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

Josesito got JTFD by a shot fighter. (albeit a shot fighter who's spent the last six years in vehement denial about being shot and doesn't fight like it :yep)

 

The 3rd was actually a very close round anyway. I had typed up "10-9 Lopez, 30-27 Lopez" already but it was no whitewash. He seemed to have only just shaded it before - zing! Jab knockdown at the bell.

 

Stats through three:

Lopez 33 of 211, 16%
Arnaoutis 32 of 129, 25%

 

Round 4

Arnaoutis is sticking his right jab out from long range, tickling Lopez with it. Lopez drops inside, leaned forward, firing up the hard right hand lead past Arnaoutis' jab. Lopez is slipping the right jab of Arnaoutis and faking with the left jab before tossing in the right cross. Arnaoutis is circling left, curling his right arm by his ribcage and changing directions, making Lopez miss a 1-2 lunging in to pin Arnaoutis on the ropes. Jab on the body by Lopez, jab up top by Arnaoutis.

10-9 Lopez

38-37 Lopez

 

Round 5

Arnaoutis is circling in close with Lopez, exchanging short compact straight combos with him. Arnaoutis has some reddening about his face. Both men are parrying and sidestepping the jab. Arnaoutis is getting in the left cross flush as he turns Lopez, stepping outside his lead foot. 1-2 by Lopez stepping in. Flurry on the face by Lopez, sealing it.

10-9 Lopez

48-46 Lopez

 

Stats in the fifth:

Lopez 15 of 79, 19%

Arnaoutis 11 of 43, 26%

 

Round 6

Arnaoutis is flashing out double right jabs into Lopez's face, falling short with them as Lopez sinks away but setting up the right hook and left hand combo that is Arnaoutis' true aim. Lopez is starting to jab with his left but getting shushed by Arnaoutis' right jab, beating him on the draw. Sloppy 1-2 by Lopez stumbling in, blocked. Left hand by Arnaoutis. Right hook. Another left hand by Arnaoutis circling around Lopez. Long 1-2 shot up from a deep forward lean by Lopez, caught on the gloves.

10-9 Arnaoutis

57-56 Lopez

 

It would be epic if Mighty Mike could pull this off at this stage of his career - but of course it would really suck for the Riverside Rocky and perhaps be a part of the catalyst of his unraveling...

 

Round 7

Arnaoutis is sticking the right jab and backing up as Lopez applies some consistent pressure behind his left jab. Arnaoutis is getting caught by right hands on the navel and the gob. BIG shoveled rights on the body and left hooks by Lopez coming forward. Arnaoutis is unable to find Lopez's head with the left while stepping around him like he did in the sixth.

10-9 Lopez

67-65 Lopez

 

Stats through seven:

Lopez 95 of 521, 18%

Arnaoutis 80 of 319, 25%

 

Round 8

Arnaoutis is pushed into the ropes and clubbed across the back with right hands by Lopez. Arnaoutis is jabbing straight and sharp and backing up, drawing Lopez into left hand traps. Arnaoutis is scoring well countering with the left as Lopez comes inside. Head clash. Arnaoutis is bleeding profusely. Lopez is putting up a 1-2 as Arnaoutis lands a right hook and steps through with a left cross. Punches being exchanged on an even keel, both mixing in dart tosses on the body. BIG right hand by Lopez on the button, through Arnaoutis' gloves.

10-9 Lopez

77-74 Lopez

 

Arnaoutis is asked if he can see, and he says he can but not through his left eye.

 

They are stopping it on the cut.

We are going to a technical decision.

 

Go now, while Mister Tally-man is tallying me banana. :bananamaniac