Omar Andres Narvaez vs. Everth Briceno RBR

A pretty good 160lb scrap just finished up between Alejandro Falliga and Jorge Heiland - knockdowns traded back and forth throughout (good enough to keep me checking in between rounds of Khan-Malignaggi...it may have actually been more competitive and exciting than either of HBO's 140lb offerings). The best way I can describe it is like if Michael Katsidis and Jhonny Gonzalez were both natural middleweights and met up.

The one with the Katsidis-like physique and style (Heiland) won a UD, and remains undefeated.

The main event is up momentarily.

 

Everth Briceno walking in now. He's gone the distance with Montiel. He looks calm, and a little big for a super flyweight.

 

Narvaez soaking in the crowd worship. He has a cowboy-flavored entrance theme mixed with what's probably Argentine folk music.

 

Round 1

Narvaez immediately toes the line in the middle of the ring. Briceno tries a couple of jabs but doesn't close in with Narvaez. They circle to the left (away from Narvaez's power). Narvaez dusts off his 1-2, his sense of range is a bit off. He keeps up his shield and menaces Briceno from just out of reach. He crouches and tries to hit him from an upward angle. The 1-2 finally lands for Narvaez after he backs completely out and steps in with it, really pushing the jab through to set up the left cross. They both paw jabs down the stretch.

Narvaez by a slight edge. Feeling out round.

10-9

 

Yeah. :yep

 

Round 2

Briceno trying to make a statement with his jab but obviously wary of the power of Narvaez. They circle in the middle of the ring, still clockwise (to the left). Briceno tries a 1-2 down low and hits elbow. Narvaez is holding back offensively, looking for a spot. He chases Briceno back with a couple of jabs. Briceno tries to find a target beneath the elbows of the shorter Narvaez but can't quite reach with his bodyjabs. Briceno has a counter jab slipped after Narvaez fell a few inches shy with his own. So far there isn't much to choose from offensively. Briceno may have nicked this one just by being a bit busier.

19-19

 

Round 3

Briceno runs across the ring and tries to pin Narvaez on the ropes with a double jab and right hand. Narvaez nimbly dodges the attack and begins to stalk on the outside. There is a clash of heads - the second in as many rounds. Narvaez complains, as he did in the 2nd, and the ref speaks to them both. Briceno lets his hands go a bit but isn't landing as Narvaez simply steps away from his long, arcing punches. Briceno has considerable advantages in height and reach but is a bit gangly and awkward. Narvaez lands a couple of hard punches straight down the middle and gets the crowd going. Briceno tries to tie Narvaez up with one hand and hit with the other. Narvaez punches his way out. Narvaez now pressing forward, body-feinting and throwing check-swing hooks to fake Briceno out and then firing a straight left down the pipe. Narvaez now putting punches together in combination and getting cheers. Briceno on the defensive.

29-28 Narvaez

 

Round 4

Briceno goes for a high hook and ends up with his arm landing on top of Narvaez's head. Narvaez hits him as he pulls back. Briceno tries to work the body but Narvaez is swatting at him, discouraging him. Narvaez is missing a lot but landing enough to keep Briceno moving backward. Narvaez almost lands a flush left cross but is countered with a jab to the jaw. Narvaez again tries the left up high on his taller opponent. Briceno simply shrinks away from it. Narvaez jabs at Briceno and runs in behind his extended jab to impose his left hand on him. Briceno is losing his balance every few moments; not the best at fighting backwards (which he has to). Narvaez flurries hard at the bell and Briceno comes back swinging with his own tenacity, trying to back up as he does to get full extension.

Good fight.

39-37 Narvaez

 

That would be a very good fight. They're both getting older (both 34) so it would need to be soon.

 

Round 5

Narvaez walks Briceno down with his jab. In close, he is converting his multiple jabs into short hooks. Briceno has a point deducted. There were warnings for butts (it's mostly accidental, due to their body types and styles). Narvaez waits in the center of the ring for Briceno to come in with a lead right or jab and begins firing with both fists in succession. When Briceno puts his own head down during these advances it results in slight head clashes. Narvaez complains again about another bump. Briceno goes down, on a slip. Briceno now shuffling straight back. Narvaez punching his way after him. A hard flurry bounces Briceno off the ropes. Briceno tries to let his own hands go but he is stifled by how close Narvaez is to him.

49-45 Omar Narvaez with the point deduction

 

Round 6

Briceno comes out looking "hulked up" - very tight, his shoulders hunched, not making himself a very long target. He tries to swipe at Narvaez with shorter chopping punches. Narvaez just ignores his offense, walks through it, and stuffs a jab in Briceno's face. Narvaez tries to fight his way off the ropes but his arms are folded up uselessly as Narvaez pounds at him. Narvaez chases Briceno from one corner diagonally across the ring to the other with a sequence of hard punches. Another slight butt, and Narvaez palms his forehead and rolls his eyes at the ref. Narvaez jabbing in on Briceno, trying to land a big left. Briceno sloppy on his feet but managing to get away from the power shots, barely. Briceno throws a 1-2 and stumbles back awkwardly. Narvaez grabs Briceno's arms as he's trying to work inside and hits him in the chest.

59-54 Narvaez

 

Round 7

Briceno hurt by an early left hand. Narvaez comes at him with an unrelenting barrage. Briceno able to backpedal out of reach. Narvaez waits patiently, and jabs at Briceno. Briceno has his legs back and tries to hammer at Narvaez with whipping long-arm shots. Narvaez times one with another left that gets a hoot out of the crowd. Narvaez is cut, probably from a headbutt, and the ref calls a pause to have the doctor take a look. The replay shows a clear butt - unintentional, though. Narvaez continues, and greets Briceno with a triple hook to the cheekbone. Briceno is trying to throw an arm-punch here and there and keep his distance. Narvaez is trying to figure out the best plan of attack to get in on a now-retreating Briceno.

69-63 Narvaez

He could have had a 10-8 round had he been able to pin Briceno on the ropes when he had him hurt.

 

Round 8

Briceno jabs several times, trying to control the center of the ring. He throws a 1-2-1 combination. Narvaez lets him have the space for a moment, then squats down and comes at him low. Narvaez jabbing up and down now, and Briceno pushing a jab and right hand to simply keep Narvaez at bay. Briceno tries ducking down to make a smaller target, and Narvaez charges in with a left hand that straightens him right out. Narvaez pestering Briceno with his jab now. Briceno trying to throw a blanket on him by falling in and on top of Narvaez, but Narvaez simply backstepping and continuing to jab. The ref takes yet another point from Briceno for the frequent head clashes (which are initiated by him ducking down and coming in headfirst, although it doesn't seem to be purposeful).

79-71 Narvaez