Amway Center, Orlando, Florida – In the Main event of the evening, the come-backing Puerto Rican super star, Miguel Cotto (38-4, 31KOs) stopped a completely out-classed Delvin Rodriguez (28-7-3, 16KOs) in the third round of a scheduled 12.
Cotto started off fast, sporting improved foot work from his previous outings at the weight and fighting with ultimate confidence. It didn’t take long for the former four time, three division champion to impose his will on the Dominican born Rodriguez.
Launching a stiff double jab to conceal his true intentions, Miguel Cotto worked on the body of Rodriguez like the Cotto of old. Early on, it became clear that facing Indian reservation casino fighters did little to prepare Delvin Rodriguez for the near complete package that Miguel Cotto would bring to the ring.
Cotto would continue to push Rodriguez around the squared circle and at the close of the second round, a hard shot Miguel landed to Rodriguez’s head stunned him for seconds following the sound of the bell. In the third and final round, the writing was all but on the wall for Delvin Rodriguez. Cotto, hunting and stalking lands a right hand to the body of Rodriguez as he’s pinned on the ropes, it is followed closely by a big left upstairs; Delvin Rodriguez crumples to the earth as referee Frank Santore Jr. intervenes and halts the bout at 2:42 of round number three.
In the co-main event, Terence “Hunter” Crawford (22-0, 16KOs) totally shut out Russian import, Andrey Klimov (16-1, 8KOs) over ten lop sided rounds. The Nebraska resident began to hit his stride towards the end of the first round, after a feeling out process, Crawford began to land with solid counters and was able to out-speed the Russian.
Early on in the match, Terrence Crawford figured out that if he switched to the southpaw stance then the Russian fighter would have absolutely no answers for him all night. Crawford was correct in his assessment as Klimov was unable to adjust to any of the sticking, moving or counter punching that came from the American for the duration of the contest.
The unorthodox style that Crawford employed allowed him greater countering opportunities against the 31 year-old Andrey Klimov, who fought like he’s never been in the ring with a southpaw before. Despite a quite restless crowd, Terence Crawford kept his composure and pot-shotted, countered and jabbed the game Andrey Klimov to a total shut out on all three judges score cards. The Boxing Tribune also had it 100-90.
On the undercard –
25-year-old undefeated Puerto Rican featherweight prospect Jayson Velez (21-0, 15 KOs) took a hard-fought unanimous decision from a more than game Dat Nguyen (17-3, 6 KOs) by scores of 96-93, 96-93, and 98-91.
In a super featherweight fight, Felix Verdejo (8-0, 6KOs), 20, of Puerto Rico, took out Gary Eyer (11-4-1, 7KOs), 27, of Duluth Minnesota. Verdejo completely dominated and beat up Eyer for a TKO in the second round. A very excellent showing from the young Puerto Rican and a very fan friendly style may make this former amateur standout become must see T.V. one day.
Also on the bill was Moises Carasquillo Jr. (4-0, 3KOs), 22, fighting out of Orlando, Florida as he took on Steven Chadwick (2-5, 1KO), 35 of Jacksonville, Florida. Both fighters were tight in the early going, however, Carrasquillo controlled much of the action through two. Chadwick managed to land a couple of glancing punches off the defense of Carrasquillo, but apparently the 35 year-old was better at posturing than was he at boxing. Moises Carasquillo Jr. pulls in a UD with all judges turning in a 40-36 score.
In the first bout of the evening, Ricky Tomllinson of Thonotasassa, Florida (1-0-1, 1KO)gave Lamar Charlton, 35 (1-4-2, 1KO) all he could handle with his long reach, and good movement. Often times, Ricky’s faster hands led to him being first, however, the quicker footed Lamar Charlton was able to avoid most of the incoming punishment, and neutralize the advantages that Tomllinson brought. The two fledgling fighters fought nervous throughout the first half of the fight, leaving some to be desired, but both men should be featured on further Top Rank undercards – they both had decent showings and it reflected in the split draw that both men received after four rounds.
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