Last nite Showtime ShoBox "New Generation" delivered us fite fans a twin bill thriller that had the paying customers at the Agua Caliente Casino, Rancho Mirage, California pleased as a pig in bleep - well, for most of the night.

Show opens with a non-stop action affair for the IBO lightweight strap - and “action” doesn’t come close - Fernando Angulo enters the favorite although taking the fight on 12 days notice - also arrives at 22-6, 14 stoppages.

The underdog from "Down Under" country, Lenny Zappavigna arrives unbeaten at 22 wins with 15 via KO - and on paper the advantage of younger age 22 vs. 29.

Then the opening bell - both looking confident in attention getting action three minutes, with both countering the other - all square after one.

Zappa grabs stanza two, courtesy of a well placed left-hook to the head that puts a wobble in the walk of the favorite - then in numero tres it’s the Aussie having the better with effective left hooks that again briefly wobble the transplanted Chilean now calling Venezuela home.

At the close of candle four the numbers read Zappavigna up 3-1 - and the talking heads doing the commentary begin leaning toward the kid, questioning whether the legs will hold up if it goes deep.

Angulo then starts on a mini roll of his own grabbing five through eight in close scorching stanzas - and the plot thickens as Zappa is seen badly cut on right eye from inadvertent head butt.

Nearing the “championship rounds” Angulo is deducted a point  for hitting on the break; - and a 10-9 round is reduced to 9-9, and it would show  Angulo entering the final stanzas 10-11-12 with a one point advantage.

Angulo grabs number ten with a counter left hook as both swapped barrages - Zappa claims eleven with a busier output.

Finally it looked from my seat Angulo has the edge in a sizzling closing chapter.

The official scorers agreed on Zappavigna by unanimous decision; 116-111, 116-111, 114-113. My unofficial numbers had it Angulo 115-113 on points, and under round by round scoring, Angulo 6-4-2.

Post Scripts: Zappavigna (23-0, 15 KO) ~ age 22 - tough, tough, tough covers the brawling kid - the cut eyelid was nasty but never let it affect his aggressive style. Still, before stepping up to the next level he could use upgrade from crowd pleaser.

Angulo (22-7, 14 KO) ~ young age 29 in body - excellent technician - would likely grab a return when not on short notice.
                  
**** Referee Pat Russell blew assignment charging Angulo a point in stanza nine - the hit on break had zero impact in a coin flip affair - both were guilty of hit & hold as it went deep.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   

Feature attraction had a tough act to follow - however, with defending WBA/WBC super flyweight title holder Vic Darchinyan in one corner and young Rodrigo Guerrero, a stereotype  Mexican warrior in the other, not a single person was seen leaving the building early.

It was all Darchinyan from start to finish - the transplanted Armenian from Australia had promised he’d give all concerned his new look - no longer the “Raging Bull” in style.

Sure enough, the now age 34 southpaw with the big left hand, quickly grabbed stanza one with a late flurry - then in round two it’s Darchinyan mixing counters, jabs, along with good movement to claim a close stanza.

Guerrero cut over right eye - inadvertent head butt - made it a close round - but the beat would continue with Darchinyan too complete for the tough Mexican who would display a solid chin over twelve losing stanzas.

Post Script: Vic Darchinyan ( 34-2-1, 27 KO) ~ a young age 34 - no longer non-stop banzai in style - the new boxer/puncher version could well translate to extended longevity. Wants return with Nonito Donaire, a good puncher that drilled the “bull" in their only meeting.

Post Script: Rodrigo Guerrero (13-2-1, 9 KO) ~ age 22 - major league chin that help up from start to finish - was rushed in over his head but repeatedly gave it his best in hoping to upset the apple cart. Circle the calendar, the kid is worth the peek.

Referee Ray Corona is a bit strange in my eyes - exciting from start to finish, and this clown sees fit to hound the fighters over anything resembling a clinch. Whew!

Questions? Comments? Post them in BRC's new Message Board...