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(continuation)
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Undercard Highlights...
* After months of verbal sparring with his fellow countryman but hated rival Hector Camacho, Puerto Rico's Edwin Rosario stepped into the ring for his professional debut tonight hoping to impress. He succeeded in that goal but his efforts weren't enough to satisfy the judges as he was held to a draw by the unfancied Trinidad and Tobago native Claude Noel. In an action-packed contest Noel overachieved just enough to secure the surprising result. When it was all over each scorecard showed a 57-57 verdict but in the opinion of some at ringside Rosario had been hard done by.
The opening round was even most of the way through, Noel just edging it with a flurry in the final thirty seconds before Rosario appeared to have the better of an exciting round two. He maintained control through the 3rd but Noel was back in the running after a busy 4th. Round five looked to be another close one until Rosario stole it with a ripping body shot and a hard right hand late in the piece. He then controlled the final stanza and felt he'd done enough to win.
Noel landed more punches (162-148) but never came close to hurting Rosario. The Puerto Rican was the busier, more willing fighter throughout, connecting with a bunch of damaging blows and throwing almost twice as many punches as Noel (596-304). Rosario did not hide his disappointment afterwards.
"So they award him for landing his little pancake punches!?!" he fumed. "My sister can hit harder than him. I really can't believe this, can't believe that they could think he was anywhere close to winning that fight."
* To make matters worse for Rosario, his enemy Hector Camacho scored a dazzling unanimous decision victory over highly-regarded compatriot Alfredo Escalera in the Co-Feature (59-54, 59-55, 59-54). Entering the ring accompanied by a quartet of curvaceous latina beauties Camacho was the definition of smug overconfidence, wearing a maroon satin robe and trunks of the same colour that were ablaze with silver and gold sequins. Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca" was abusing the arena's speakers, Camacho busting some latin-infused dance moves and cavorting with his female friends much to Escalera's chagrin.
When the bout started Camacho was able to back up his outlandish antics in fantastic style, using blinding hand speed to keep Escalera on the back foot before sending him to the canvas with a stinging ribshot late in the round. Escalera was up at five and survived the round, but not before Camacho peppered him with a jolting three-punch combo at the bell. The 19 year-old shouted and nodded his head confidently as he scrambled back to his corner, pumped up and in charge. He'd landed 38 punches in the frame, that total being eclipsed when he connected with 53 in an astonishing 2nd round, Camacho catching Escalera with something akin to machine gun fire in between some surprisingly hard power shots. A solid left hook and a snapping uppercut late in the round had Escalera on unsteady legs but once again he made it to the bell.
It continued in this fashion through the next four rounds, although Escalera increased his workrate as the fight progressed. It didn't help him as, to go with his exciting offense, Camacho displayed excellence on the defensive side of things also. He only took his foot off the accelerator in the 4th before re-applying the blowtorch in the 5th and then again in a frantic final round. Even though he had clearly dominated the contest Camacho tried to knock his man out, stalking Escalera around the ring in a display of aggression that no one had expected.
Punch totals
Camacho: 220/590 (.373)
Escalera: 106/532 (.199)
"I came out here to make a statement," said an exuberant Camacho. "Let no one doubt that I am the man to beat in this group and the whole Lightweight division. Not Whitaker or that African guy Nelson or even Zulueta, and definitely not Rosario. It's me, Hectorrr, Ca-ma-cho!!!"
Camacho's supporting entourage ate it all up, chanting his name and clapping as he nodded and pumped his right fist high in the air. Despite the sheer arrogance and bragadociousness of it all, one could not help but be caught up in the excitement of the celebration. Camacho schooled Escalera beyond a shadow of a doubt and that is no mean feat. It will be fascinating to see if he can produce a performance of this quality in his next outing...
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