The Contender: Jamaica 2016 (welterweight) - Michael Gardener vs. José L. Guzmán RBR

Top of the hour. :good

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This is an ongoing tourney in which DeMarcus Corley is participating as probably the only name about 99% of you have even heard of. He is on Team USA, which every Wednesday night is sending a representative to meet someone from "Team Caribbean" (with members from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana and Barbados).

This is week five of the Round-of-16, after which there will be quarters, semis and finally the finals around (presumably) mid-June. Results so far:

Richard Holmes (Team USA) KO1 Xzaviar Ford (Team Caribbean)
DeMarcus Corley (Team USA) UD5 Iwan Azore (Team Caribbean)
Tsetsi Davis (Team Caribbean) TKO4 Courtney McCleave (Team USA)
Revlon Lake (Team Caribbean) MD5 Anthony Woods (Team USA**)


So this week is a chance for either side to break the current tie and get some momentum and tilt a psychological advantage.

** Woods is Bahamian, not American - which you'd think would make him eligible to be on Team Caribbean if anything...but no, he is on Team USA for some reason.

 

Michael Gardener (not to be confused with the Michael Gardener from Australia who fought at light middleweight in the nineties, going 2-3 professionally - the Gardener in action tonight is young enough to be that one's son) is making his pro debut.

José L. Guzmán in contrast has a decade's worth of experience - but most of that has been spent getting beaten up by inexperienced or even debuting prospects (foremost among them being Chris Algieri, Teon Kennedy, and John Joe Nevin) - though he does occasionally spring the points upset, as he did versus Micky Ward's nephew.

 

What, nobody's excited for some 0-0 vs. 6-13-1 (0) action? :bart

Bunch of fucking casuals.

 

Come on, there's regional pride at stake here! We're not going to lie down for our tiny little country of 3.8 million square miles get bulled around by the big mean West Indies, are we? atriot

 

:conf You can hype a horse to water... (in this case, Wray & Nephew's brand white over-proof rum, the sponsor of the event... mixes nicely with Schweppes, according to all the fight posters & tourney promotional materials...)

 

Oh, just to clarify - Michael "The Wasp" Gardener is a Jamaican native, thus on Team Caribbean. José L. Guzmán hails from the Bronx, NY, by way of Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

 

Can anybody understand ONE goddamn word Gardener says? :blood

https://twitter.com/WrayRum/status/717867017718530048

 

Even though both Teams were arranged to oppose each other in the initial Round-of-16 draw, it will be every man for himself from the quarterfinals on. Individuals will be competing for cash prizes:

"The winner of the series will receive two million dollars, the runner up $500,000; third place $250,000 and fourth place $200,000."

If there were a betting line I'd lump a generous sum on Chop-Chop getting the check for 2mill.

 

Guzmán sounds a tad punchy (or maybe a tad "just sort of a meathead to begin with)

https://twitter.com/WrayRum/status/717863393479163904

 

Michael Gardener vs. José L. Guzmán, 5 rounds @ welterweight

 

Round 1

Gardener aggressive early, switching his stance to southpaw to match Guzmán's. Gardener attacking from mid-range, his lead right toe squared up to Guzmán's a few inches out. Guzmán standing up to Gardener, landing some decent counters. Gardener returns to orthodox. Guzmán carries his front arm low, putting his weight on his backfoot, riding Gardener's shots and countering.

10-9 Gardener, close

 

Round 2

Gardener opens up a bit, taking away some of the countering opportunities from Guzmán by flooding the space between them with punches. Guzmán starts to redden above the eye. Dedicated body assault from Gardener. Guzmán down, and that will be all.

KO2!!

 

That is Guzmán's fourteenth loss, but only sixth by stoppage.

 

What do you think of the Wasp in his pro debut, Beast?

Too soon to christen him the next Axe-Man Walters or anything, but the kid does have a nice change-up. I like the way he goes from a light shoeshine into the guard to suddenly hooking around it, hard. And he keeps you guessing when he's picking off at mid-range with body shots, alternating the hard straight right lead on the gut and that whamming left hook.

Some imperfect movement choices and defensive liabilities to be sure, but again - pro debut.