Matchroom: Brandon Lee Ríos vs. Armando Humberto Soto Ochoa RBR

Round 8

Ríos is playing the bass drum on Soto's belly, and then hooking up into the sides of his neck. Quick flashy combos by Soto escaping from the ropes, but they're having no effect on Ríos, who keeps steamrolling him from one set of ropes to another, constantly landing body shots. NICE double left hook on the ribs from Soto, lightning-quick as he leans deeply to his left, but he can't shake Ríos. Big dig on the right side by Ríos before the bell.

10-9 Ríos, close

78-74 Soto

 

Assuming that Soto manages to survive (and not visit the canvas) but doesn't manage to get a second wind, this is heading for a classic "tale of two halves" draw on my card.

 

Yeah, worth noting the judges could well be swayed in the close rounds by the legion screaming "ZORR-IT-A!!" in unison in the crowd..

 

Round 9

Ríos is billygoating into the chest of Soto, leaving his dome pressed against the elder man's sternum as he sucks wind and shoeshines into the stomach while stalling for time until he can muster up the fuel to start hooking or chopping up top. Soto is countering well off the ropes, and sometimes dropping his gloves to a folded position over his crotch while using neck gyrations to slip punches, but again, he can't pull off the slickness in execution quite as well as he probably theorized internally. Regardless of these defensive shortcomings, a HUGE surge in the final minute from Soto easily pulls him ahead in terms of points, landing several right hands bang on the chin.

10-9 Soto

88-83 Soto