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Steve KimESPN
Former WBO world featherweight champion Oscar Valdez defeated Jayson Velez by technical knockout in the 10th round in the Top Rank Card Main Event Tuesday at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.
It was the first time Valdez had been in the ring since November, when he defeated late replacement opponent Adam Lopez by TKO in the seventh round.
It wasn’t easy for Valdez, who often struggled with Velez’s aggression, but Valdez’s superior power took over along the way.
Velez (29-7-1, 21 KOs) put Valdez on the defensive from the start, but Valdez (28-0, 22 KOs) finally settled in and started to walk away. A left hook sent Velez to the canvas at the end of the fifth round, and then in the ninth a series of power shots buzzed at Velez.
In 10, Valdez made the decision to pour it and not play it safe. After shaking Velez with a left hook, that same blow then brought Velez down once more. Velez got up, and then was overrun by another series of punches from Valdez, and when he tripped on the ropes, the fight was interrupted at 2:23 by referee Tony Weeks.
For Vélez, it was his first loss by stoppage in 37 professional fights.
“Vélez was everything I expected, a tough warrior who fought with all his heart,” Valdez said after his victory. “I congratulate him on his great performance and a great fight.”
Valdez’s overall performance left questions about how effective he is at junior lightweight after moving from featherweight. And after his fourth fight under coach Eddy Reynoso, there is still doubt as to whether this is right for him.
“I never stop learning. I will go back to the gym and keep improving,” Valdez said. “I am in a great rhythm with my coach Eddy Reynoso.”
The following for Valdez is supposed to be a showdown against WBC junior lightweight titlist Miguel Berchelt.
“Miguel Berchelt is the fight I want,” said Valdez. “He has the WBC title at 130 pounds. I want the WBC title. Miguel and I would have a great fight.”
To carry out: Although Valdez scored a knockout in the tenth round over Velez, which is very tough, you wonder if Valdez is going through an identity crisis. The end result was excellent, but the process that drove him left you wondering if he’s going through a little change as a fighter.
And the most important question … is Eddy Reynoso the right coach for him. This does not affect the highly successful Reynoso, who works with middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and lightweight sensation Ryan Garcia. Reynoso is an excellent coach, but he may not be the right one for Valdez. After four fights together, the light has not yet been turned on for Valdez under his guidance.
In short, Valdez at his best is an attacking fighter who initiates contact. He is not a fighter who is really comfortable or adept at standing up and trying to fight back. That just isn’t who he is. Valdez is the type of fighter whose offense is his best defense. Regardless of the techniques being taught, they should always be implemented aggressively.
It’s just not Canelo, who has mastered the art of sliding, rolling, and counterattacking.
His best moments against Velez came when he was taking the lead and creating his starts instead of waiting for them. To be fair, Vélez is an extremely durable fighter who has never been stopped in the previous 36 fights, and in his last bout he pushed Jaime Arbodela to the limit, losing a split decision in dispute. Vélez is still a very useful guy, and he made his characteristic effort.
But looking ahead, if Valdez wants to have a legitimate shot at defeating Berchelt, he must be himself.
Berlanga scores another first-round KO
Super middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga added to his impressive first-round knockout streak by stopping Eric Moon at 1:02 of the opening stanza. For Berlanga, it is the 14th consecutive first-round victory that begins his career.
Moon (11-3, 6 KOs) started the fight by running towards Berlanga (14-0, 14 KOs), trying to put him on his heels. But after that initial explosion, Berlanga settled in and started stalking Moon. When he put it in the neutral corner, Berlanga connected a booming right hand that caused Moon to collapse on the canvas, and so, it was over. Referee Kenny Bayless really had no choice but to shake things up when he did. It took Moon a few minutes to recover before standing up.
“It was another fight for me,” Berlanga said later. “We prepared to go to the rounds, but I hurt him and got him out of there.”
“I still have a lot of room to grow as a fighter. The power is there, but I will show everyone that I am a complete fighter. The knockout streak is great, but there is more to me than first round knockouts.” “
To carry out: What was thought to be a bit of a test run, or at least an opportunity to make it to the second round, turned into another display of Berlanga’s super middleweight raw power.
In 14 professional fights, he has 14 first round knockouts.
It’s natural to be skeptical of a spark register because it could absolutely be a by-product of smooth pairing. But while Berlanga has not faced any monsters, he has faced a litany of enemies that have generally been very long-lasting.
However, against Berlanga, they last less than three minutes.
Maybe it was because of the crowd-free atmosphere, but hearing Berlanga’s shots up close was something else. They seemed to reverberate on the walls within “the bubble”. They sound and look different than most other boxers.
Some say punchers are born, not made. Well, Berlanga is a born puncher.
Edgar Berlanga 😳 … 168 better care with this brother friend. 14-0 … ALL FIRST KO
– Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) July 22, 2020
Edgar Berlanga is the truth! 14-0 14 consecutive knockouts in the 1st round 😂💪🏾💪🏾
– Emmanuel Sanders (@ ESanders_10) July 22, 2020
Clavel dominates González in unanimous decision victory
Junior flyweight Kim Clavel defeated Natalie González by unanimous decision in a fast-paced bout. After eight rounds, the scores were identical for all three judges: 80-72.
There were a lot of good exchanges between the two, but Carnation always seemed to be a little bit faster and half a step faster. Neither Clavel (12-0, 2 KOs) nor González (6-1, 1 KO) were actually injured, but it was not for lack of attempts, as a multitude of punches were thrown during the fight. Clavel hit 131 of 522 total strokes, and Gonzalez hit 58 of 348.
“I knew it would be a difficult fight because she is a good fighter,” said Clavel. “[Gonzalez] He had a good amateur training. This was my first time here. I had some pressure, but with each round, I felt better and better in the ring with my coach. We won every round. This is what we wanted. “
Although the scorecards were extensive, they did not necessarily reflect how competitive many of the rounds were.
“I felt good in the ring. Of course, it was unique, but I didn’t feel any different,” Clavel said. “Preparing for this fight went well. I felt the pressure on me because it was a great stage. It was my first time here in Las Vegas. What a great experience.”
Carnation, who won the 2020 ESPYS Pat Tillman Award for service for her work as an overnight nurse in retirement and senior care centers during the coronavirus pandemic, putting her boxing career on hold, said she I would like to return sooner rather than later.
“I would love to stay active and fight again before the end of 2020,” he said. “I want to be the best in the light flyweight division.”
Rodríguez remains undefeated with victory by TKO
Junior welterweight prospect Elvis Rodriguez scored a revealing second-round TKO over Dennis Okoth to stay undefeated. What was thought to be a great test for “The Dominican Kid” was, instead, an outstanding reel knockout. With a short and straight left hand, Rodríguez sent Okoth to the canvas to end the fight.
Okoth (4-4-1, 2 KOs) had a well-earned reputation as a difficult opponent who had taken other perspectives, giving them a difficult time. But after a relatively calm first round, a single left hand brought him down. It took him a few minutes to climb onto the stool, stand up, and exit the ring.
Rodriguez, 24, (8-0-1, 8 KOs), who scored a first-round stoppage for Danny Murray on July 2, is gaining momentum as one of the sport’s best prospects.
To carry out: No list of the best prospects in the sport of boxing is complete without Elvis Rodríguez. Once again, Rodríguez demonstrated that for formerly enduring Dennis Okoth, who has faced a myriad of young fighters (he has wins over fighters who were 10-0 and 10-1) and has never been overpowered that way.
Rodríguez has been a secret inside Top Rank’s stable, but after Tuesday, I would say that the secret is out. This is absolutely a guy to control 140 for years to come. He is tall and tall with boxing skills and legitimate power in both hands.
Rodríguez, who trains with Hall of Fame coach Freddie Roach, could return to the José Ramírez-Viktor Postol undercard on August 29.
Dogboe stops Avalos in the final round
Former WBO junior featherweight champion Isaac Dogboe returned to the winning track by stopping Chris Avalos in the final round of his scheduled eight-round competition.
Dogboe (21-2, 14 KOs) was in complete control from the start, landing body shots followed by strong right hands over the top. Avalos (27-8, 20 KOs) was constantly wounded throughout this fight, both in the body and in the head. To his credit, Avalos did his best to avoid Dogboe, but he just didn’t have the firepower.
After a hard hand hit Avalos in the eighth round, referee Russell Mora left the fight at 2:25. It was Dogboe’s first victory in almost two years. After winning the junior featherweight belt in 2018 with a 11th round KO win over Jessie Magdaleno, Dogboe lost two consecutive bouts to Emanuel Navarette.
“I was gone for 14 months,” Dogboe said after the fight. “It came a long time. I felt great with my new coach, Barry Hunter. We are just warming up.”
“Avalos made a great shot. I shot him down, and to knock him out in my first fight, I’m tremendously pleased. I wanted to show everyone that Isaac Dogboe never left. I’m still here, and I’m just getting better.”
To carry out: Dogboe scored a much-needed victory against Avalos and, for much of the night, he was in full control. But honestly, he faced a guy in Avalos whose best days are behind him. Avalos is 1-5 in his last six fights.
Dogboe didn’t look like a shooting fighter, but you wonder how much that had to do with what was in front of him. It was a good start for Dogboe with new coach Barry Hunter, but it’s hard to see the 5-foot-4-inch Dogboe, a former junior featherweight champion, as an effective featherweight.
After the fight, Hunter expressed that he would like to see Dogboe again at 122.
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