JOEL CASAMAYOR VS. JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ
PREFIGHT
The singing of the Mexican, Cuban and American National Anthems precede the bout. Surprisingly and disrespectfully, some boos can be heard during the Cuban National Anthem. The challenger, Juan Manuel Marquez, comes out first. He looks extremely confident and focused as he makes his way to the ring. The champion, Joel Casamayor, comes out next to a chorus of boos. He rockin' a sombrero and a grizzly beard. He looks confident and ready to go to war.
ROUND 1
Casamayor comes out fast backing Marquez up. Both men pawing with their jabs. Marquez lands a right hand during a quick exchange. They trade jabs. Two chopping right hands land for Marquez. Casamayor lands a body shot. Left hand upstairs lands for Casamayor. Right hand down the pipe lands for Marquez. Marquez lands a right, but Casamayor answers with a left. Another left hand down the pipe lands for Casamayor. Left hook lands for Casamayor. Marquez lands a right, but Casamayor answers with a left. Quick left down the pipe lands for Casamayor. Jab lands for Casamayor. Close, tactical round, but I give it to the champion.
Casamayor 10 Marquez 9
ROUND 2
Left hook lands for Marquez, but Casamayor answers with a left of his own. Another left hand lands for Casamayor. Right to the body lands for Marquez. They trade jabs. Casamayor grazes him with a left. Left hook lands for Marquez. Right lands for Marquez, but Casamayor answers with a left. Uppercut followed by a right lands for Marquez. Casamayor lands another straight left. They trade jabs. Left hook to the body lands for Marquez. Another close, tactical round, but again I give it to the champion for landing 2 punches to Marquez's 1.
Casamayor 20 Marquez 18
ROUND 3
Left to the body from Casamayor looked a little low. Marquez lands a left hook upstairs. Counter left lands for Casamayor. Another. Another hard counter left backs Marquez up. Nice right hand from Marquez appeared to stagger Casamayor momentarily. Marquez lands a right and Casamayor lands a left. Jab lands for Casamayor. Again. 1-2 lands for Marquez. Right hand down the pipe lands for Marquez. Another. Body shot lands for Marquez. Round to Marquez.
Casamayor 29 Marquez 28
ROUND 4
Left hand lands for Marquez. Nice four-punch combo lands for Marquez. 1-2 lands for Marquez. Right hand lands for Marquez. Casamayor lands a left, but he eats another right from Marquez. Left hand lands for Casamayor. Marquez lands a right. The action is picking up. Left to the body lands for Marquez. Casamayor lands a left. WOOOO....STIFF left hand lands for Casamayor. Jab lands for Casamayor. Uppercut lands for Casamayor. Jab from Casamayor. They trade left hands. Looping right hand lands for Marquez. Left hand down the pipe lands for Casamayor. Left to the body lands for Casamayor. Marquez answers with a right. Both men just trading counter shots. Round to Casamayor.
Casamayor 39 Marquez 37
ROUND 5
Jab lands for Casamayor followed by a left down the pipe. Another left lands for Casamayor. Left to the body lands for Casamayor. Marquez digs a combo to the body. Jab lands for Marquez. WOOOOOOO...BIG right hand down the pipe lands for Marquez. Left hook to the body lands for Marquez. Jab lands for Casamayor. They trade on the inside. 1-2 from Marquez just grazes Casamayor. STIFF right hand down the pipe from Marquez snaps the head back of Casamayor. Round to Marquez.
Casamayor 48 Marquez 47
ROUND 6
Blood coming from a cut above the eye and the nose of Casamayor. Casamayor pressing the action as he stalks Marquez. Jab lands for Casamayor. Quick 1-2 lands for Marquez upstairs. Left hook lands for Marquez. Casamayor sneaks in a left down the pipe. They trade jabs. Left hook to the body lands for Marquez. Marquez lands a right upstairs. Left hook to the body lands for Casamayor. Marquez lands a nice combo on the inside. They trade jabs. HARD 1-2 upstairs lands for Marquez. Casamayor answers with a left. Short right lands for Marquez followed by a hard body shot. Uppercut lands for Marquez. Right hand lands for Marquez...another. Round to Marquez.
Casamayor 57 Marquez 57
ROUND 7
Casamayor lands a left to the body. Straight right lands for Marquez. 1-2 from Marquez backs Casamayor up. Hard left hook to the body followed by another upstairs lands for Marquez. Low blow lands for Casamayor. Right hand upstairs lands for Marquez....wooooo...another big one lands for Marquez. Casamayor answers with a left of his own though. Quick left hand upstairs lands for Marquez. Right to the body lands for Marquez. Hard left to the body followed by a right and a left upstairs lands for Marquez. Another left lands for Marquez, who's just too fast for Casamayor right now. Round to Marquez.
Casamayor 66 Marquez 67
ROUND 8
A Mike Tyson sighting as he's in attendance at ringside. Casamayor lands a couple of jabs. Two right hands down the pipe land for Marquez. HARD right hand lands again for Marquez. Left hook to the body lands for Marquez. Casamayor lands a left. Another left hand lands for Casamayor. 1-2 lands for Marquez. STIFF jab from Marquez snaps the head back of Casamayor. They trade on the inside. Hard left hand lands for Casamayor. Another. Jab lands for Casamayor. HARD right and an uppercut lands for Marquez. Casamayor lands a left. Marquez lands another right. A close round. I give it to Casamayor though for landing a few more cleaner left hands.
Casamayor 76 Marquez 76
ROUND 9
Left hand lands for Casamayor. Another. Another left hand to the body this time lands for Casamayor. Jab lands for Marquez. HARD counter left hook lands for Marquez. Quick three-punch combo lands for Marquez. Casamayor lands a left down the pipe. Wooooo...BIG left hand from Casamayor snaps the head back of Marquez. Another left hand from Casamayor drills Marquez. Marquez lands a nice three-punch combo upstairs. Right to the body lands for Marquez. Left hand lands for Casamayor. Marquez lands a right. They trade jabs. STIFF left hand from Casamayor snaps the head back of Marquez again. Another close round, but again I give it to the champion for landing some bigger, cleaner shots.
Casamayor 86 Marquez 85
ROUND 10
Jab lands for Marquez. Left hand lands for Marquez. Casamayor lands a jab. Left hook lands for Marquez. Right hand lands for Marquez. Right lands for Marquez and a left lands for Casamayor as they trade. BIG right hand lands for Marquez. Casamayor shakes it off. Right hand over the top lands for Marquez. Nice 1-2 lands for Marquez upstairs. Casamayor lands a left. Another left to the body followed by a right upstairs lands for Marquez. Two HARD right hands land for Marquez. STIFF jab lands for Marquez. Casamayor pops him with his own jab. Round to Marquez.
Casamayor 95 Marquez 95
ROUND 11
Casamayor pops him with his jab. Left hook followed by a right hand lands upstairs for Marquez. Another left hook followed by a right hand lands for Marquez. Jab lands for Marquez. Straight left lands for Casamayor. Left to the body lands for Casamayor, but he eats an uppercut. Counter left lands for Casamayor. Marquez rakes him with a left hook. HARD body shot lands for Marquez, but he eats a left from Casamayor. Left hook lands for Marquez and WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO....BIG RIGHT CROSS from Marquez floors Casamayor. He's up. Marquez jumps on him. He lets his hands go and lands a left hook, a right, a left and another HUGE right hand that crumples Casamayor. That's it. It's over.
THE WINNER BY WAY OF KNOCKOUT AT 2:55 OF ROUND 11...AND NEW LINEAR LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD...JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ
COMPUBOX
Juan Manuel Marquez total punches: 160/516
Joel Casamayor total punches: 122/552
POSTFIGHT
"We came well-prepared. We knew we had to do. We fight for the Mexican fans. Thank you," stated Marquez. "We moved up to get Pacquiao. This was a beautiful occassion. That's what we want, but we'll fight anyone my promoter wants," he continued. "He was the best lightweight. We knew we had to do....the best fighter is Floyd Mayweather, but now I'm the best."
SERGIO MORA VS. VERNON FORREST
PREFIGHT
Despite being sick for the press conference earlier today, Ricky Hatton is in attendance tonight and spoke with Mario Lopez. "It's exciting times with me...people may be a little bit puzzled with my choice in Floyd...I'm not known for me defense...I'm hoping he's going to add more to me game...working with Floyd, I think he'll add more to me game," he stated. Hatton looked pretty heavy. If I had to guess, I'd say he's probably weighing somewhere around 170 pounds. The challenger, Vernon Forrest, makes his way to the ring first looking extremely confident as he grins from ear to ear and smiles at the crowd. The champion, Sergio Mora, enters next. Not the most confident look on his face, but he looks ready for the task at hand. Forrest doing a lot of smack talking before the fight begins.
ROUND 1
Both men falling short with their jabs. Left hand from Forrest just grazes Mora. Mora sneaks in a jab. They clinch. Mora lands a jab to the body. Right to the body lands for Mora. Forrest lands a jab to the body. Hard left hook to the body lands for Mora. Forrest lands a jab. Jab lands for Mora. They trade jabs. Uneventful round, but I give it to Mora just for pressing the action.
Mora 10 Forrest 9
ROUND 2
Double jab from Mora. HARD right hand lands upstairs for Forrest and Mora holds on. Body shot lands for Forrest. Uppercut and a right hand lands for Forrest. They trade jabs. Mora lands a jab. Jab lands for Forrest. They trade jabs. Double jab lands for Forrest. Another double jab lands for Forrest. Right hand lands for Forrest. Jab lands again for Forrest. Mora on the retreat and not throwing a lot. Round to Forrest.
Mora 19 Forrest 19
ROUND 3
Forrest stalks. Mora circles and retreats. Right to the body lands for Forrest and they clash heads. Mora digs a right to the body. HARD body shots land for Forrest. Another nice left hand to the body lands for Forrest followed by an uppercut. They trade jabs. Mora lands a left hook. Jab and an uppercut lands for Forrest. They trade on the inside. Woooo...HARD left hook lands for Forrest and Mora just eats it. Another hard left hand followed by an uppercut lands for Forrest. Jab lands for Mora. Nice 1-2 lands for Mora, but not enough to win it. Round to Forrest.
Mora 28 Forrest 29
ROUND 4
Jab lands for Mora. Left and a right to the body lands for Forrest. Double jab lands for Forrest. Mora lands a couple of body shots during the clinch. Left hook and an uppercut lands for Forrest. Short right hand lands for Forrest. They trade jabs. Forrest backs him up to the ropes and lands a right to the body. They trade jabs again. HARD body shots land for Forrest. Mora retreats. Jab lands for Forrest. They trade on the inside. Round to Forrest.
Mora 37 Forrest 39
ROUND 5
Both men trade on the inside during the clinch. Mora lands a double jab. Left hook to the body lands for Forrest. They trade jabs. Mora lands some short left hooks upstairs. They trade on the inside again. Uppercut lands for Forrest and Mora is cut. Jab lands for Forrest. Left hook to the body lands for Forrest. Mora lands a jab. HARD right hand lands for Forrest. Mora retreats to the ropes. Forrest breaking Mora down. Overhand right lands for Forrest. NICE 1-2 lands for Forrest and Mora looks wobbled. BIG right hand lands for Forrest at the bell. Big round for Forrest.
Mora 46 Forrest 49
ROUND 6
They trade jabs to start the round. Forrest lands a couple of hard body shots. Mora trying to crowd Forrest on the inside. Forrest lands an uppercut and digs to the body. Right to the body lands for Forrest. Double jab lands for Mora. HARD right hand lands for Forrest and Mora looks rocked again. Another BIG right hand lands for Forrest against the ropes. Another. Forrest landing that right at will right now. Both men trade on the inside. 1-2 from Forrest just grazes Mora. HARD right hand to the body lands for Forrest. Mora lands a left hook. Two body shots land for Mora. Another big round for Forrest.
Mora 55 Forrest 59
ROUND 7
Mora lands a jab. Forrest lands a jab of his own. Right hand lands upstairs for Forrest. STIFF jab lands for Forrest. Mora lands a sloppy right hand. Mora breathing with his mouth wide open right now. Jab lands for Forrest. Another. Left hook to the body lands for Forrest. Nice three-punch combo lands for Forrest. Mora lands a left, but then he eats a right. WOOOOOOOOOO....BIG left hook lands for Forrest right at the bell and Mora's knees touches the ground. They call it a knockdown and Vic Drakulich gives him an eight count. BIG round for Forrest.
Mora 63 Forrest 69
ROUND 8
Two jabs land for Forrest. Right hand lands for Forrest. Wild left hook from Forrest misses. Mora against the ropes trying to slip punches from Forrest. Forrest lands a left. Short right hand lands for Forrest and Mora holds on. HARD right hand lands for Forrest and Mora looks shaky in there. They trade jabs. Right to the body lands for Mora. STIFF jab lands for Forrest. Left hook to the body lands for Forrest. Quick 1-2 lands for Forrest as he dances on his toes. Left hook upstairs lands for Forrest. Round to Forrest.
Mora 72 Forrest 79
ROUND 9
They trade jabs to start the round. Mora lands a right upstairs. Jab lands for Forrest. Mora answers with his own jab. WOOOOOOOOOOO....HARD right hand lands for Mora and Forrest holds on. They trade jabs. Nice uppercut lands for Forrest followed by a right hand and now Mora holds on. Another right hand lands for Forrest. HARD body shot lands for Forrest and Mora retreats. Two more HARD right hands land for Forrest followed by another right hand. Round to Forrest.
Mora 81 Forrest 89
ROUND 10
Mora comes out firing his jab. Short right hand down the pipe lands for Forrest. Jab to the body lands for Mora. They trade jabs. Forrest lands a right. Left hook to the body lands for Forrest. Mora tries to work him on the inside. Overhand right lands for Mora. A lot of clinching going on in this round by both men. Forrest works Mora along the ropes and lands a left and a right. Better round for Mora, but still not enough to win it.
Mora 90 Forrest 99
ROUND 11
Left and a right lands for Mora. Another right lands for Mora. WOOOOOOOO...HARD right hand lands for Forrest and Mora backs up. Right to the body lands for Forrest. Mora lands a left upstairs. They trade jabs. Short and crisp left hook lands for Forrest upstairs. Mora on the retreat. HARD 1-2 down the pipe lands for Forrest. Mora answers with a left. Uppercut lands for Forrest. Mora digs a left to the body. Round to Forrest.
Mora 99 Forrest 109
ROUND 12
Mora leaps in and tries to work the body. They trade jabs. Short left hook lands for Forrest. Left hook upstairs lands for Mora. Mora works the body. Forrest lands a left hook. 1-2 down the pipe lands for Forrest and Mora staggers. Nice four-punch combo lands for Mora on the inside. Two left hooks on the inside land for Mora. Forrest holds on. Jab lands for Forrest. They trade lefts. HARD uppercut lands for Forrest. Two BIG right hands land for Forrest to end the round. Round to Forrest.
Mora 108 Forrest 119
"That's the difference between a contender and a champion," stated Forrest before the scorecards are read.
Official judges scorecards: 118-109, 117-110, 119-108
THE WINNER BY UNANIMOUS DECISION...AND NEW WBC JR. MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION...VERNON FORREST
COMPUBOX
Mora total punches: 83/477
Forrest total punches: 231/634
POSTFIGHT
"I told ya'll my better was better than his better," stated Forrest. "That's the difference between a contender and a champion...I just had a bad night," he continued. "That was the way I was supposed to have fought the first time...my body was flat...this time, I controlled him with the jab...all the young guys out there, this is basic boxing 101...the jab sets up everything!"
VICTOR ORTIZ VS. ROBERTO ARRIETA
PREFIGHT
Paulie Malignaggi is in attendance and speaks to Mario Lopez. "I'm looking very forward to the fight," he stated regarding his clash with Ricky Hatton. "I plan on picking myself up, looking a lot better against Ricky and dominating that fight in style...I think experience is the biggest key...I'm much stronger mentally...I can't wait to get it on," he continued. Arrieta makes his way to the ring first wearing some kind of teal Count Dracula cape. He looks confident as he dances his way to the ring. Oritz comes in next wearing a sombrero and carrying a Mexican and an American flag.
ROUND 1
Both men come out pawing with their jabs. Left hand lands for Ortiz. Another left hand to the body lands for Ortiz. Wild right hand from Arrieta is blocked. Quick 1-2 lands for Ortiz. HARD right hand lands for Ortiz and Arrieta ties him up. Ortiz stalking behind his jab as Arrieta retreats cautiously. Right hand sneaks in for Ortiz. Round to Ortiz.
Ortiz 10 Arrieta 9
ROUND 2
WOOOOOOOOO...BLISTERING right and a left lands for Ortiz and Arrieta is down to start the round. He's back up and takes the count. HARD right to the body lands for Ortiz. They trade and Arrieta ties him up. Uppercut and a left hook lands for Ortiz on the inside. Arrieta rakes him with a right. HARD uppercut lands for Ortiz. Wooooo...HARD right to the body lands for Ortiz. Another right hook upstairs lands for Ortiz. They trade jabs. Nice exchange to end the round. Big round for Ortiz, who's looking sharp and dominant in there.
Ortiz 20 Arrieta 17
ROUND 3
Ortiz measuring with his jab. WOOOOOO...another HARD right hand followed by a straight left drives Arrieta to the ropes. Arreita on the retreat. Left hand lands upstairs for Ortiz. Arrieta rakes him with a right. They clinch. 1-2 lands again for Ortiz. Left hook to the body followed by an uppercut lands for Ortiz. Arrieta lands a left and a right of his own. Round to Ortiz.
Ortiz 30 Arrieta 26
ROUND 4
Left hand down the pipe lands for Ortiz. Arrieta circles and retreats. NICE three-punch combo lands for Ortiz. Arrieta holds on. Ortiz jumps in and lands another blistering combo and Arrieta is down. He's back up and takes the count. WOOOOOOO....HARD uppercut lands for Ortiz. Another left hand lands for Ortiz and Arrieta is cut. Arrieta retreats. Ortiz lands a monstrous three-punch combo. Arrieta holds on. Arrieta lands a right. Another big round for Ortiz.
Ortiz 40 Arrieta 34
ROUND 5
Arrieta circling and retreating. Ortiz stalking. Left hand upstairs lands for Ortiz. Right hook lands for Ortiz. Left to the body lands for Ortiz. Woooo...HARD right hook on the inside lands for Ortiz. Two uppercuts land for Ortiz. Another HARD right hand lands for Ortiz. Another uppercut lands for Ortiz and Arrieta is down. He's up. Nady starts the count, but stops it and calls a halt to the bout. Impressive performance by Ortiz.
THE WINNER BY WAY OF KNOCKOUT AT 2:25 OF ROUND 5...VICTOR ORTIZ
COMPUBOX
Ortiz total punches: 61/237
Arrieta total punches: 23/141
JULIO GARCIA VS. DANNY PEREZ
PREFIGHT
What do you know...Mario Lopez is on hand for commentating duties, along with Ron Borges and Barry Tompkins. Kind of odd to watch an HBO PPV without Lampley and Merchant, but whatever. Controversy alert: Joe Cortez is the ref for this fight. Pretty empty crowd considering it's 3 fights away from the main event.
ROUND 1
Perez comes out firing his jab. Two HARD left hooks land for Perez. They trade jabs. Perez looks to be the faster of the two. Right hand lands upstairs for Garcia. Double jab from Garcia. Perez digs a left to the body. Nice 1-2 lands for Garcia. Perez sticks him with a few more jabs. Looping left hook lands for Garcia. Perez answers with a nice left of his own. Right hand down the pipe lands for Garcia. Round To Perez.
Perez 10 Garcia 9
ROUND 2
Perez comes out firing a nice combo that backs Garcia up. Perez walking him down and landing his jab while Garcia just circles. Nice right hand lands for Perez. Garcia ties him up. Right and a left lands for Perez. HARD left to the body lands for Perez along the ropes. Now Garcia answers with a HARD left to the body of his own. Perez continues to stick him with his jab. Right hook upstairs and a left to the body lands for Perez. Round to Perez.
Perez 20 Garcia 18
ROUND 3
They trade jabs. Perez lands a nice left hook upstaris. Nice combo lands for Garcia, but Perez answers with his own combo. Perez continues to walk Garcia down. Uppercut lands for Perez. Right hand lands for Perez. Garcia digs a right to the body. Woooo...nice 1-2 down the pipe lands for Perez. Another nice left hand lands for Perez. They trade shots to the body. Garcia on the retreat. Perez sticks him with the jab. Clubbing right hand lands for Garcia. Three jabs in a row land for Perez. Two hard body shots land for Perez. Round to Perez.
Perez 30 Garcia 27
ROUND 4
Left hook upstairs lands for Garcia. Perez triples up with his jab...upstairs and downstairs. Stiff jab lands for Perez. Garcia looks unwilling to pull trigger as he continues to circle and do nothing. A clash of heads momentarily halts the action. Garcia looks like he's ready to just pack it in. 1-2 lands for Perez. Garcia sneaks in some body shots. Right and a left lands for Perez. Two jabs land for Perez. HARD left hook lands for Perez. Garcia didn't like it. Perez continues to pepper him with the jab. NICE right hand lands for Perez and Garcia backs up to the corner. Round to Perez.
Perez 40 Garcia 36
ROUND 5
More jabs land for Perez. Garcia just eats them. HARD left hook to the body lands for Garcia. They trade uppercuts on the inside. Another nice left hook to the body lands for Garcia. They trade jabs. Garcia lands a right upstairs. Woooo...nice 1-2 lands for Garcia, who appears to be stepping it up this round. Two nice body shots land for Perez. They trade uppercuts on the inside again. STIFF jab lands for Perez. Nice three-punch combo lands for Perez. Right and a left down the pipe lands for Perez. Wooooo...nice left hook lands for Garcia. They trade on the inside. Garcia's best round of the night. Might not have been quite enough to win it, but I'll give it to him.
Perez 49 Garcia 46
ROUND 6
Perez digs four hard shots to the body. Garcia backs up. Right hand, two left hooks and another right lands for Perez. Perez continues to work him along the ropes. Garcia just retreating. HARD body shots land for Perez. Perez landing his jab at will. Another HARD body shot lands for Perez. Garcia retreats. Garcia rakes him with a left hook. Perez walks him down and lands a 1-2. Garcia lands an uppercut. Nice left hook lands for Perez to end the round. Round to Perez.
Perez 59 Garcia 55
ROUND 7
Perez works the body to start the round. Perez just circles in the middle of the ring and lands his jab. Nice 1-2 down the pipe lands upstairs for Perez. Another right hand lands for Perez. Some boos from the crowd as Garcia just circles in retreat. Now Garcia lands his best left hand, but Perez shakes it off like it was nothing. 1-2 down the pipe lands again for Perez. Garcia lands a 1-2 of his own. Left to the body followed by a right upstairs lands for Perez. Left hook and right hook lands for Perez. Nice four-punch combo lands for Perez. They trade on the inside. Round to Perez.
Perez 69 Garcia 64
ROUND 8
Perez sticks him with his jab. Right and left upstairs land for Perez. Garcia holds on. They trade on the inside. HARD right hand down the pipe lands for Perez. Two uppercuts land for Perez. Garcia on the retreat. Right hand lands for Garcia. Perez works his body. NASTY uppercut followed by a body shot land for Perez. Easy round for Perez.
Perez 79 Garcia 73
ROUND 9
More jabs from Perez. Garcia rakes him with a looping right hand. They trade right hands upstairs. Garcia lands a left to the body. Right hand lands upstairs for Perez. Perez works him along the ropes as Garcia just lays there. More boos from the crowd. Left hook lands for Perez. Right hand lands upstairs for Perez. They trade, but Perez is landing the better shots. Right and a left lands upstairs for Perez. Round to Perez.
Perez 89 Garcia 82
ROUND 10
Garcia tries to let his hands go, but Perez blocks most of those punches. They trade on the inside. Perez triples up on his jab. Garcia tries to work the body. Uppercut lands fo Garcia. 1-2 lands for Garcia. Woooooo...NICE three-punch combo lands for Perez. 1-2 upstairs lands for Perez. Perez walks him down and lands a combo along the ropes. Perez continues to work him along the ropes. Round to Perez.
Perez 99 Garcia
Official judges scorecards: 100-90, 99-91, 97-93
THE WINNER BY UNANIMOUS DECISION...DANNY PEREZ
COMPUBOX
Garcia total punches: 85/545
Perez total punches: 275/830
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