Ronny Rios (23-0, 10 K0s) edged a hard-earned victory over Andrew Cancio (15-3-2, 11 KOs) in a ten-round Super Featherweight bout at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois. The bout was the main event of a card presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Fox Sports.
In the opening rounds, the momentum moved back and forth between the two fighters before they threw caution to the wind and fought shoulder-to-shoulder in the center of the ring.
In the fourth round, Rios began to create distance by stepping back between exchanges or by finding room with his left shoulder in order to create openings for his offense. Rios deflected Cancio’s punches before landing his right hands, a pattern he did his best to repeat.
In the middle rounds, both fighters continued fighting at close range and were equally successful in landing punches to the body and chin. The rounds were tough to score as neither had the skill to clearly take the lead over the other.
By the later rounds, however, Rios seemed to be in better condition and at least varied his offense with a little bit of footwork. Nevertheless, both fighters spent most of the fight exchanging power shots and standing dangerously close to each other.
In what was a very close fight, the judges scored the bout 97-93, 97-93, and 96-94–a unanimous decision victory for Rios.
Ronny Rios vs @AndrewCancio giving Chicago a great fight tonight on #GoldenBoyLive! @FOXSports1 @FOXDeportes pic.twitter.com/Y01GJFKh2S
— GoldenBoyPromotions (@GoldenBoyBoxing) April 15, 2014
In the co-main event, Julian Ramirez (11-0, 6 KOs) defeated Carlos Rodriguez (18-13-4, 10 KOs) by unanimous decision in an eight-round Featherweight bout.
Ramirez quickly found his rhythm as he had Rodriguez against the ropes for most of the first round. Ramirez smothered Rodriguez with incessant pressure, landing powerful shots to the body and head.
Rodriguez tried to make Ramirez respect his experience and power, but the veteran could not keep Ramirez off him as Ramirez smothered him with punches into the second and third rounds.
In the middle rounds, Ramirez, perhaps realizing a knockout would be unavailable, began to fight from a distance, using his jab to throw looping lefts to the body. It was clear that it was a style he’s unaccustomed to–he loves to brawl–but nevertheless was winning with ease.
In the final round, Ramirez punctuated his win with power shots that were thrown between intermittent slaps of his gloves, as if to demonstrate his impatience and his willingness to engage in a fight.
The judges scored the bout 80-72, 79-73, and 78-74 as Ramirez continues his rise in the Featherweight rankings.
Del Este de Los Angeles @El_Camaron23 en el ring hace unos momentos vs Carlos Rodriguez en @FOXDeportesdesde Chicago! pic.twitter.com/fXxNmW2iRh
— GoldenBoyPromotions (@GoldenBoyBoxing) April 15, 2014
Jose Arambula (7-0, 3 K0s) scored a six-round unanimous decision victory over David Diaz (4-1, 2 KOs).
In a match between two young undefeated fighters—something rarely seen so early in a boxer’s career–Arambula began the fight strong, throwing body punches and right hands.
Arambula landed a solid right to the body that gave him the added leverage needed for a powerful left hook that dropped Diaz. Arambula was fearless, which was probably in part caused by his experience as a former sparring partner for Saul Alvarez as he prepared for his fight with Floyd Mayweather.
The experience did him well, as he managed to use his jab effectively, blocked many punches with his gloves, and landed another left hook that seriously wobbled Diaz in the second round.
Arambula continued delivering a veritable boxing clinic into the sixth and final round, although he would no longer knock Diaz down again.
The judges scored the bout 60-53, 58-55, and 58-55.
