FS1: Jose Manuel Lopez vs. Mike Arnaoutis & Francisco Vargas vs. Jerry Belmontes RBR

Vargas is an exciting pug.

Belmontes is a solid defensive counter puncher, and has as good a single best win as Vargas (Daniel Diaz, who recently upset Robert Marroquin, is comparable with Brandon Bennett whom Vargas outfought this past summer on ShoBox in a 16-0 vs. 16-0 summit...)

 

Vargas could be the first to kayo Belmontes, or he could get schooled and cop his first loss.

Intriguing matchmaking.

 

WTF??? I guess sometime since his last bout in July, Belmontes got a job delivering pizzas and would eat his fill of free pie...and gained thirty pounds, which he needed to lose in three weeks for this. :scaredas: (per the commentators)

 

Round 1

Belmontes is standing just outside, jabbing at the head of Vargas. Belmontes is pushed into the ropes and slips a long barrage of lefts and rights, making short turns in either direction. Vargas is pressing in and shortening up his punches and lands with both hands on the face of Belmontes as he abandons the shoulder roll to try and melt off the ropes and sneak past Vargas. Belmontes backs out and jabs.

10-9 Vargas, put a stamp on it early in the last minute

 

Stats in the first

Vargas 20 of 80, 25%

Belmontes 13 of 43, 30%

 

Round 2

Belmontes is letting Vargas drop right hands on the top of his head, pigeon-bobbing in and out to slip around all of Vargas' straighter punches. Belmontes uses the ropes for support and buoyancy as Vargas pushes him into them. Belmontes drops his arms and tries slipping punches with head movement, but Vargas is simply throwing too many for that to be a good idea. Belmontes eats a jab but slips the next four punches, until Vargas finds him with a right. Belmontes steps in and jabs at the bell.

10-9 Vargas

20-18 Vargas

 

Round 3

Belmontes is staying in the pocket with Vargas, pushing into him with his shoulder and rotating above the waist. Vargas clubs with the right hand and slaps left hooks into Belmontes' face. Counter uppercuts by Belmontes, momentarily getting the better of the inside exchanges as he slips and smothers Vargas' work. Vargas shoves him out to mid-range and lands a couple of long right hands on the temple. Low blow by Belmontes. Point deduction. Belmontes is backing up and measuring with his jab. Vargas charges in past it and plants a right hand on him while Belmontes is thinking over his next move.

10-8 Vargas

30-26 Vargas

 

It seems like Jerry isn't completely here, mentally, tonight.

 

Stats through three:

Vargas 93 of 282, 33%

Belmontes 45 of 142, 32%

 

Yeah, if Golden Boy decided to make their FS1 programming a full-time Friday fixture they could really give ESPN2 a run for their money and make them step their game up...


It could be the Monday Night Wars of boxing.

Competition breeds excellence.

 

Round 4

Hard right by Vargas. Belmontes is leaning on Vargas, shoulder to shoulder and slapping over the top with left hooks. Vargas is waiting for Pat Russell to separate them and landing the right hand as Belmontes backs out. Belmontes is pinned on the ropes and covers up as Vargas drops in right hands on his guard and hooks the body. Uppercut by Vargas and shoeshines to the body by Belmontes up close. Slapping right by Belmontes blocked. Vargas steps forward collecting jabs on his forearms.

10-9 Vargas

40-35 Vargas

 

Yeah, when I heard that my initial worry was that the fast drain would cause him to wilt under Vargas' punching, but obviously not. :conf

That is the good news for Belmontes. The bad is that he isn't as slick as he thinks he is at point blank (and he seems to believe he is James Toney reincarnated...) and he is eating lots of flush shots to prove just how tough he is...which shouldn't be his goal here.