Ricardo Espinoza Franco vs. Ricardo Adolfo Núñez Pérez & Derrieck Cuevas vs. Edward Paredes RBR

En la entrega de Boxeo Telemundo de esta semana.

(yes, this is on 10½ hour delay...but I had some pipe to lay. Thank goodness for DVR...)

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@f1ght3rz posted the results for both matches (in spoiler tags) in the respective poll threads, but I still have no idea what happened on the card; viewing with fresh eyes as though it were currently 11:35pm EST last night..

Here are the preview threads:
Derrieck Anthony Cuevas vs. Edward Vidal Paredes
Ricardo Adolfo Núñez Pérez vs. Ricardo Espinoza Franco

 

Ricardo Espinoza Franco vs. Ricardo Adolfo Núñez Pérez, 10 rounds @ bantamweight

 

WBO Latino bantamweight title at stake - but for Espinoza (the incumbent) only; Núñez missed the limit by four pounds.

 

Round 1

Núñez is throwing lead rights up top and getting countered with a flutter of left jabs on the face, and then doubled over as Espinoza drives in and scores uppercuts on the abdomen. Núñez looking physically very weak, tossed around like a leaf in the wind even when blocking shots, and forcibly moved backwards or folded in half by every combo Espinoza throws downstairs - and much of his natural pop & hand speed from his prime seems to be greatly diminished. Espinoza keeps the pressure on all round and seems on the verge of dropping Núñez with body shots a few times, but the veteran is able to lean in and support himself by attaching to his opponent like a barnacle.

10-9 Espinoza

 

Round 2

Núñez is looking for his rhythm with the 1-2, but in the meantime is getting smacked on the cheekbone with counter rights, Espinoza sniping from mid-range, or bashed on the lip by a stiff jab as Espinoza steps in. On the inside, Núñez again is getting the worst of it as Espinoza keeps busily uppercutting him in the middle. Núñez wobbling dizzily as he pushes free of the pocket and throws flurries. VERY low hand speed from Núñez, like he just donated blood. Like a man punching underwater. Espinoza is no Flash himself, but he's easily beating Núñez to the punch in every exchange. Núñez getting clipped with some left hooks up top, but absorbing them fairly well - it's those uppercuts on the body from Espinoza that are visibly hurting him. Núñez doing his best to trade with Espinoza but is outgunned. He clinches and weakly shoeshines the belly at the ten second clap.

10-9 Espinoza

20-18 Espinoza

 

Round 3

Núñez is starting to keep his distance now, belatedly realizing he shouldn't tussle with Espinoza on the inside. Núñez lobbing out a jab to keep a bead on Espinoza while hugging the perimeter, up on his toes. Espinoza diving in with torpedo rights on the body, not quite reaching. 1-2 up top by Espinoza, missing over the shoulders as Núñez ducks in and grabs him. Short quick glancing left hook by Espinoza, scratches the bridge of the nose of Núñez and makes him blink as he's circling away. Otherwise no meaningful punches halfway into the round. Espinoza fakes a jab to make Núñez duck and catches him on the face with a well-timed uppercut. Núñez bouncing around, throwing jabs, mostly skidding off the jawline or throat of Espinoza, if not caught on his gloves. Lots of clinching by Núñez. Looping right by Espinoza, falling just short as Núñez skips around him.

10-9 Espinoza, closer

30-27 Espinoza

 

I feel like this is heading for a disaster ending for Núñez, but I can't bring myself to just check the result...I'm going to watch all the way until the bitter end hoping to will him (reaching somehow back across the currents of time) onto victory. And if he does pull the upset I'm going to credit myself with having contributed in spirit, even it ex post facto.

 

Round 4

Núñez is pushing his jab out against Espinoza's face but unable to fend him off for long. When he does manage to stall him longer than a second, it has more to do with Núñez leaving his left arm extended like a push-pole than with Espinoza being wary of the jab when actually snapped as such. Espinoza is grinding his way in, landing body uppercuts in short bursts, then pursuing Núñez across the ring and walking through jabs willingly, showing no respect for them, nor the odd right cross that Núñez is able to muster on the backfoot. Espinoza clips Núñez on the chin with the occasional glancing left hook, but has yet to place one squarely on the button, as Núñez is always moving backwards and/or laterally/diagonally.

10-9 Espinoza

40-36 Espinoza

 

Round 5

Núñez is knocked off balance as Espinoza runs him down and stuffs in a jab on his open mouth, like a roast suckling pig adorned with a garnishing apple. Espinoza is content to score a little and then play the waiting game, diving in with a right on the body or trotting up to Núñez with a dusting of jabs up top, and then not forcing things or wasting energy, just going slack when Núñez initiates a clinch, waiting for the ref to come in and order a separation. Espinoza is landing the only shots of any substance, as Núñez is never setting his feet as he flies around the ring meting out light jabs.

10-9 Espinoza

50-45 Espinoza

 

The unofficial Boxeo Telemundo commentators' scorecard has it a 50-45 shutout for Espinoza halfway through. Really no way to see it otherwise, even if you were a raging Núñez fan-boy (wouldn't go that far myself, though I do like/am rooting for him) or Panamanian nationalist.

 

Round 6

Núñez is getting hurt by a HUGE bombardment of twisting-at-the-waist hooking concatenation by Espinoza. Núñez countering desperately with uppercuts on the face and belt line standing in the pocket, shoving in against Espinoza, bucking his shoulder into the chest, trying every rough trick he can to wear the Mexican down with physicality other than via clean punching (in which arena Espinoza is clearly the master tonight). A couple of borderline low blows from Núñez unseen by the ref, pulling out all the stops. He bends forward and throws his arms wide around Espinoza's waist and headbutts directly into his junk, to no avail. The ref doesn't penalize him but Espinoza must have a sturdy cup as he just kept banging the body until he managed to peel Núñez off him.

10-9 Espinoza

60-54 Espinoza

 

Round 7

Núñez is starting to execute some daredevil moves now, keeping his arms down and then jumping in with jabs and two-pieces. The bravery is admirable, not to mention effective in spots - but Espinoza is still clattering hooks off the very tip of Núñez's chin as he's between punches or as he's on his way out to reset. Espinoza still getting in a few licks downstairs, but not as many as before. Núñez keeping up constant movement, but no longer just fleeing outright - now bounding in and spiraling in close by Espinoza, jumping everywhere, letting his fists go, taking chances, getting countered but getting his own in as well.

10-9 Espinoza, close

70-63 Espinoza

 

If you're looking hard for a Núñez pity round so far, that would've been it. Espinoza has a bloody nose.