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

Round 5

Belmontes is ducking and rising with left hooks on the outside and then stepping to his right, almost into a corner, reversing to his left and sticking a jab, but unable to get away from Vargas' relentless pressure and body combinations. Straight head volleys by Vargas and Belmontes is rolling his shoulders and slipping punches on the ropes. Belmontes is able to leave a jab out, timing Vargas before he steps forward so that Vargas walks into it and skewers himself. Belmontes is pounded on the stomach by a few hard straight rights by Vargas while turning his hips on the ropes.

10-9 Vargas

50-44 Vargas

 

Round 6

Belmontes is flipping jabs up into Vargas' guard. Belmontes shuffles to his left and ducks, leaping out when Vargas comes forward hooking and clapping in high rights on the head. Vargas is pushing Belmontes around the ring landing body punches. Clinch by Belmontes. Pat Russell warns him for using the head on the inside. Belmontes is jabbing the body bending his lead knee in and then springing back to get moving on the outside.

10-9 Vargas

60-53 Vargas

 

Stats through six:

Vargas 156 of 557, 28%

Belmontes 84 of 291, 29%

 

Round 7

Belmontes is getting hit on the ropes and grinning down at Vargas but not throwing much back. Belmontes is rolling his upper body on the inside, shoving into Vargas with both arms and poking jabs before leaning back in to close ranks and press onto him again. Vargas is landing the left hook downstairs under Belmontes' guard and then losing right hands and left hooks into the guard while going for the head, then landing the left hook downstairs again. That is all he's getting clean.

10-9 Vargas

70-62 Vargas

 

The FS1 commentator has it 69-63 to Vargas.

 

Round 8

Belmontes is getting jabbed in the sternum and swerving his face expertly around the right hands of Vargas. Beautiful defense on the outside by Belmontes, but no counter punches. Big left hook by Vargas, clipped the ear of Belmontes as he raises his right arm partially in the way. Vargas jabs Belmontes in the chest to nudge him back a step and then comes forward swarming with flurries. Belmontes rolls and swizzle-sticks his upper body on the outside, hands down and chin up in the air, boldly daring Vargas to hit him.

10-9 Vargas

80-71 Vargas

 

Round 9

Belmontes is showing active footwork now, using jabs and feints to back Vargas up. Belmontes is pressuring with his left arm down by his side, using lots of side to side, to and fro, up and down movement. Quick left hook leads by Belmontes countering when Vargas opens up. Vargas clearly has run short on gas or at the very least decided he needs the ninth off to recuperate, his output decimated compared with the first eight. Belmontes is dancing in and out landing pot shot hooks and jabs.

10-9 Belmontes

89-81 Vargas

 

"Gabriel Rosado ‏@KingGabRosado 1 minute ago
Belmontes puts to much trust into his defense & it isn't so great."

When the Good Boy says that about you...

 

Round 10

Belmontes is still claiming the center of the ring. Belmontes is sticking jabs up from the hip into Vargas' face. Lead right by Vargas, ducked and countered. Belmontes is shuffling to his left and backhanding out double jabs, grazing as Vargas tosses a wide right hand. Vargas tries clubbing Belmontes up close with right hands as Belmontes ducks and scurries away, but misses. Belmontes is doubling the jab on the back foot, casually dancing around Vargas as though he were cruising with a big lead as opposed to being down big as he surely ought to be.

10-9 Belmontes

98-91 Vargas

 

Final stats:

Vargas 232 of 864, 27%

Belmontes 128 of 424, 30%

 

Official cards:

Fritz Werner 100-89
Thomas Hale 100-89
Max DeLuca 100-89

UD for Francisco Vargas

 

One commentator agreed with the shutout; the other agreed with my 98-91 Vargas. (except he gave Belmontes the 1st where I didn't and not the last round where I did; we both gave him the 9th)