The ESPN Tuesday summer show came to us from suburban Chicago town of Lynwood,
Illinois for an action twin-bill with Israel "Magnifico" Vasquez defending the
IBF jr. featherweight bauble in the main event against a willing Armando
Guerrero.
Vasquez was late from the gate, and looking something less than magnifico,
before taking control from challenger Guerrero at the final turn, and crossing
the wire some four lengths ahead for the unanimous decision win.
Following an opening stanza chess match that went to Vasquez, it was Guerrero
with the edge thru six candles with a superb display of outside skills mixed
with inside combinations - the underdog was battling with a look of convincing
confidence - and then came numero seven.
Vasquez grabs seven with a strong closing round that hinted of experience
readying to take the reins - and that he did, with his game opponent beginning
to show signs of wear from the earlier pace, and now it was Vasquez time.
The final six stanzas were all Vasquez - the punctuation was a wobble in the
legs of a tiring Guerrero as "Magnifico" closed twelve with a strong finish.
Scoring went unanimous for Vasquez 116-112 on all cards - this unofficial agreed
with 116-112 in points and 8-4 in rounds.
Vasquez goes to 38-3, 28 KO - Guerrero drops to 20-4-6, 11 KO.
Post Scripts: Vasquez ~ Strong during the run to the wire but struggled early
against unranked Guerrero who entered as tune-up. Now looking ahead to unifier
with Oscar Larios (WBA).
Guerrero ~ Has reputation of walk in brawler in style,
but showed very decent outside movement and array of eye-catching inside
combination punching. Took the early shots well and fatigue saw him weakening
over championship rounds. Good enough to get work at ESPN club level.
Scheduled 10-round semi saw
veteran Aldo Valtierra methodically breaking down previously undefeated local
Frankie Zepeda en route to a round nine TKO.
The mismatch was visible from the opening bell, with the 34 year old Valtierra
picking and choosing against a one dimensional Zepeda that read like an open
book.
The taller Zepeda, working from the port side without the usual southpaw
advantage, simply walked into the Valtierra arsenal that would eventually cut
him down.
First knockdown arrived in stanza three courtesy of big Valtierra right hand - a
second knockdown in same stanza was more than questionable but would have no
bearing on the outcome.
The one sided onslaught continued with the game Zepeda battling with cut eye
that was quickly closing shut - finally a third knockdown surfaced in round nine
with referee Gerald Scott calling it off at 39 seconds of the round.
Valtierra goes to 22-7, 12 KO s and Zepeda suffers first loss to go with the 15
wins with 9 stops.
Closing Comments: Valtierra ~ Unranked but has the skills to continue the career
at 34 if choosing the undefeated ones via home cooking route. Had himself a
shutout into the final candle.
Zepeda ~ Showed mucho courage while under
fire. Problem, he was in way over his head. A pairing that never should have
been made. The kid’s brain trust has to be camouflaged enemy that fattened its
charge up on gimmes before the big let down.
