PBC on Fox: Léodegario Santa Cruz vs. Rafael Alvarado Rivera & César Juárez vs. Ryōsuke Iwasa RBR

Seriously, the boxing gods couldn't have thrown us a bone and had this end on a 2nd round cut from a headbutt and go to a No Contest so we could get Juárez vs. Iwasa on TV?

 

Round 10

Santa Cruz is slowing his output but still almost doubling the production of Rivera. Santa Cruz is keeping his face buried in Rivera's chest and then vaulting himself off to exchange flurries, getting the best of it as he is simply getting more licks in. Rivera punching like a man underwater, in terms of both his volume & hand speed. Rivera still giving his all, staying in the pocket, and slugging as best he can despite clearly feeling the depth of the fight, and the maintained pace.

10-9 Santa Cruz

99-91 Santa Cruz

 

Halfway into the 11th, the Fox stat keepers have it 283-135 in favor of LSC, in connects.

 

Round 11

Santa Cruz is baiting Rivera, bending inward to jab the body, and then straightening up, pulling out, making Rivera lunge with his shots and picking him off with counters, almost exclusively using the jab, needling it against Rivera's face. Hard chopping flurries by Rivera surging forward, but Santa Cruz just turns him with a pivot while sticking the jab in his craw and then easily sliding his feet into position to sit & lie in wait to play the jabbing ambush game some more.

10-9 Santa Cruz

109-100 Santa Cruz

 

Round 12

Santa Cruz is jabbing like crazy, throwing at least one every second for nearly a half minute as he circumnavigates Rivera while keeping his right glove tucked up his over his chin and face turned away to his right & tilted downward. Rivera can't lay a single meaningful blow on him, tired as he is, and staring down that immense advantage in height & length. Not for lack of trying, however - Rivera is carrying both arms low and slipping the straight combos of Santa Cruz, but coming up from a deep evasive bend swinging, putting emphasis on his power shots even though none of them reach. Occasional left hooks on the hip land for Rivera, that's all. They slug it out in the final ten seconds after the warning clap.

10-9 Santa Cruz

119-109 Santa Cruz