Quijano: Ace fighting by ALA pugs in Pinoy Pride XV
-A A +ALast Round
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
WELL, they came, they fought and they faltered. That pretty much sums up the fate of the three Mexican opponents who fought at Pinoy Pride XV last Saturday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
JACA. There was no fattened cow to mark the return of so-called prodigal son of local boxing, but Jimrex Jaca sure came to slaughter.
Jaca (35-, 6 20KOs) showed Angel Martinez was nowhere near his class by dictating the pace early in the fight.
He was particularly accurate with his left straight and Martinez just didn’t have an
answer for it.
Martinez (13-3, 9KOs) did his best and tried to hang in there, but he became weaker as the bout progressed and the body shots that Jaca interspersed with his scintillating combos became too much bear.
He was knocked down in rounds 3 and 7 and crowd was like a baying wolf pack sensing kill, but Martinez soldiered on.
But just as we thought he would survive to hear the final bell, Jaca caught the tired Martinez with a near-perfect left straight that sent him down. He tried to beat the count, but his body betrayed him, netting Jaca a last–second stoppage victory.
Jaca who was on a three-fight losing streak in 2008 when he fought abroad, is now on a streak of 7 wins all via stoppage since then.
He is now reportedly eyeing a rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez who defeated him in 9 rounds back in 2006.
I think Jaca should fight top-caliber competition first before gunning for that coveted rematch.
A bad trait which I think Jaca needs to unlearn is his penchant for admiring his work.
On numerous occasions that he had Martinez hurt, he stopped to look at his opponent, seemingly assessing the damage he inflicted.
Against “Dinamita” Marquez, you can’t stand around waiting for a delivery receipt, as he will pummel you with counters, which is pretty much what transpired the first time they met.
SERVANIA. Genesis dished out his usual workmanlike performance and won via unanimous decision, improving his unblemished record to 19 wins with 6 knockouts.
I thought he would end matters early when a booming right hand found its mark in the first round, but the well-conditioned Jorge Pazos (20-4, 13KOs) survived.
He would get knocked down again in rounds eight and nine, but he never shied away from the exchanges, earning the crowd’s admiration. Pazos reportedly vomited in his dressing room post-fight, but was given immediate medical attention and pronounced out of danger.
“Azukal” is a truly one of our budding stars, and fights like this will do him good as he can get some rounds in, and allows him valuable experience in handling unmitigated attrition.
He always sets his feet before he unleashes his combos which allow him to draw adequate power while at the same time giving him proper balance to deal with any return fire.
PAGARA. Jason Pagara (29-2, 18KOs) acquitted himself quite well in this rematch, it left many wondering where was the Rosbel Montoya who dominated their first encounter.
A brutal body shot knocked down the taller Montoya in the very first round, and that pretty much dictated the complexion of the fight.
Pagara’s team crafted the perfect strategy of walking down “El Lobito” who seemed flustered and clueless when he had to fight backing up.
Another body shot hurt the visiting Mexican in the third round, but he got up and was exchanging on even terms in the fourth and fifth rounds.
In round six however, seemingly unable to deal with the vicious body attack unleashed by Pagara, Montoya turned away but one of Pagara’s blows landed on his exposed arm, injuring it and causing the abrupt denouement of the fight.
Montoya seemed listless and uninspired in this match, while in contrast, Pagara was brimming with determination and clearly eager to redeem himself.
VERBATIM. “If you look at Jon Jones and think of a man who can beat him, you would think of someone with great KO power, the best chin in the sport because – with his reach—Jones is going to hit you, great wrestling and a relentlessly aggressive style.
That man already exists—and his name is Dan Henderson.”-Chael Sonnen on UFC 151
LAST ROUNDS. Are on my inaanak, King Caleb Badiang and this week‘s birthday celebrants, Ethan and Ellie Siu and Dr. Gerry Ypil. Cheers!
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on August 22, 2012.
Sports
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