But I’ll try popping out from time to time to post updates.

Small setup. Can’t be more than 250 seats in the whole place, plus some standing room. One advantage of a place this small is that even when the show starts, the place is pretty full. Unlike the big cards, where it’s usually half empty until the main event, and there are about 300 people in a 20,000 seat arena for the first bout. It’s the hardcore fans here tonight. No glitterati talking on their cell phones. You can smell the sweat before the fighters enter the ring. People are chattering, and it’s all about other local fights that have taken place recently, how bad Kevin Johnson looked last weekend, and next month’s Golden Gloves tournament.
Got floor seats because, well, when the hell else will I be able to afford floor seats?

If anyone else happens to drop by, give me a shout – row 24, seat 1.

Steve Albert in the house.

Paulie Malignaggi also in the house. Lou DiBella chatting it up with anyone who will listen. Sitting at a table with a former pro fighter and a promoter. This is practically an industry event. Card still hasn’t started.

Steve Albert, Lou DiBella and Paulie Mags…..WOW! Really seems like a big event for a Wed night. I’d like to know more about Tor Hamer…seen one of his fights. Could he be a contender? We’ll see….and Ridondeaux is supposed to be the next big thing like Gamboa.

Cool to see Rigondeaux live in a venue that small. I am jealous of you, sir.

Three knockdowns within a minute. Dude has some fast hands though. Someone to watch out for, if his legal trouble is over.

Three knockdowns within a minute. Dude has some fast hands though. Someone to watch out for, if his legal trouble is over.

Adam “the Swamp Donkey” Richards in the house as well.

Del Valle fight next. Smoger refereeing – guess he needs to work on off days, even if it’s a small card. Not as immediately impressive as Martinez. Quick hands once he gets into a groove, but definitely more of an upright boxer.

Lopez (who’s fought on the Versus Fight Night series- is putting up a spirited fight, and frankly, looks nearly as sharp as Del Valle when he throws, just Del Valle is a lot busier and more technically sound.

Looks like Lopez quit after 2. Ring announcer says Smoger stopped the fight because Lopez broke his hand.

Got to congratulate Paulie M. on his win. Seems pretty laid back, considering how strung out he comes across on TV.

On paper, the closes bout of the night. Bracero is 7-0. McNickols is 6-2. Couldn’t find much on either, but there are a TON of Bracero fans in here. Place is going nuts for him.

Bracero’s got great reflexes, which is the first time I’ve seen that tonight. Bracero doesn’t seem to have much power, but he’s tagging the other guy clean. McNickols’s not a complete scrub though. Quick, and looks like he has the better power. One flaw Bracero will have to correct before he gets big is that he squares up way too much.

When they’re both jabbing on the outside McNickol is holding his own. But inside, Bracero is just so much more accurate and elusive that he’s taking the exchanges. He doesn’t have much pop at all though. Even when he lands completely clean, it barely pops the other guy’s head back. Sounds like the crowd is calling Bracero “Pito”.

I got it 2-0 for Bracero so far.

Takes some balls for a PR fighter to go by Tito.

Paulie M. picked Pacquiao to knock out Mayweather. Asked him about the Cotto fight, and started going off on Pac.

As I’m talking to him, Bracero starts WAILING on the other guy and knocks him down. Then he pounces on him for like a minute, but he seems to habe his legs back. Round of the night so far.

thanks for the updates brick … sounds like ur having a great time. i am real surprised to hear paulie went with pac!

This is a nice little scrap. Bracero’s pitching a shutout, but it’s entertaining. Kid’s probably not world class, but doesn’t look any worse than, say, Gato.

Bracero’s growing a big welt by his left eye. McNickles might have taken the 5th round. He’s probably not able to land hard enough on Tito to win, but he’s making it a fight. Tito seems to be coming out with a vengeance. But, now he’s mostly running and trying to not get knocked out. Mc connects with a huge right that buzzes Tito. Great action. Both guys warring, but titl barely had his legs. Tito comes back with a big shot that buzzes Mc with 10 seconds left.

And the fight’s over. A bit slow for the first two rounds, but it turned into a great action fight. Tito surely won, but McNickles might have earned a TV spot as the dog in a FNF fight with that performance.

Bracero wins the contest, 60-53, 59-54, 58-55 and remains undefeated. Like I said before, probably not a worldbeater, but could be an exciting regional level fighter who gets a big fight or two.

Steve Farhood in line behind me for the bathroom. Reminded me to watch this weekend’s Shobox with Fernando Guerrero. Says he’s okay with Jermaine Taylor fighting on…thought he “looked okay” against Abraham.

Hino Ehikemenor
Freddie Roach will be in Rigondeaux’s corner
Tommy Gallagher

Opponent can’t take a punch at ALL. First flush shot that hits, he goes down, and he quits. DiBella walks over to me and says they should hold his check. KO1, but I learn NOTHING new about Hamer.

Guillermo has the shiniest warmups I’ve ever seen. His entire trunks are covered in glitter or something.

Roach out with him. Opponent already looks like he’s waiting to get KOed. Rigondeaux at 125, so he’s not in the best shape of his life. Smoger in the ring again.

The ring announcer also pronounces it Ri-gon-dee-OW, so I guess that’s the right way to say it.

Rigondeaux is so much quicker than anyone who’s fought tonight it’s ridiculous. Throw a 1-2 lands on the button and knocks hikm down. African in survival mode, but throwing back. Big body shots that leave a huge thud. Patience, patience, then lands a couple of big body shots. Opponent’s afraid to throw! Last time he did, he got countered wicked. But he survives the round. 10-8 Rigondeaux.

Another wide round for Rigo, but his opponent was mostly turtling up.

Seems content to just win rounds now. Very amateurish. At this point, he’s up 3-0 with a knockdown, and there’s no motivation to put his foot on the gas, but he has this kid outclassed.

I wonder if this is a glimpse into Rigondeauz’s future. The oppponent is just turtling and running, and rigo is just content scoring points. Not trying to open him up for a big punch, because that would be too risky. Crowd is booing loudly.

This is what happens when you get a guy who’s content to win and a guy who’s content to survive. Similar to Klitxhko-Johnson. And just as boring.

Oh well. Rigo is dominating, but seems to have no interest in doing something exciting, despite the crowd booing him. Now in the 7th.

Actually lands a few hard shots instead of just scoring shots. But most of the round was like the rest of the fight. I can’t imagine a score other than 80-71, but that was just dreadful to watch.

Paulie had no signs of visible damage only 5 days after the Diaz fight. If he was actually hurt, he’d still look a little puffy.