FOX SPORTS & OSCAR DE LA HOYA DO CHICAGO
Ronny Rios-Andrew Cancio
Chicago, IL– It was an exciting night with boxing at the UIC Pavilion and broadcast on Fox Sports. The main event was a barn burner, filled with back and forth action between jr. lightweights (130 lb.) Ronny Rios (23-0. 10 KOs) and Andrew Cancio (15-3-2, 11 KOs). The two men stood in a phone booth and exchanged punches like a pair of “boxing” robots which made each round difficult to score.
RIOS FOUGHT “REAL” SMART
Although Cancio appeared to be physically stronger and the harder puncher, it was Rios’ more intelligent inside fighting, sharper jab, footwork, and quicker combinations that allowed him to keep his undefeated record intact despite running out of gas in the final two rounds.
VICTOR LOOKED GOOD UNTIL GASSING!
The cards read 97-93 (twice) and 96-94 all in his favor.
“I’m not gonna lie, he did have a hard punch,” Rios admitted to reporters afterwards. “At first I felt like he was timid a little bit, like he wasn’t swinging on his punches and then I thought the first 8 rounds I thought I was winning clearly then I let him back into the late rounds. In like the 8th, 9th, 10th, that’s when I thought I let it get closer than what it should be.”
SEMI MAIN EVENT WAS PATHETIC MISMATCH
There was scarcely a dull moment throughout the entire card. The co-main event featured Julian Ramirez (11-0, 6 KOs), who is being groomed by Golden Boy Promotions as a future contender in the featherweight (126 lb.) division. His opponent, the game yet unequipped Carlos Rodriguez (22-14-3, 10 KOs) was no world beater but with close to 40 fights to his credit what he brought was experience and durability which enabled the bustling prospect from East Los Angeles to get some rounds in.
COULD HAVE HUNG RODRIGUEZ LIKE AN EVERLAST BAG
In other words, Rodriguez was a human, professional, punching bag for the undefeated prospect he was brought in to showcase. From the outset, Rodriguez had no answers for his younger opponent’s high volume activity. Ramirez delivered a slow and methodical beat down; stalking his foe, smothering him, and pushing him towards the ropes. Once he had him there, he worked the Los Mochis, Mexico native’s body before hammering upstairs then going back down. It was a rinse and repeat process that took the spirit out of Rodriguez, who was often seen walking to the wrong corner at the end of each round. Surprisingly, he lasted until the final bell where a unanimous decision in favor of Julian Ramirez was announced as expected.
BEAT DOWNS NOT GOOD FOR WINNER OR LOSER
Part of the reason for Rodriguez lasting as long as he did is because of his toughness. Some of it however, was due to Ramirez’s over patience and lack of killer instinct. Ramirez is still only 21 years old but much remains to be seen regarding his development. He’s not exactly a defensive wizard. How will he respond once he is hit flush? What happens when someone takes his best shot but keeps moving forward? Can he fight going backwards? These questions will be answered in time and their answers will reveal much about Ramirez’s true potential as a professional.
CHI-TOWN UNDERCARD STANDOUTS!
The non-televised portion of the cards were plenty entertaining as well. Semajay Thompson, an amateur U.S. National champion, scored a quick first round knockout in his third pro bout. Alex Martin, a 2012 U.S National Golden Gloves champion and Olympic alternate, stopped his opponent in the second round. The amateur accomplishments of both young men speak for themselves and it appears as if they are translating their talents into the pros just fine. Both are worth keeping an eye on.
All in all, it was another great night of fights in one of the most underrated fight cities in America.
Jason B. Nava