Last evening's ESPN FNF offering slipped us an insulting underneath card that
showcased former Cuban amateur star Erislandy Lara in with age 37 Edwin
Vazquez arriving on nine-day notice - then follows with 4-round fill-in that
saw Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux taking “BP” of hapless Juan Noriega who
arrived on three day notice.
The two prelim mismatches - and I for one, question the integrity of the fool
that takes discredit in sanctioning the unbeaten Lara vs. Ed Vazquez of
22-15-2, 8 KOs infamy - at AARP age 37.
Goes without saying it mattered not that this one was scheduled for eight
stanzas - compounding the lunacy was the Vazquez job application since turn of
this century 21 (circa 2000 - 2009), that reveals no less than nine debits -
with four straight entering last noche.
No surprise Lara remains clean at a now 6-0, 4 KO’s - drops Vazquez in stanza
two with straight left hand from the southpaw side - and it could have been
stopped in one-sided round two, but for ham-hack referee vaudevillian Telis
Ass-imenios, who finally made with the dramatics come 1:13 of round four.
Then, knock, knock, knock on the door, and we get Cuban star Rigondeaux in pro
debut with pugilistic pigeon Juan Noriega at age 21, Juan baby arrives on
three day notice with soiled stat sheet of 3 up and 3 down without a KO win.
His last loss less two weeks ago against a debutant.... Who sanctioned this
fight?
Takes the Cuban port side slinging Rigondeaux no more than 1:09 mark of round
three before third man in charge had seen enough, to the delight of the
pro-Cuban fans in attendance.
Post Scripts: Regardless of the Tessitore high pitched accolades, neither Lara
or Rigon can be evaluated off the respective stoppages of burned out Vazquez ,
nor rookie punching bag Noriega.
Welter main event went the full ten stanzas with local Miami youngster ( age
22) Antwone Smith improving to 16-1-1, 8 KOs over Richard Gutierrez who faded
prior to the halfway mark.
This one showed promise over the early stanzas with the action mostly on the
inside - but with Smith concerned over nasty cut over left eye - via
inadvertent meeting of the minds during stanza five - would pick up the pace
while doing the dictating for the most part.
Official scoring went unanimous Antwone Smith 100-88; 97-93; 96-94. My
unofficial saw it Smith 96-94 in points and 6-4 under yesterday round by round
method.
Closing comments:
-
Smith (16-1-1, 8 KO) ~ age 22 with good technique - lack of
punching power will likely sentence Antwone to club fight level with the
trophies more of the lesser straps.
-
Gutierrez (24-3-1, 14 KO) ~ age 30 - the future
was yesterday - today reduced to opponent status.
Rest of ESPN story: Teddy-Tessie-Saul - Atlas knows better but is no fool -
knows how to play the minor league game. Teamed with nice guy Saul during them
keys to victory segments, it translates to harmless slapstick and that is
good. When it becomes Tessie-Teddy, much of the time it’s laughable but no
longer humorous.
Them yesteryear “old timer stories” about backing into own corner inside the
round ending ten seconds mark to have a ring stool waiting, while the other
guy has to walk miles to his own corner, make as much sense as them two Cuban
pro novices looking like southpaw “Sugars” Robinson & Leonard.
Studio jokester Brian Kenny a laugher of his own when tossing up tape
interview with returning Floyd Mayweather - Comparing fighters on respective
results against a same opponent is totally ludicrous - hasn’t “No Clue”
learned by now that styles have an impact on many outcomes?
