Photos: Emmanuel Rodriguez Drops, Decisions Gary Antonio Russell

Barclays Center, Brooklyn - In a crossroads battle between ranked bantamweights, former world champion Emmanuel Rodriguez (21-2, 13 KOs) picked up a big win with a ten round technical decision over previously undefeated Gary Antonio Russell (19-1, 12 KOs). (photos by Stephanie Trapp)

The scores were 100-90, 99-91 and 99-93.

They met in the ring back in August, but the bout ended in a no-contest only moments into the first round, after a clash of heads opened up a cut on Rodriguez and he was unable to continue. 

In the first round, Rodriguez stunned Russell with a counter right and had him stumbling in the closing moments. The next few rounds were very close, with Rodriguez using well time counters to give Russell issues. In the fourth, Rodriguez rocked Russell for a second time with big counter that shook his legs.

Russell came out firing in the fifth round. He was taking the fight to Rodriguez and looking to change the tempo. Rodriguez began to rally in the final minute with accurate punches of his own. Rodriguez continued to box well and outland Russell in the sixth and seventh. Russell did well in the eight. He was active and landed the better punches. But at the end of the eight, Rodriguez dropped Russell hard with a big right hand. Russell was in serious trouble. He beat the count just as the bell ended.

In the ninth, there was a bad clash of heads that sent Rodriguez down and opened up a cut under his left eye. When the round ended, the boxers went back to their corners - but the fight was stopped in the opening seconds of the tenth by the doctors due to Rodriguez's injury from the head clash.