The Friday Telefutura Solo-Boxeo tour played the Bronx
last noche with age 36 Dominican veteran Francisco
Lorenzo facing young Mexican hopeful Guadalupe Rosales
in the main event.
The Paradise Theater was quickly alive with the
Dominican-Mexican paying clientele out of their seats as
the action heated up round after round - and the scoring
judges had no easy task in rendering a decision.
Opens with 26 year old Rosales the more composed in
technique with better skills - then stanza two and the
grizzled veteran Lorenzo the far busier - and it’s a
standoff.
Candle three delivers good action, and Lorenzo steals
the round with heat - and it gets better yet in number
four, as Rosales combinations induce a Lorenzo wobble in
the walk - and my card has it all square after four at
38 in points.
Entering the “championship” rounds of 8-9-10 my
unofficial had it Rosales 4-3 in rounds - and while the
Lorenzo offense during the sprint to the wire featured
eye-catching wild-n-wacky offerings, other than number
ten I saw Rosales the more accurate of the two.
Then the official ballots: Lorenzo via unanimous
decision 97-93, 96-94, 96-94 - my unofficial disagreed
in having it Rosales 96-94 in points and 6-4 in rounds.
Post Scripts: Francisco Lorenzo (30-4, 14 KO) ~ a peek
at the resumé reflects three of the losses were to top
of the line foes Victoriano Sosa, Courtney Burton, Juan
Diaz. A physically strong Jr. lightweight that goes long
ball from start to finish. Like many home run hitters he
misses the target more than finding it. But, last nite
it caught the judges eye. This outing should get the
tough bird more work at club fight venues.
Guadalupe Rosales (25-2, 17 KO) ~
not sure what the corner brain trust was sermonizing
between stanzas - but once the kid proved he could
handle the incoming he should have been encouraged to
increase the output. Has the skills and chin - needs
upgrading on when to use them. Not as yet ready for the
elite at 130.
Referee Pete Santiago ~ quality
stuff - head and shoulders above the usual fare of hacks
we’re force fed. Leaves the ego at the front desk - but
still on top of the action. Bronx, my butt - clearly
Garden qualified.
………………………………................................................................................................
Televised prelim opened with Super featherweight Argenis
Mendez (9-0, 6 KOs) remaining untarnished with eight round
blanking of hapless Cuban Jorge Ruiz who drops to
(5-3-1, no KO).
Rest of the story: Ruiz a substitute replacement on
short end of 5‘-10" vs. 5‘-5" - and took no more than
opening round to see a mismatch - down courtesy of
straight right hand - then stanza three down again from
left hook to body.
Want more? Ok - Ruiz would then be on the canvas in
round five, six, seven - referee maybe out to lunch.
Short of amazing seeing laughable hack in charge Ricky
Gonzalez actually tacking on point deduction to Ruiz in
stanza eight for holding. Say wot?
Think about it, the guy is down some five times -
then eight round fight and receives a point for holding
- NYS Commission take note - assign the clown to upstate
Niagara - and maybe he’ll try the Falls in a barrel.
Closing comments: Mendez (9-0, 6 KOs) ~ tall at 5-10 and
shows good power in both hands. The left hook body
punches quality and right hands impressive. Single debit
or two is much too confident after being fed on
pugilistic pabulum. Carries left hand much too low and
lazy with the jab. Trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. shouted
during post fight interview the kid is great - whoa bro,
get a grip. Jury still hasn’t been picked - but
interesting one for future reference.
