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

Round 8

Núñez is spoiling now, jogging in reverse, making Espinoza chase after him, missing with big left hooks leads up top. Núñez ducking the right hand, jabbing the body, grabbing Espinoza, then spinning out. Núñez clasping his forearms onto Espinoza's upper back, yanking him in close by the underarms, preventing him from having any leverage to divert to body punches. Núñez ducking in and swapping uppercuts on the body with Espinoza. Núñez actually managing to entirely throw a damper on Espinoza's headhunting offense, lots of quick bends forward or to either side and timely clinches.

10-9 Núñez

79-73 Espinoza

 

Espinoza's tank apparently not equipped for these deep waters. Turns out maybe Núñez was playing a long con and game-planning for a late KO! Big if, but if he pulls it off this is a brilliant victory!

 

Round 9

Núñez is ducking in to stifle the big hacking right hand of Espinoza, never getting hit with his knuckles but sometimes taking his forearm on the flat of his nose while grabbing - still hurtful, but not a clean legal scoring blow. Núñez is landing jabs, looping rights, and quick hooks off the hip from outside. Núñez stumbling a few steps to psyche out Espinoza, making him think he's flagging by the ropes, then jumping in the air, landing next to him and pummeling the body, then grabbing and shaking him in a tight hold, further sapping Espinoza's strength.

10-9 Núñez, unbelievably clawing his way back into this (in terms of competitiveness, although he remains in a deep hole and needs a bunch of knockdowns on my card, if not a KO)

88-83 Espinoza

 

Round 10

Núñez is still playing with fire, jumping in & out, hands down, throwing first - leaving Espinoza time & room to counter, sitting inert, lying in wait, measuring Núñez, playing a little possum - and BAM, there's a giant left hook. Núñez rocked badly. He dances to either side but can't escape, with Espinoza sniping from where he stands, rotating his turrets and firing with right hand leads and left hooks. Núñez's head getting bobbled around. Espinoza pushes him across the ring. Some more hooks. Núñez sagging. Ref in!

TKO10!!

 

You know what? Props to Matemático, he deserves respect. Yes, what he tried in those last few rounds got him knocked out - but it was also his last best (only) chance to win. I like that he chose to go out on his shield instead of sprinting to a shutout loss with his tail between his legs.

 

Oh man, wtf!!!! Boxeo Telemundo apparently didn't air the co-main event - instead televising Hairon Socarrás vs. Carlos Ruiz, a super featherweight eight-rounder. (I fast-forward all the way through hoping to see if maybe it ended prematurely to leave time for at least Cuevas vs. Paredes highlights...nope. Socarrás took a UD, 77-75 x2 and 79-73)

 

Anyway, it was a UD for Cuevas.

 

Here, for anyone that either missed (and forgot to DVR) this, or doesn't have Telemundo:

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