Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA. In the semi-final IBF eliminator, a rematch in the bantamweight division (up to 53.5 kg) took place. American prospect Gary Antonio Russell (19-1, 12 KOs) lost without options to ex-world champion Puerto Rican Emmanuel Rodriguez (21-2, 13 KOs).
The first fight between them ended without a result – they clashed heads already in the starting round, Rodriguez was injured and could not continue the fight.
Russell started the fight very well, but managed to lose the opening round – he blundered the right counter hook, was seriously shocked. It looks like Rodriguez will continue to try to counter the aggressor.
Emmanuel Rodriguez with a fury of blows to close out round 1!
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Russell got even more in the 4th round. He was shocked twice: first by the right counter hook, and then by the left one. Rodriguez very successfully adheres to the chosen tactics. Russell can’t do anything other than the jab.
Emmanuel Rodriguez clips Russell in RD4, getting the better of the fighter in the early rounds. #RussellRodriguez
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In the 8th round, Russell fired below the belt. In response, Rodriguez sent him into a heavy knockdown in the last second of the three-minute period. The referee messed up the wood, giving the American even more time to recover.
Incredible! The same as in the first duel. The fighters collided heads, Rodriguez on the floor. He has a bloodied face. That’s all. We count the cards, but everything is clear here: 100-90, 99-91 and 99-93.
Rodriguez TD 10.
Dominican lightweight prospect (up to 61.2 kg) Michel Rivera (24-0, 14 KOs) confidently passed the American
Jerry Perez (14-2, 11 KOs).
The huge advantage of the favorite in speed has affected. In the final round, after being hit by Rivera, Perez lost his balance and touched the floor of the ring with his glove.
Perez gets sent to the canvas in the final seconds of their 8RD bout. #RiveraPerez
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Judges score: 79-72, 79-72 and 80-71.
Rivera UD 8.
American light middleweight prospect (up to 69.9 kg)
Vito Melnicki Jr. (13-1, 8 KOs) outboxed the native of Mexico
Limbert Ponce (19-6, 11 KOs).
The fight went the full distance as expected. Melnicki was remembered only for a solid jab. Judges score: 98-92, 99-91 and 99-91.
Melnicki UD 10.
