That was before the fights began, when they were rewarded with thirty-six rounds of less-than-exciting action and a likely loss in one of the more anticipated fights in the game.
In the main event, Rolando Romero pulled a huge upset by winning a unanimous decision over Ryan Garcia and perhaps losing the much-anticipated rematch between Garcia and Devin Haney.
Romero didn't exactly dazzle in victory, but he scored the only knockdown of the evening when he dropped Garcia in the second round with a left hook and did his job well enough to win a WBA minor title, which should earn him a bigger fight eventually.
Garcia fought as poorly as one could remember in an awful performance as a prohibitive favorite, and it's reasonable to wonder how much of his win over Devin Haney may have been due to his use of PED's.
That's how bad Ryan Garcia looked, and he looked like a fighter who may have blazed past his prime without stopping at Go.
Romero did enough to win (118-109 and 115-112 x 2, my score 117-110), but let's not fool ourselves, we didn't see a new star born in Times Square, and if I have a solid welterweight right now, I'm gunning for Rolly Romero.
The co-feature was equally dull as Devin Haney dominated Jose Ramirez, but he did that as tediously as you could have imagined.
Haney moved, Ramirez lumbered, and it was this for twelve long rounds.
The less said about this, the better, but Haney did his part by winning his fight for the Ryan Garcia rematch, as dreadful as it was.
Haney won by scores of 119-109 x2 (and my score) and 118-108.
Teofimo Lopez showed his skills in a workmanlike victory over Arnold Barboa with a unanimous decision victory.
Lopez's speed was too much for Barboza, who won a few rounds but generally was a step behind Lopez.
Lopez won on the scorecards 118-110 and 116-112 times two, the same as my score.
Lopez retained his WBO junior welterweight title in the win, but without a marquee opponent in the division ( champions Alberto Puello, Richardson Hitchins, and Gary Antuanne Russell), Lopez talked of a rise to the welterweight division for a challenge of WBA and IBF champion Jaron "Boots" Ennis after the bout.
The idea of a live card in Times Square was an audacious attempt, but in actuality, the card lacked atmosphere and reminded me more of the post-COVID "Bubble" cards than a raucous live crowd.
Points for effort, but overall, I'd be fine without a return.
Boxing Challenge
Ramon Malpica; 58 Pts (2)
Vince Samano: 25 Pts (2)
No comments:
Post a Comment