ShoBox: Jorge Melendez vs. Nick Brinson RBR

Round 7

Fontanez is circling in close, folding his arms in the middle and clasping them in tight against his chest, blocking punches to his face but leaving his body open. Rodriguez chips away downstairs, and keeps trickling the jab out up top. Fontanez is casually whipping in uppercuts as he circles in, then covering up as Rodriguez pours leather on his arms. BIG OVERHAND RIGHT BY RODRIGUEZ, just before the final bell - DROPS FONTANEZ ON HIS ASS!!

10-8 Rodriguez

67-65 Fontanez

 

Round 8

Fontanez is on his bike, carrying his paws at his knees, mouth agape. Rodriguez is cutting the ring down, looking to find a home for that big overhand right again. He just misses one as Fontanez brushes his back against the ropes. Rodriguez crashes a right into Fontanez's guard and flurries at full power with heavy jabs and chops. Fontanez is flicking a few very light jabs, all the motion from down past his elbow, as he proceeds with evasive maneuvers despite a crescendo of boos. Rodriguez hunts after him, very slow and deliberate - running out of time.

10-9 Rodriguez

76-75 Fontanez

 

Final Sho Stats:

Jabs
Fontanez 62 of 223, 28%
Rodriguez 45 of 359, 13%

Power
Fontanez 69 of 225, 31%
Rodriguez 41 of 233, 18%

Total
Fontanez 131 of 448, 29%
Rodriguez 86 of 592, 15%

Body
Fontanez 17
Rodriguez 13

 

Official cards:

John McKaie 77-75 Fontanez
Don Ackerman 76-75 Rodriguez
Don Trella 78-73...

SD for Jeffrey Fontanez

 

The crowd hates the decision.

This is a bunch of Nuyo-Ricans, angry on the Mexican's behalf. :yep

 

Jorge Melendez vs. Nick Brinson, 10 rounds @ middleweight

 

Steve Farhood is interviewing Jimmy Lennon Jr.

He asks why he resonates so much with fans.

Jimmy says he learned from his dad, a great commentator. He is fortunate to be put in some high-profile events by Showtime.

Farhood says Jimmy belongs in the HOF along with his late father.

Jimmy says he doesn't feel he can live up to his dad's legacy, even though he gets more exposure in terms of # of viewers.

 

Main event.

If Jorge "Destroyer" Melendez can live up to his reputation and end it quickly, this won't overlap with the main event on ESPN2.

Brinson's only loss was by stoppage - but he never left his feet. (and hasn't in his career, according to Farhood)

 

Round 1

Melendez is putting in jabs, carefully navigating on stilts around Brinson. Hard hooking combo by Brinson, going from body to head. Most of it hits arm. Melendez is giving Brinson lots of respect, and Brinson is acting like the puncher with big slices downstairs with his right and hard left hooks whizzing just inches in front of Melendez's face as he leans back while crossing his legs to step off. Melendez is taking pot shots from outside and remaining in a largely defensive posture. Right hand to the body by Brinson delivered under a stray Melendez jab, and the big follow-up hook misses. Left hook thrown away by Brinson, crashing into Melendez's left jab as it's leaving its home base, and Brinson digs in a hard right to the stomach.

10-9 Brinson

 

Brinson beat Errol Spence Jr. in the amateurs. :think

 

Sho Stats in the 1st:

Melendez 4 of 24, 16%
They didn't give Brinson's, but he threw and landed a lot more. :yep

 

Brinson's former trainer was on here last week saying his boy is a real talent and live underdog here despite being on very short notice. (a substitute for a substitute...only a few days' prep)

It would seem he wasn't just whistling Dixie...

 

Round 2

Melendez is getting backed up, flinching when Brinson starts any offensive motion. Brinson is using left uppercut feints leaning over to his left and then drilling in rights to the body. Left jabs to the body darting in by Brinson. Right hand plunked down up top, setting up a series of lefts as Brinson rushes in. Brinson is putting shots together, smoothly bringing his focus up and down Melendez's chest. Melendez is extremely tentative, barely getting a jab off edgewise.

10-9 Brinson

20-18 Brinson