GBP TNF: D'Mitrius Ballard vs. Elias Nathaniel González Espada & Edilbert Gómez vs. Saúl Corral RBR

I bet if they put up the FB poll graphic, some idiots and/or trolls would still vote for Corral having won the 2nd.

 

Superb performance by E-Boy. I've always liked him, and refused to disembark from his bandwagon just because he "got exposed" and hit a rough patch (going 4-3 between his first loss to Chia Santana in 2014 and his most recent to Alejandro Barrera in 2017, with the blitz KO1 loss to Speedy Rashidi sandwiched between them in 2016).

 

Eddie getting emotional during his victory interview. His dad passed away six days before his last fight and he's still devastated by it. He's able to pull it together, wipe away his tears and give his team credit.

Have I mentioned I really like this kid?

 

Gómez says he is ready for whoever, underdog/B-side or no, he'll take a Rashidi Ellis rematch and thinks he can avenge that loss, he wants Thomas Dulorme, anybody can get this smoke... "I've got a family I've gotta take care of, let's get it on.."

 

tbf, as E-Boy himself points out, he got up from three knockdowns and kept on coming even though he got waved off by the ref against Ellis...and, tonight he outshone him with a common opponent. Ellis stopped Corral in 7 rounds in October...

B-Hop even says "they both aren't the same fighter they were three years ago...I'd love to see a rematch now."

 

Final stats:

Jabs
Gómez 6 of 35, 17%
Corral 2 of 38, 5%

Power
Gómez 21 of 40, 52.5%
Corral 2 of 25, 7%

 

D'Mitrius Ballard vs. Elias Nathaniel González Espada, 10 rounds @ middleweight

 

"The Latin Kid" is coming off a mild upset over Gabriel Roberto "Drago" López Torres this spring, and before that a close UD loss to Yamaguchi Falcão last July.

"Big Meech" is 20-0 (13) and has previously fought at light heavy & super middle. This is his MW debut.

 

Round 1

Ballard is peering between his wrists as Espada heel-toes around from corner to corner, both holding their lanky frames up tall and reaching in with jabs cautiously. When they finally both swing their bodies around to simultaneously put in straight punches, with Ballard loading up an uppercut downstairs as he bends the lead knee - their heads clash sharply, and Espada has a cut dripping from the hairline already. BIG left hook from Ballard coming off the ropes, buoying his lower spine off them for extra snap.

10-9 Ballard, cinched an otherwise airtight tentative feel-out starter in the final ten seconds.

 

Hard to say how badly hurt Espada was there, as the bell rang almost immediately after he got shaken up.

 

Round 2

Ballard is flashing a quick hook across the beard as Espada hurls right hands at him from mid-range. Ballard scoring a bit more cleanly although both are just grazing at this point, very scrappy, neither fully committing to step inside. Long jabs traded both ways. Ballard starts to come forward. Lots of feints. Espada popped on the nose with a jab backing straight up and crouching, head tilted back involuntarily. Espada trying to time a counter jab but Ballard too quick for him. Quick lead right rocks Espada, and Ballard tries swooping in with a follow-up left hook but flaps it, not turning it over solidly, and Espada is able to slink away. Ballard flashing the jab in Espada's face. They step together and swap hooks, Espada's landing with more authority.

10-9 Ballard

20-18 Ballard

 

Espada came damn close to stealing the second the way Ballard stole the first.

 

This is going to be stopped on the cut, I think... physician on the apron. They let round three start...

 

Anyone just tuning in - that isn't some intentional paint-splatter type of pattern on the front of Espada's trunks...all of that is blood from his scalp...