First of let me say that last night was incredibly humid and fairly hot night for outdoor fights. We've had almost constant rain in the metroplex for the last couple weeks. And I think it really showed in some of the fights... Most notably the first televised one...
Broner vs. Quintero
Broner looked pretty sharp in the opening rounds but quickly tired. He seemed unable to figure out Quintero's head movement and despite some impressive combinations at times by Broner, Quintero seemed to land the more significant shots. After the fight Broner was discouraged, shaking his head at his performance (which he also did at the end of rounds occasionally). He did NOT look like the prospect he's supposed to be, though some of this may be attributed to the heat/humidty and fighting a tougher than expected opponent. I thought Broner lost the fight and I can only think some judges must have known Quintero was there as "the opponent". At any rate, Broner remains a prospect and one can only hope this was a growing experience for him.
Craig McEwan vs. Brain Vera
I don't know how this fight came across on TV, but in person it was a highly enjoyable scrap. Vera showed why he was able to beat Andy Lee. He has a strong overhand right, will push the action and can take a decent punch (what happened against Codrington is a mystery to me). Vera actually cut McEwan under his left eye early in the fight. I didn't see this mentioned anywhere in print, maybe because it did not amount to anything over the course of the fight.
What most impressed me about McEwan was not hand speed or power, but terrific versatility and foot movement. And even more so, his conditioning. He was the only fighter all night that went past four rounds and still kept a spring in his step despite the humidity. He used Vera's aggressiveness to his advantage to lure him in, punch in combinations and circle. At 27, he's a good deal older than most prospects and his defense needs work, but under Roach's tutelage I believe he could be a legit contender someday in the Middleweight division.
Carlos Ivan Velasquez vs. Andres Ledesma
This fight occurred after the TV coverage ended. I mention it because Velasquez is another big prospect. He defeated Yuriorkis Gamboa en route to winning gold in the "2006 Central American and Caribbean Games". Velasquez had the quickest hands of the night; a step up from even Broner's first round speed. Due to injury this was his first fight back since the Casamayor-Marquez undercard. He made quick work of Ledesma last night, knocking him down twice in the first and scoring the TKO at 2:59 of the round. I expect he will fight again very shortly as he says he wants to try to get a title shot within a year.
Broner vs. Quintero
Broner looked pretty sharp in the opening rounds but quickly tired. He seemed unable to figure out Quintero's head movement and despite some impressive combinations at times by Broner, Quintero seemed to land the more significant shots. After the fight Broner was discouraged, shaking his head at his performance (which he also did at the end of rounds occasionally). He did NOT look like the prospect he's supposed to be, though some of this may be attributed to the heat/humidty and fighting a tougher than expected opponent. I thought Broner lost the fight and I can only think some judges must have known Quintero was there as "the opponent". At any rate, Broner remains a prospect and one can only hope this was a growing experience for him.
Craig McEwan vs. Brain Vera
I don't know how this fight came across on TV, but in person it was a highly enjoyable scrap. Vera showed why he was able to beat Andy Lee. He has a strong overhand right, will push the action and can take a decent punch (what happened against Codrington is a mystery to me). Vera actually cut McEwan under his left eye early in the fight. I didn't see this mentioned anywhere in print, maybe because it did not amount to anything over the course of the fight.
What most impressed me about McEwan was not hand speed or power, but terrific versatility and foot movement. And even more so, his conditioning. He was the only fighter all night that went past four rounds and still kept a spring in his step despite the humidity. He used Vera's aggressiveness to his advantage to lure him in, punch in combinations and circle. At 27, he's a good deal older than most prospects and his defense needs work, but under Roach's tutelage I believe he could be a legit contender someday in the Middleweight division.
Carlos Ivan Velasquez vs. Andres Ledesma
This fight occurred after the TV coverage ended. I mention it because Velasquez is another big prospect. He defeated Yuriorkis Gamboa en route to winning gold in the "2006 Central American and Caribbean Games". Velasquez had the quickest hands of the night; a step up from even Broner's first round speed. Due to injury this was his first fight back since the Casamayor-Marquez undercard. He made quick work of Ledesma last night, knocking him down twice in the first and scoring the TKO at 2:59 of the round. I expect he will fight again very shortly as he says he wants to try to get a title shot within a year.
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