ShoBox: Brandun Lee vs. Camilo Prieto & Brian Norman, Jr. vs. Flavio Antonio Rodríguez RBR

Showtime passing off Nery vs. Alameda like it could be a sleeper competitive war.

...god, I hope so. Nery getting upset (and seeing his chance at redemption and big paydays dashed) would be sublime.

 

Brian Norman, Jr. vs. Flavio Antonio Rodríguez, 8 rounds @ welterweight

 

Norman weighed in 146½; Rodríguez 146¼lbs.

That's what I like to see. None of this "oh well there are no belts on the line and we're just undercard fighters, so being a pound or three over is no big deal " crap.

 

So, based on the fact that he's "Brian Norman, Jr." and goes by the ring name "The Assassin II" - deducing that his dad also fought, as Brian "The Assassin" Norman (Sr.)?

 

And would be a good comeback story, a kid that debuted in 2010 and due to family problems finds himself a decade later at just 9-1.

 

I feel like I could sell Barry Tompkins a chunk of Manhattan...

"We mentioned Norman is sixteen and oh with a no contest - well, Norman tells us that in that one no contest he actually scored a 1st round KO but it was in Mexico so they just arbitrarily made it a no contest!"

Um, ok. Shady things DO go down in Mexico, no doubt, but... we might need a more impartial source than just taking NORMAN HIMSELF at his word.

 

Round 1

Rodríguez is stretching out a jab, snapping it out hard enough not but fully committing or stepping through with it, and soon getting forced to raise his guard and take a few backward steps when Norman starts flashing combos at him. Massive hand speed and volume edge for Norman. Both struggling to find much accuracy - Rodríguez because he is reticent to start throwing in multiples (or anything other than a half-pulled jab) and Norman because he's just spraying indiscriminately while Rodríguez stays cautiously outside.

10-9 Norman

 

"Norman is nothing if not heavy-handed"

Wtf is Tompkins even saying? Barry, name a single punch that has made Rodríguez so much as blink. Norman is FAST and flashy, but I wouldn't say especially strong or forceful a puncher.

 

Round 2

Rodríguez starts out really well, throwing away some high jabs to buy his way inside and then looping hard rights at the body. Norman is trapped briefly on the ropes with Rodríguez hooking into either flank. Norman springs out laterally and scores his own body shot to back Rodríguez off. Norman spends the rest of the round flitting around shaving Rodríguez's hairline with quick jabs and straight combos.

10-9 Norman, closer (mostly in the first half)

20-18 Norman

 

"Speaking of Leo Santa Cruz..."

But must we?