Joseph Agbeko Vs William Gonzalez
SS: Alright. I missed the airing of this due to my ungodly sleep pattern (this come along with working nights, like a creep) so I'm watching a digital copy. I was informed this is a really good card so i look forward to watching the two fights that aired. I know nothing of either guy really but the small guys almost always deliver.
AC: Two nondescript little guys fighting for a title. ESPN and the like have ignored these fights for years for reasons I simply do not emotionally understand. Then I remember how they're all run and it comes back to me in spades. Gonzalez was on HBO Latino a couple years back getting murdered by Jhonny Gonzalez. Agbeko was beyond a no-name when he gought Luis Perez over a year ago and stopped him en route to winning a belt. Both guys have huge KO ratios too.
SS: Agbeko controls the first round with his right hand. Gonzalez is landing some body punches and one ends up straying low but Agbeko barely takes any time to recover. That seemed to slow Agbeko down a little. This turns into a nice little war at the start of the 2nd. This is a really good fight but the momentum is mostly going to Agbeko after round 2. hes landing the bigger more powerful shots. Gonzalez is more than just a live body though. Godbless little guys that beat each other into early death for our entertainment. Things pick way up again in round 9. Gonzalez making a big comeback in this round, arguably winning it. Agbeko is starting to fade at the end of round 10 and things are looking like they are making a turn in favor of Gonzalez. Gonzalez looks way better in the second half of the fight but i don't think he did enough to take Agbeko's title. Agbeko rightfully keeps his title.
AC: I will rewatch this show soon because A) it was great and B) I want to score the rounds. I was too captivated to do that here and I think tht Wally Matthews announcing sorta affects the mentality of some to both fights. Gonzalez comes on very strong in 10 and 11 after we hear forever that he is "wearing down" even as he often out throws Agbeko. Both guys soak up tons of punishment in this. Gonzalez's face is a mess and I really wouldn't mind a rematch given the way 118 looks in the post Jhonny era. Penalosa/Agbeko on the undercard of the next Pacquiao fight would be awesome and entirely plausible.
Steve Cunningham vs. Thomas Adamek
SS: I've been looking forward to seeing Steve Cunningham fight ever since i saw him as a guest on Friday Night Fights this past year. He's a guy that has essentially been forced to fight abroad because of the lack of a cruiser weight division in the US.
AC: About 2006, the Cruisers were red hot. There was a champion again and Showtime was televising numerous events featuring these hard punchers like Braithwaite, Mormeck, Bell, and Jones. Then, as suddenly as it came, it ended. The much demanded Bell/Guillermo Jones showdown was cancelled repeatedly due to problems with Jones, and the division ended up in free fall. Bell and Mormeck rematched in France on a telecast carried by MSG that probably cost them about $5 and some string. Great fight, by the way, especially through 8.
Mormeck soon lost to some British guy who in turn beat a Welsh guy and became a bit of a sensation overseas. Maybe you've heard of that chap? His departure to heavyweight after big game has left a hole in the division and for once in its history, it was immediately filled. Think about that: A new Ring champ was crowned in a few months of the old one bouncing. There were 20 years between Bell and Holyfield.
SS: This is an incredibly hot crowd and all for the Polish fighter Adamek. Cunningham is a man who enjoys jabbing as he should considering Adamek doesn't move his head much. Adamek knocks Cunningham down as round 2 ends and Versus inexplicably goes to commercial. As we come back from commercial it would appear he survived to fight another round. Cunningham keeps his hands very low. its like watching Roy Jones without the talents that allow someone to fight like that. Cunninghanm hurts Adamek bad at the start of the 4th but he wont go down. Adamek knocks Cunningham down again at the end of the round. WOW. This is crazy and awesome. Adamek hammers Cunningham untill the bell ends the round. Adamek knocks him down again near the end of round 8. Cunningham is going to go out on his sword if this is it. But he somehow survives. Adamek has a Margarito chin or something. He eats big shots but never stops. Cunningham is really starting to put the pressure on in round 10 carrying over into 11 but again Adamek manages to come back and hit Cunningham and even things out. Round 12 is another awesome back and forth round. Incredible fight that i feel went to Adamek. Two of the judges agree with me. Split decision victory.
Everyone needs to see this. A definite fight of the year candidate. This is the kind of boxing you show to MMA fans who think boxing can't be exciting or compelling.
AC: Like the last fight, the announcing is way too much in favor of one fighter, in this case Adamek. Cunningham actually outthrows and lands him by a pretty big margin in the fight and thus it'ss as close as it was, though hardly ridiculous to score it for Cunningham in my opinion. Still, it was a great fight and there's little doubt about who the best cruiserweight in the world is. Rematch or Guillermo Jones fight to follow, good things will happen either way.
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