RingCityUSA/NBC Sports Net: Jelena Mrdjenovich vs. Erika Rosalba Cruz Hernández RBR

Little fanfare around this card, already balls-deep into the co-main.

Live stream (if you happen to be a logged-in subscriber of NBCSN, and on a computer but not in front of a TV for some reason - like myself, at work and slacking off because anything goes on evening shift, baby ) here:
http://stream.nbcsports.com/nbcsn/generic?pid=2014988

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...how's that for a clarion roll-call?

 

Underway, a few rounds left:

Bobirzhan Mominov vs. Angel Oswaldo Ruiz Astorga, 8 rounds @ welterweight

 

The main event features boxing's undisputed queen of rematches in a sixth defense of her WBA female world featherweight title.

Mrdjenovich's track record versus repeat opponents:

1. Olga Heron (beat via MD in 2003, rematched twice, both UD victories)
2. Olivia Gerula (beat via KO in 2004, rematched twice, losing a UD and then knocking her out again in the rubber match)
3. Tracy Carlton (beat via UD in 2004, and knocked out the following year)
4. Layla McCarter (lost a UD in 2005, avenged via UD a few months later, and lost a SD in the rubber in 2008)
5. Franchesca Alcanter (beat via TKO in 2005, and then stopped again the following year)
6. Ann Saccurato (lost a SD in 2006, and then lost a UD in the rematch in 2009)
7. Belinda Laracuente (beat via UD in 2007, and then again in 2012)
8. Fujin Raika (beat via UD in 2007, and then again in 2011)
9. Dominga Olivo (drew against in 2007, and knocked her out in 2010)
10. Lindsay Garbatt (lost via SD in 2010 and then via MD in 2011, but finally got revenge via TKO1 in 2012)
11. Melissa Hernández (as with Garbatt, lost twice - via SD in 2011 and UD in 2011 - and then finally bested her with a unanimous technical decision in 2013)
12. Edith Soledad Matthysse (lost a UD - and her WBA featherweight title in the bargain - in 2015, but reclaimed it with a UD the following year)
13. Stephanie Ducastel (drew against in 2017, and then beat via UD the following year)

That is a truly insane record. 13-5 (5) in a whopping eighteen return encounters. She can make the rare claim of having defeated everyone she faced in the ring, excepting Saccurato (and she at least made the attempt).

 

Jelena Mrdjenovich vs. Erika Rosalba Cruz Hernández, 10x2" rounds @ featherweight

 

Round 1

Mrdjenovich is aggressive from the outset, coming in with a stiff jab then hooking off it, leaning forward and lunging. Cruz is lowering her face and throwing no-look wide counter right hooks and overhand lefts hoping to catch the champion on her way in. Mrdjenovich is ducking and weaving on the front-foot, slipping the southpaw challenger's power combos and banging her with short right crosses when their faces aren't slamming together in rough clinches.

10-9 Mrdjenovich

 

Round 2

Both flurrying at mid-range, both going downstairs and landing some. When they headhunt their arms just deflect off each other and their heads sometimes clash. Mrdjenovich reaching with a harpoon right on the midriff as Cruz is resetting outside.

10-9 Mrdjenovich, very close

20-18 Mrdjenovich

 

Round 3

Cruz meets the champ in the middle of the ring with some cuffing right hooks, some landing as rabbit punches and some partially blocked shots on her ear. Rally by Mrdjenovich with some nice laser-sighted 1-2s on the body. Cruz pushing the southpaw jab and then a noodle-armed left cross behind it, looking a bit fatigued after probably bossing the first minute of the round. Mrdjenovich is staying in close, slugging range, throwing 1-2s but getting whacked upside the head on either side with Cruz's looping shots. Mrdjenovich with some facial damage.

10-9 Cruz

29-28 Mrdjenovich

 

Replay shows a stiff forearm by Cruz (trying to land a looping left) caused the cut on Mrdjenovich.

 

Round 4

Mrdjenovich with some long jabs and 1-2s downstairs as Cruz is marching in. Cruz unloading with hooking combos up close. Mrdjenovich getting hit in bunches, coming unglued and unraveling all her good boxing work in the first half of the stanza.

10-9 Cruz

38-38

 

Round 5

Cruz shows a high right jab, then lets it falter as she rolls inside with a clobbering overhand left. Mrdjenovich hurt by a salvo and now clinching with purpose. Cruz is just bashing away, right hooks and left uppercuts clattering against the guard, the brasierre, and the shoulders of Mrdjenovich for the most part but enough also touching her face to keep her wincing and bleeding. Mrdjenovich unable to get a rhythm or find range to just box.

10-9 Cruz

48-47 Cruz

 

The 38 year old champ was supposed to be targeting a unification superfight with Amanda Serrano - but I think that's out, now. Even if Mrdjenovich somehow turns things around and retains tonight, that would be a brutal mismatch in favor of the Puerto Rican.

 

Round 6

Cruz just lumping in whatever she wants - wide right hooks and lead left uppercuts from afar - as Mrdjenovich just stands directly in front of her, center-line with no head movement. There is a headbutt and Benji Esteves asks Mrdjenovich if she wants to continue and she takes a LONG pause before saying yes.

10-9 Cruz

58-56 Cruz

 

I'll be shocked if Jelena hangs in four more rounds tbh. She is taking a beating and you can see her heart disintegrating.

 

Benji stops the fight on the cut (from what was ruled an accidental headbutt) and instructs the judges to score the partial 7th round despite it only going thirty seconds. It was mostly them slugging up close, which of course favors Cruz with Mrdjenovich obviously affected by the cut and discouraged by her body's unwillingness to answer the call and move with the speed and sharpness she needed against the Mexican brawler.

10-9 Cruz

68-65 Cruz