Solo Boxeo Tecate: Antonio Diaz vs. Ernesto Zepeda RBR

Round 4

Cancio comes forward and digs in with hard uppercuts and hooks, targeting that skinny body. Brownfield is peppering him with fast counters but not doing any damage or getting any reaction. Brownfield flees to the ropes but Cancio is right on him, banging away to the body. Brownfield furiously flurries upstairs, flashing hand speed. Cancio lunges low with a right underhand to the body. HUGE RIGHT HAND DURING AN EXCHANGE!!! Damn. Brownfield's head nearly popped off!! Taking more shots!! Ref steps in!

Cancio TKO4

 

Great style match-up. Speed and slickness vs. power and accuracy.

 

Yeah, there was foreshadowing - fast guys will trouble Cancio down the road.

I could see Gary Russell Jr. moving up and just completely outclassing him.

 

Main event!

Zepeda has been out of the ring for exactly one year - to the day. Tono Diaz has had an even longer layoff, by several months.

Who will rust bother more?

 

He has.

Wins over Cory Spinks, Emanuel Augustus, two Gatti conquerors (Ward and Robinson) and losses to Mosley, Margarito and Ortiz - his resume reads like a who's who of over a decade in the lower weights, yet he's flown under the radar (even before disappearing a while).

 

Round 1

Diaz throws some jabs and hunkers down to dodge Zepeda's higher-flying jab. Forward leaping hooks by Diaz fall a bit short. They come together infrequently and quickly break. Diaz comes forward and takes a flurry between the arms. Rapid shots by Zepeda. They trade jabs. Zepeda lands a 1-2.

10-9 Zepeda

 

Round 2

Zepeda undulates inside and pops off a few body shots but eats a right hand on the way out. Zepeda is stepping around Diaz and getting off first and throwing combos. Diaz is just trying to time him with his jab or a right hand but just a step behind him. Wide hooks by Diaz. A right hand gets through cleanly for Diaz. Zepeda is hurt a bit as he lays back on the ropes. Tono starts to put punches together now. Lefts and rights get Zepeda to lurch forward and grab before spinning away from the ropes. Diaz keeps coming forward and walks right into a sneaky lead right from Zepeda. Diaz breathes heavily as Zepeda closes the round well.

Close, overall. :think

19-19

 

Round 3

Zepeda hooks to the body in multiples, staying just outside range of the Diaz right hand. Diaz follows, arms down. 1-2 strays high from Diaz, and clamps down against Zepeda's shoulder. Hard counters now by Zepeda. Really clean stinging right hands for Zepeda. Tono is just walking into them. Slapping hooks to the body by Diaz. Zepeda ducks right into the way of a low hook but takes it well. Zepeda keeps pumping the right hand, and landing. Zepeda is partially bending over and partially getting pushed down by Diaz when up close. Zepeda is again tagged while circling against the ropes and looks to be in slight trouble from a right hand. Diaz leans into him and follows him around the perimeter but can't muster up any finishing instinct. Zepeda just taunts him, holding his mouthpiece between his teeth as he circles.

10-9 Zepeda

29-28 Zepeda