5:51 PM ET
Steve KimESPN
Former WBO featherweight world titleholder Oscar Valdez beat Jayson Velez by 10th-round TKO in the main event of a Top Rank card Tuesday at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.
It was Valdezs very first time in the ring considering that November, when he beat late replacement challenger Adam Lopez by seventh-round TKO.
It wasnt simple for Valdez, who frequently had issues with the aggressiveness of Velez, but Valdezs superior power took over down the stretch.
Velez (29-7-1, 21 KOs) put Valdez on the defensive early, however Valdez (28-0, 22 KOs) eventually settled in and started to chip away. A left hook sent out Velez to the canvas at the end of the fifth round, and in the ninth, a series of power punches buzzed Velez.
In the 10th, Valdez made the choice to pour it on and not play it safe. After shaking Velez with a left hook, Valdez used that very same punch later to knock down Velez again. Velez got up and was swarmed with another series of punches from Valdez. As he stumbled into the ropes, the fight was waved off at 2:23 by referee Tony Weeks.
It was Velezs first loss through blockage in 37 expert fights.
” Velez was whatever I expected, a tough warrior who combated his heart out,” Valdez stated after his triumph. “I applaud him for a terrific battle and an excellent performance.”
Valdezs total efficiency left doubts regarding how reliable he is at junior light-weight after he went up from featherweight. After his 4th fight under fitness instructor Eddy Reynoso, there are still questions as to whether this is the ideal suitable for Valdez.
” I never ever stop learning. I will go back to the fitness center and continue to improve,” Valdez said. “Im in a great rhythm with my fitness instructor, Eddy Reynoso.”
Next for Valdez is expected to be a showdown against WBC junior light-weight titleholder Miguel Berchelt.
” Miguel Berchelt is the fight I desire,” Valdez stated. “He has the WBC title at 130 pounds. I want the WBC title. Miguel and I would produce a great fight.”
Takeaway: Although Valdez scored a 10th-round knockout over the tough-as-nails Velez, you question if Valdez is going through a little bit of an identity crisis. Completion result was terrific, however the process leading up to it left you questioning if hes going through a change as a fighter.
Reynoso is an excellent trainer, however he might not be the ideal one for Valdez. After four fights together, the light still hasnt come on for Valdez under his guidance.
In short, Valdez at his best is an attacking fighter who starts contact. He isnt a fighter who is truly comfortable or proficient at getting on his back foot and trying to counter-punch. Thats just not who he is. Valdez is the kind of fighter whose offense is his best defense. No matter the strategies being taught to him, they ought to constantly be implemented in aggressive fashion.
Valdez merely isnt Canelo, who has actually mastered the art of slipping, rolling and counter-punching.
Valdezs finest moments against Velez came when he was taking the lead and producing his openings instead of awaiting them. To be fair, Velez is an incredibly long lasting fighter who hasnt been dropped in the past 36 fights and in his previous bout took Jaime Arbodela to the limit, losing an objected to split choice. Velez is still a really serviceable man, and he presented his trademark effort.
Looking to the future, if Valdez wants to have any genuine shot at beating Berchelt, he has to be himself.
Berlanga ratings another first-round KO
Avalos. Total landed. 182. 57. Overall thrown. 484. 460. Percent. 38%. 12 %. Jabs landed. 53. 8. Jabs thrown. 161. 215. Percent. 33 %. 4%. Power landed. 129. 49. Power thrown.
323.
play0:50.
Super middleweight hopeful Edgar Berlanga included to his outstanding streak of first-round knockouts by stopping Eric Moon at 1:02 of the opening stanza. For Berlanga, its the 14th successive first-round victory to start his profession.
Moon (11-3, 6 KOs) began the battle by rushing out at Berlanga (14-0, 14 KOs), trying to get him on his heels. As he got him into the neutral corner, Berlanga linked a thriving overhand right that had Moon falling apart to the canvas– and just like that, it was over.
” It was another step-up battle for me,” Berlanga said later. “We prepared to go rounds, however I got him hurt and got him out of there.
” I still have so much space to grow as a fighter. The power is there, however I will reveal everybody that I am a well-rounded fighter. The knockout streak is cool, however there is more to me than first-round knockouts.”.
ESPN Stats & & InformationTakeaway: What was believed to be a bit of a test– or a minimum of a chance to get to the 2nd round– rather ended up being another exhibition of the raw power of super middleweight Berlanga.
In 14 expert battles, he has 14 first-round knockouts.
Its natural to be skeptical of a triggering record because it might definitely be a by-product of soft matchmaking. However although Berlanga hasnt dealt with any monsters, he has actually dealt with a list of foes who have generally been really durable.
Yet against Berlanga, they last less than three minutes.
Maybe it was because of the crowd-less setting, but to hear Berlangas brighten close was something else. They seemed to resound off the walls inside “the Bubble.” They sound and look various than those of most other boxers.
Some say that punchers are born, not made. Well, Berlanga is a natural-born puncher.
” The Dominican Kid” was rather a highlight-reel knockout. With a short, directly, left hand, Rodriguez sent out Okoth to the canvas to end the fight. Okoth( 4-4-1, 2 KOs )had a well-earned credibility as a difficult challenger who had handled other prospects, providing them a difficult time. However after a relatively uneventful preliminary, a single left hand had him down and out. It took a few minutes for him to get on the stool, to his feet and out of the ring. Rodriguez, 24, (8-0-1, 8 KOs ), who scored a first-round stoppage of Danny Murray on July 2, is building momentum for himself as one of the sports top potential customers. Takeaway: No list of the very best prospects in the sport of boxing is complete without Elvis Rodriguez. When once again, Rodriguez revealed that by the previously resilient Dennis Okoth, who has actually taken on myriad young fighters( he has triumphes over fighters that were 10-0 and 10-1 )and has never been dominated like that. Rodriguez has actually been a bit of a secret within the Top Rank stable, however after Tuesday, I d state the trick is out. This is definitely a person to keep tabs
on at 140 over the next couple of years. Hes rangy and tall with boxing abilities and legitimate power in both hands. Rodriguez, who trains with Hall of Fame fitness instructor Freddie Roach, might be back on the Jose Ramirez-Viktor Postol undercard on Aug. 29. Dogboe stops Avalos in final round.
Previous junior featherweight title holder Isaac Dogboe stops Chris Avalos by technical knockout in Round 8. Former WBO junior featherweight titlist Isaac Dogboe got back on the winning track by
Edgar Berlanga … 168 much better watch out for this dude brother. 14-0 … ALL FIRST ROUND KOs– Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) July 22, 2020.
scored a mind-blowing, second-round TKO over Dennis Okoth to remain unbeaten. What was believed to be a big test for
Okoth. Junior welterweight prospect Elvis
Rodriguez
stopping Chris Avalos in the final round last their scheduled eight-round arranged. Dogboe.
Super middleweight prospect Edgar Berlanga knocks out Eric Moon to keep his knockout streak alive at 14.
Edgar Berlanga is the reality! 14-0 14 straight knockouts all in the 1st round– Emmanuel Sanders( @ESanders_10) July 22, 2020. Clavel dominates Gonzalez in unanimous decision success. Junior flyweight Kim Clavel, right, defeated Natalie Gonzalez by consentaneous choice. Mikey Williams/Top RankJunior flyweight Kim Clavel beat Natalie Gonzalez by unanimous choice in a busy bout. After eight rounds, the ratings equaled from all three judges: 80-72. There were many good exchanges between the two, however Clavel constantly appeared to be a bit much faster and a half-step quicker. Neither Clavel (12-0, 2 KOs) nor Gonzalez( 6-1, 1 KO) was ever genuinely harmed, however it wasnt for lack of attempting, as they tossed a multitude of punches at each other throughout the fight. Clavel landed 131 of 522 total punches, and Gonzalez connected on 58 of 348.” I understood it would be a tough battle because shes an excellent fighter,” Clavel stated.” [Gonzalez] had a good amateur background. This was my first time here. I had some pressure, but with every round, I felt much better and much better in the ring with my coach. We won all the rounds. This is what we wanted.”. The scorecards were large, they didnt necessarily reflect how competitive many of the rounds were.” I felt good in the ring. Obviously, it was special, however I didnt feel different,” Clavel said. “The preparation for this fight worked out. Because it was a big stage, I felt the pressure on me. It was my first time here in Las Vegas. What a terrific experience.”. Clavel, who won the 2020 ESPYS Pat Tillman Award for Service for her work as an over night nurse at retirement and elderly care centers during the coronavirus pandemic, putting her boxing profession on hold, said she would like to return quicker than later on.” I would like to remain active and fight once again prior to the end of 2020, “she stated. “I want to be the best in the light flyweight department.”. Rodriguez stays unbeaten with TKO win. play0:35. Junior welterweight contender Elvis Rodriguez scores a second-round knockout over Dennis
245.
Percent
.
40%.
20%.
— Courtesy of CompuBox.
Dogboe
( 21-2, 14
KOs)
remained in
complete control from
the start, landing body shots followed
by hard right-hand men over the
top.
After a difficult ideal hand struck Avalos in the 8th round, referee Russell Mora waved off the battle at 2:25. “I was off for 14 months,” Dogboe said after the fight. I broke him down, and to get a knockout in my very first fight back, I am significantly content.
I wished to reveal everybody that Isaac Dogboe never ever disappeared. Im still here, and I am only improving.”. Takeaway: Dogboe got a much-needed victory against Avalos, and for much of the night, he was in complete control. But in all honestly, he faced a person in Avalos whose finest days lag him. Avalos is 1-5 in his previous six fights. Dogboe didnt appear like a shot fighter, however you wonder
just how much of that involved what was in front of him. It was a great start for Dogboe with new fitness instructor Barry Hunter, however it is difficult to see the 5-foot-4 Dogboe, a previous junior featherweight titlist, as a reliable featherweight.
After the battle, Hunter revealed that he wants to see Dogboe pull back at 122.
After shaking Velez with a left hook, Valdez used that exact same punch later on to knock down Velez again. Velez got up and was swarmed with another series of punches from Valdez.” Miguel Berchelt is the fight I desire,” Valdez said. After 4 battles together, the light still hasnt come on for Valdez under his assistance.
Valdezs finest moments versus Velez came when he was taking the lead and developing his openings instead of waiting for them.
