Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Orlando Salido & Luis Cruz vs. Martin Honorio RBR

Round 1

They rotate in the middle of the ring, both tentative. They look very evenly matched physically...very similar builds (to go with the same shoes, similarly short haircuts, and same length/color trunks...causing the commentators to joke about telling them apart). Their jabs are about even, as well. Mendoza throws a 1-2 but Barrera ducks off to the side. Barrera tries a few body shots. Mostly they're just circling and cautiously jabbing. Barrera gets in a corner and unloads a few clips into Mendoza's stomach. Barrera clubs his way in and winds up with his arms draped over the ducking Mendoza. The ref warns Barrera for unintentional rabbit punches. Big right hand by Barrera makes just incidental contact but catches Mendoza's attention.

10-9 Sullivan Barrera

 

Both have got big power. :good

 

Round 2

Mendoza leans in and doubles his jab. Barrera is throwing his 1-2 hard and true. Mendoza plods forward carefully, staying tall and keeping his hands up. Barrera starts pouring punches on him, pushing him nearly to the ropes. Nice stiff jab straight between the gloves by Barrera. Sweeping left hook by Barrera misses and pulls him off balance. Mendoza takes short steps back and to the left. Barrera keeps lining up the 1-2 with big power and is shaking Mendoza up even though a lot of them are getting blocked. Barrera jabs low and high, but from too far out. Mendoza tries to lure him to the ropes. Barrera leads with a right hand and gets tied up. More warning for rabbit punches, a lot of ducking on the inside going on. Barrera on the verge of a point deduction. They duel with jabs, and Barrera puts a right cross through. Barrera gets Mendoza on the ropes and works him over with short punches up high and a nice little uppercut.

20-18 SB

 

Round 3

Barrera pushes Mendoza back with strong jabs and rights to the body. Mendoza tries to bend over to his left and spring up with a left hook to greet Barrera coming in but winds up just clinching him. Barrera doing some really nice body work, landing all along the belt line. The commentators point out that Mendoza's trunks are way too high, and the referee had acknowledged it during the introductions. Just on the beltline is therefore determined to be an acceptable scoring area for Barrera. Nice left hook by Mendoza, finally landing well and getting in a big right hand! They clinch and Barrera doesn't want to let go. Barrera comes back with his 1-2 working, and knocks Mendoza back with a blocked right hand. Mendoza gets a bit negative, staying outside and dropping over at the waist...tying up when Barrera charges in.

Mendoza had the best punch of the round.

29-28 Barrera

 

Round 4

Barrera comes out swinging hard. Nonstop. Mendoza is pushed into the corner and made to hug. Barrera again revs up the gattling gun. Mendoza tries to turn his right side in and stop Barrera in his tracks with an uppercut. They fight out of a clinch. Barrera slips a jab and lands his own, then keeps the volley going as he knocks Mendoza into the ropes. Barrera is outlanding him about 5-1 between the clinches, which are getting more frequent. Mendoza misses a wild leaping hook and Barrera pivots out of the way and lands a nice uppercut. Barrera landing well to the body, lots of hooks. Barrera is straying a bit low with his shots now, well under that high belt line. Mendoza is again pushed into the corner.

Barrera doesn't get the KO.

39-37 SB

 

According to the commentators, Mendoza walked up to Barrera after the bell to end the 4th and said "Man, you hit really damn hard" and they both laughed. :yep

 

All three judges have it 40-36 for Sullivan "El Ciclon De Guantanamo" Barrera.

(yes he has the same nickname as Yuriorkis Gamboa)

 

Even though the first two went the distance, these are flying by.

Fun stuff.

Next up is the last 4-rounder, Jonathan Gonzalez vs. Elvin Caldero - super flyweights.

Then four 6-rounders, and then it's SHOWTIME!!! :happy