INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Roman Gonzalez came to honor Alexis Arguello. He also came to get what eluded his late mentor.
Mission accomplished.
Gonzalez further cemented his place atop the pound-for-pound debate and gained an enduring spot in Nicaraguan history by wining a fourth title in a fourth weight class — the WBC 115-pound championship — with a unanimous decision over Carlos Cuadros Saturday night at The Forum.
Arguello won three. A fourth, Gonzalez (46-0, 38 KOs) said, would be his way of saying thanks to the Nicaraguan legend who had introduced him to the sport when he was a kid in Managua. Gonzalez’ thank-you proved to be a brilliant display of tactical mastery and durability.
When the 117-11, 116-112, 115-113 scores were announced, Gonzalez looked to The Forum’s ceiling, tears streaming from his bruised eyes. It was a moment he had envisioned. It was also a moment over which he probably agonized during the weeks and months before opening bell.
“This was always for Alexis Arguello,’’ Gonzalez said as a crowd of 6,714 roared in cheers of approval. “I wouldn’t be here without him.’’
In the beginning, Gonzalez’ energy was evident. He bounced on his agile feet as though there were springs in his shoes. Through the first six rounds, his versatile punches landed with intent and precision. At times, his balance and poise made Cuadras (35-1-1, 27 KOs) look awkward. At times, Cuadras, looked frustrated. In the fifth round, Cuadras smiled, did a quick shuffle and smiled at Gonzalez as if to say he would still have fun even if he lost.
In the later rounds, however, Cuadras displayed some surprising resiliency. Not enough perhaps to win the fight, but enough to raise some questions about how Gonzalez might do against Japanese prodigy Naoya Inoue, who was at ringside.
In the last two rounds, Cuadras, of Mexico City, was the stronger fighter. In his first bout at 115 pounds, Gonzales appeared to fade in the late moments.
“It was a close fight, but I felt I won,’’ said Cuadras, who was unhappy at having to surrender the belt in the fight’s immediate aftermath. “You can see he has never been hit as hard as he was tonight.’’
In a punishing rematch of a draw before the Gonzalez-Cuadras bout, junior-middleweights Yoshiro Kamegai of Japan and Jesus Soto Karass picked up where they left off in April. This time, however, Kamegai (27-3-2, 24 KOs) prevailed, wearing down Soto Karass (28-11-4, 18 KOs) with blunt blows that had the Mexican falling forward in near exhaustion in the seventh round and then down on hands and knees in the eighth. Before the ninth, it was over when Soto Karass’ corner asked referee Jack Reiss for a timely halt.
Ring announcer makes a Steve Harvey-like mistake
Scorecards always get booed. But don’t blame the judges this time. Blame the guy who announced their scores.
Mark Kriski announced the wrong winner after he read the scores for an eight-round flyweight bout between Seniesa Estrada and Nancy Franco Saturday night on the non-televised portion of a card featuring Roman Gonzalez against Carlo Cuadras at The Forum.
For a fleeting few seconds, Nancy Franco got to celebrate. But the party came to an abrupt end, going flat faster than cheap champagne. Kriski took a second look after hearing an angry crowd boo the shutout – 80-72 on all three cards.
Oops, it turns out that Estrada won, which was pretty clear from even the cheap seats. Within the time it takes to throw a three-punch combination, Franco (14-10-2, 4 KOs), of Mexico, went from claiming an upset victory to being an upset loser. Meanwhile, Estrada (8-0, 1 KO), of Los Angeles, tried to celebrate after suddenly learning she had in fact won. By then, however, it looked as if she was just angry, first at hearing she had lost and then at hearing Kriski’s mistake.
Kriski has a day job as a weatherman at KTLA. We’re not sure if he says the sun is shining when it’s really raining. But he might be pretty god as Steve Harvey’s successor as host of the next Miss Universe contest. He’s as good at picking the winner as Harvey ever was.
Rest of the undercard
Cleveland lightweight Ryan Martin (16-0, 9 KOs) had more power, more speed, more of everything in scoring a unanimous decision over Colombian Cesar Villarraga (9-2, 4 KOs), who was troubled by loose tape on one shoe throughout the eights round and was floored in the fourth by a right.
Aloha means hello and goodbye. Brahmabigi Montgomery, (2-1-1, 1 KO) a lightweight from Apple Valley, Calif., said both to Chazz Moleta, who made the trip from his home in Hawaii only to have his debut cut short by a succession of punches in a TKO loss at 2:44 of the fourth round.
By Norm Frauenheim
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Scorecards always get booed. But don’t blame the judges this time. Blame the guy who announced their scores.
Mark Kriski announced the wrong winner after he read the scores for an eight-round flyweight bout between Seniesa Estrada and Nancy Franco Saturday night on the non-televised portion of a card featuring Roman Gonzalez against Carlo Cuadras at The Forum.
For a fleeting few seconds, Nancy Franco got to celebrate. But the party came to an abrupt end, going flat faster than cheap champagne. Kriski took a second look after hearing an angry crowd boo the shutout – 80-72 on all three cards.
Oops, it turns out that Estrada won, which was pretty clear from even the cheap seats. Within the time it takes to throw a three-punch combination, Franco (14-10-2, 4 KOs), of Mexico, went from claiming an upset victory to being an upset loser. Meanwhile, Estrada (8-0, 1 KO), of Los Angeles, tried to celebrate after suddenly learning she had in fact won. By then, however, it looked as if she was just angry, first at hearing she had lost and then at hearing Kriski’s mistake.
Kriski has a day job as a weatherman at KTLA. We’re not sure if he says the sun is shining when it’s really raining. But he might be pretty god as Steve Harvey’s successor as host of the next Miss Universe contest. He’s as good at picking the winner as Harvey ever was.
Rest of the undercard
Cleveland lightweight Ryan Martin (16-0, 9 KOs) had more power, more speed, more of everything in scoring a unanimous decision over Colombian Cesar Villarraga (9-2, 4 KOs), who was troubled by loose tape on one shoe throughout the eights round and was floored in the fourth by a right.
Aloha means hello and goodbye. Brahmabigi Montgomery, (2-1-1, 1 KO) a lightweight from Apple Valley, Calif., said both to Chazz Moleta, who made the trip from his home in Hawaii only to have his debut cut short by a succession of punches in a TKO loss at 2:44 of the fourth round.