Solo Boxeo Tecate: Chris Martin vs. Jose Araiza/Luis Grajeda vs. Alan Sanchez RBR

Round 4

Both boxers are cautious and gun-shy. Grajeda is following while Sanchez hops around the ring. Grajeda pushes in while Sanchez turns a corner and throws a 1-2 but winds up on top of Sanchez in a clinch. Grajeda continues to come forward and throw in combination and lands a couple very nicely, getting Sanchez to breathe out of his mouth after he's hit in the nose.

10-9 Grajeda

38-37 Sanchez

 

Round 5

Sanchez ducks in and throws jabs and hooks to the body but Grajeda easily steps out of the way. The downside is that Grajeda is out of range to counter Sanchez on the way in or out. Grajeda is really finding success with the lead right hand followed by a left hook as Sanchez hops to his right to evade the former punch, getting hit flush with the latter. Sanchez throwing little but body jabs. An attempt at a combo from Sanchez is begun from too far away and Grajeda counters him easily. Grajeda eats a jab from a ducking and crab-walking Sanchez but lands two power punches directly afterward, able to move faster than Sanchez can with his knees bent.

The body language and momentum is with Grajeda, who is acting as ring general.

10-9 Grajeda

47-47

 

Round 6

Sanchez throws a right hand a little wide and Grajeda pushes it away with his left elbow, leaving Sanchez open to a counter right down the pipe. Sanchez moves on the outside, and dips low to jab at the body. Grajeda comes toward him warily, looking to push Sanchez's arms aside with his left in between jabs. Grajeda walks into a right hand while throwing one and goes down to one knee but bounces up immediately, smiling at the camera and showing his mouthpiece. Sanchez comes at him hard with a 1-2 but they tie up. Sanchez jumps toward him with jabs and right hands but is leaving himself off-balance as Grajeda gathers his wits and hooks him on the way in.

10-8 Sanchez again

57-55 Sanchez, regaining the lead

 

Round 7

Sanchez loads up on the 1-2 and tries to plant one but Grajeda makes himself small and keeps his gloves up. Grajeda uses his footwork to trap Sanchez into a corner but doesn't attack. Grajeda throws a hook just a little short and Sanchez takes the chance to jab at him. Sanchez now almost entirely defensive except for the occasional right hand either as a lead or set up by a jab. They battle when Grajeda gets Sanchez backed into the ropes, with Grajeda drawing first blood with a flush right hand but Sanchez coming right back at him with one that's harder but not as straight.

 

Round 8

Sanchez is looking for the straight punch that has scored him knockdowns - the right hand. Grajeda is using tricky movement to take that punch away and looks to land a left hook or an uppercut rather than try and exchange straight shots. Both men are landing as Grajeda continually beats Sanchez to the punch but lingers too long with each combination taking an extra second that leaves him open to get hit. A couple of really nice quick hands and left hooks land for Grajeda, and get him the round (and the draw, on my card).

 

The judges scored a draw, too.