Last nite’s ESPN WNF troupe
dropped by Times Square, NYC to enjoy the bright lights of the
big apple - and were entertained by a spirited (NABF)
Junior/welter title fight that saw defending champion
Francisco Figueroa retaining via unanimous decision over
Mexico’s Luis Rodriguez.
Figueroa, a southpaw
slinging Bronx resident via Santurce, Puerto Rico, displayed
quickness, and the better skills, that kept a game Mexican
challenger from getting off - but not for the lack of effort.
Try as Rodriguez did, he was
being blanked over the early going, and later during stanzas
seven and eight, appeared in trouble - wobbled in numero eight
he managed to survive the round.
Figueroa then picked up the
pace over the championship rounds of ten through twelve while
in search of a knockout but Rodriguez hung tough to the final
bell.
Scoring went Figueroa
118-110, 117-111, 116-112 - my unofficial saw it a whitewash
for the winner 120-108 in points and 12-0 under the round by
round method.
Post Scripts:
-
Francisco Figueroa (19-2, 13
KO) ~ veteran at age 29 - single question mark would be
shortage of serious clout if stepping up a rung. Ranked 10,
13, 14 under the WBC, IBF, WBA sums up the future. But a dandy
at small club venues.
-
Luis Rodriguez (22-2, 13 KO)
~ age 23 the good news. The KO ratio hints of prior soft
opposition. Still, the kid has size, true grit and decent
power - needs fine tuning on technique.
………………………………..............................................................................................
Semi-final light
welterweight eight rounder pitted young age 23, undefeated
Joel Torres at 9-0 with 5 by knockout facing age 32 veteran
Chris Fernandez of a somewhat mediocre 15-4, 9 KO’s.
My unofficial saw it all
Torres on a clearly busier and more accurate output -
the scoring in sync with the Teddy Atlas math of Torres 78-74
in points and 6-2 trusted method of 6-2 in rounds.
Rest of the story: the
official commission scoring hacks Luis Rivera (Fernandez
78-74) and John Signorile (76-76) offset George DeGabriel who
had it Torres 77-75.
Closing thoughts: If the
Rivera-Signorile duo work the next assignment with hapless
fool Gary Rosato as third man in charge, I have strong
suggestion. The two with the pencil and scorecard first remove
the blindfold - maybe let Rosato borrow it.
Hoped for results: Scoring
improvement - and Rosato ludicrous interference lessened while
in role of blinded referee in charge.
*** The wired up man in
charge system has got to go. The hack egos are out of control
today.
