladeW @Perkin Warbeck @Rock0052 @Holler @PaddyGarcia @ShovelHook @Jake LaMotta @Inglis_1 @Pakkuman @Goose @miniq @sasto @Wizbit1013 @BaronSamedi @sniffmybadger @FrankinDallas @Accurate @kiwi_boxer @JOKER

...how's that for a clarion roll-call?

 

Huh, they keep kicking the can down the road, as far as start time. Tim Boxeo originally had it (on his excellent boxing calendar, seek him out on Twitter/Stanza/Google) as 1pm EST, but after posting that embedded link above I saw it said 2pm...and now has been pushed out even further, 2:30pm EST.

 

Leonardo Balli vs. Daniel Evaristo Quiróz Muñoz, 6 rounds @ super middleweight

 

Quiróz Muñoz walking out to Maiden?? I might have an underdog rooting interest now..

edit: wait, Balli also entering to metal. Italian boxing rules!

 

Round 1

We've got southpaw versus southpaw here. Balli has the black and gold trunks and, perhaps surprisingly, darker complexion (as Quiróz Muñoz, in the purple and white, hails originally from Cuba). Messy start, both winging lefts off the rear hip and yanking themselves off balance and nearly into faceplants. Some awkward clinches between spurts of frenetic action. Balli down from a stray left! He's up but has a bloody nose and seems a little disoriented. Quiróz Muñoz pours it on - and get the upset stoppage!

KO1!

 

Balli came in 3-0-2. Quiróz Muñoz hadn't fought in two years, and improves to now 2-1.

 

There's now I guess an intermission?

 

I just clicked through wondering if maybe the main event already happened, but no. They're just leaving it on the interstitial graphic instead of having the cameras just show an empty ring with dead air or the commentators awkwardly running short on anything to say during the long and probably unexpected wait following that blitz KO in the co-main. They did what sounded like a sign-off "for now" about 25 minutes ago. If this were over (like Picardi or Zara pulled out last minute) the broadcast would've just been terminated.

 

They did a sound check briefly, thought we might be coming back to live action soon, but...not quite yet.

 

Vincenzo Picardi vs. Cristian Zara, 10 rounds @ bantamweight

 

This is for the Italian national title at 118lbs, second defense of longtime amateur star, Olympic bronze medalist and WSB veteran Picardi (who nabbed this belt on just his sophomore professional outing).

Oh and somebody's 0 has got to go!!

Zara, the southpaw challenger, 23, is 14 years the champion's junior.

 

Round 1

Picardi stalking and jabbing, showing one high and instead going for the belly of Zara, who, interestingly, starts the context boxing orthodox. Weird stance by Zara, not quite on his toes nor flat, sort of balancing on the insoles, and nearly squared up but from a diagonal angle back and to Picardi's left. Very touch-and-go feel out round, both cautious. Picardi had some moments of aggression early on that probably net it for him (although it also brought some messy entanglements and stumbling).

10-9 Picardi

 

Round 2

Picardi now switches to southpaw, wtf is this Parent Trap nonsense? Somebody just tuning in now and glancing at Boxrec would probably get their identities confused. I just reopened a Google tab and checked their faces to be 100% sure myself. Picardi alternating back and forth, showing equal competency setting the pace with either hand in front, swatting at Zara with high combos off the jab and chasing him out with body shots on the break after the referee calls for an to Zara's clinches. Picardi traps Zara in the corner and belts him with a few line drives on the head but Zara is able to change positions on him and score a few times himself. They grab and spin each other, both winding up on their asses by the bottom rope.

10-9 Picardi

20-18 Picardi

 

Picardi fighting like he wants to make a statement and notch his second professional stoppage. Zara not seeming particularly keen to get his fourth (in eight contests), so much as to just weather the storm here.