Sometimes you get lucky … and last nite’s ESPN-FNF offering from out on the left coast was one of those times, as it spawned a pugilistic bag of surprises.

Begins at pre-fite exam … Bingo! … exit one half of main feature when Joachim Alcine is sent packing after failing the test - enter prelim fighter Eddie Sanchez as sacrificial lamb for a contending J.C. Candelo.

On that note, let’s go to the ring action … Sanchez, tall and unorthodox in style at 6’ 2" opens quickly while grabbing stanzas one and two … thoughts here went, the rookie at 11-3-2, 8 KO’s was hoping to get lucky.

Candle three is still Sanchez but the punch output slows a bit - and why not, after taking this 12-rounder on seven hours notice - still, it hinted we may well have a fight to watch before this one ends.

Stanza six finds Sanchez on short end of questionable knockdown … backed into a corner he ducks under a Candelo right hand that finds the top of the head … the bending Sanchez falls to his knees … referee Dr. Lou Moret begins the count and we have a Candelo 2-point round.

Final six candles go the one for me and one for you route with plenty of action … Candelo had himself big scores during eight and nine but Sanchez closes final candle with a good one.

My unofficial had it 114-113 under point system and Sanchez winning in rounds seven to five. Official tabulations were all Sanchez 115-112, 117-110, 118-109.

Post Scripts: Sanchez ~  truly earned plaudits for a gutsy performance while facing a solid and skilled talent in Candelo. The guess was the tall kid runs out of gas, but he displayed a no-quit attitude from start to finis. Not sure how far he goes … awkward and unorthodox to say the least, and the offerings are something less than classical combos. The brain trust should go the pick and choose route … its charge is more about valor than fistic talent. But truly earned the ringside post-fite curtain call with Tessie & Scotty.
                      Candelo ~  Game plan was look impressive against the undefeated Joachim Alcine in hopes of using it for a Kasim Ouma return. So much for best laid plans … the road map was clearly misread against a much taller odd ball in style in Sanchez.
                     Final thoughts of a sort. Had once heard the old saying about not being able to teach old dogs new tricks. Think it also applies to seasoned veteran boxers … to begin re-programming once a guy has reached 30 and over in age is next to impossible. And yes, even popular new trainer McGirt may well have learned from last night’s experience. Subtle changes is as good as it gets.

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Program opened on a hot note with jr. welter Herman Ngoudjo besting Jorge Padilla over  four rounds of furious flailing. Both entered undefeated with matching 4-0 records.

Difference as I saw it was Ngoudjo with better speed and more pop on the deliveries … also switched from orthodox to port side effectively. Padilla displayed mucho heart, and tossed tons of leather albeit strictly small arms fire.

Scoring went Ngoudjo 40-36, 40-36 with dissenter having it Padilla 39-37.

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