Photo by Jessica Rosales via Twitter
That was a hell of a fight. In the main event of the Friday, August 22, 2014 edition of Golden Boy Live, local hero Manuel “Tino” Avila (16-0, 7 KOs) returned home for the first time in two years and scored an emphatic knockout victory over game, but outgunned Sergio Frias (15-4-2, 8 KOs).
Avila rocked Frias in the first round, sending him to the mat with a left hand. He bashed him around the ring for the rest of the round, dropping him once more. Avila continued to pounce on Frias in the second, firing combinations with blistering hand speed while Frias tried desperately to shake the cobwebs.
Frias actually had a great third round, as he landed a few hard counter shots while Avila was firing away. His biggest problem was that he just couldn’t dent the chin of Tino.
Avila seemed to hurt his hand in the mid rounds. He used the right hand only sparingly and instead loaded up on left hooks and jabs. Frias ended up actually stalking Avila for a couple of rounds, but Avila continued to get the better of the exchanges.
Avila took the sixth round off, but came roaring back in the seventh round, boxing and jabbing beautifully while Frias tried desperately to land a knockout counter shot.
The end for Frias came in the eighth, when a jab actually caused him to stumble across the ring and into the ropes. Avila attacked mercilessly, landing about 400 punches before deciding to tear out Frias’ liver to end the fight.
Frias spat out his mouthpiece and called it a night. He fought valiantly, but his undoing was the fact that his power shots didn’t faze Avila in the slightest, while every shot Avila landed seemed to do serious damage.
For Avila, it was a huge step toward the elite in the junior featherweight division. He’s certainly something to see–he combines wicked speed with a devastating left hook. He also appears to enjoy being punched in the face, which is a bonus for any fan.
Let’s see what else he can do.
No complains from @92tino_ after hurting his right hand in 1st rd & finishing Frias w great body shot in the 8th rd! pic.twitter.com/7Eo5CCkNmJ
— GoldenBoyPromotions (@GoldenBoyBoxing) August 23, 2014
In earlier action, Guy Robb met Ronell Green in a featherweight bout. Green hit the canvas every four seconds, as he was pushed, thrown, kicked, and then seemed to just flop down for funzies.
In the third round, Robb hurt Green with a right hand, and then ripped him to the body before knocking him out with a left hook. Green tipped over like an evergreen, cascading slowly to the mat, where he was counted out.
Daniel Jacobs quote of the night: “I was almost wary Brian, of Ronell Green keeping his chin in the air.”
Exactly, Danny.
