Just for info’s sake, both guys are local. Gejon has fought for the title before, and has a number of losses, but they’re all to good fighters. Roman Gomzalez absolutely destroyed him, but Gonzalez is probably one of the top 5 most exciting fighters out there right now. Jaro has also fought for the title, but is a bit more of a journeyman, usually losing when he steps up.

The visual quality of the telecast is disappointing. Both guys standing a ways from each other, Gejon keeps snapping out the jab while Jaro shows some odd body and head movement. Gejon pops out the jab, and Jaro comes out with a HUGE right over the top and Gejon goes down like a bag of rocks. Gejon just can’t beat the 10-count, and Jaro wins in a mild upset.

Jaro KO-1

Jaro’s not a huge puncher. This loss for Gejon likely means his career is over, or that he’ll become a gatekeeper for prospects trying to move up. Two first round KOs in his last 5 fights isn’t a good thing.

Hey Brick, glad to see you doing a round by round. You’re better than me at it anyway. I’ll be checking in from time to time with my two cents.

Denver Cuello vs Hiroshi Matsumoto

Denver’s a local as well, but it shouldn’t play a factor because there’s literally nobody in the arena yet. This is for a minor WBC belt. Matsumoto is a bit of a gatekeeper, also recently a Gonzalez victim.

Though I might chime in a bit. Both guys are coming out slugging, which is at least a good sign considering their records.

Cuello clearly won it, but both guys got bloodied in the process. Neither guy seems to give a rat’s ass about defense, and they’re straight headhunting. Matsumoto was staggered a couple of times, and Cuello seemed stunned once as well.

Both guys got cut in the first round on the same headbutt. Cuello was cut on the top of the head, in the same spot where Barrera was cut in the Khan fight (though not quite as bloody, but similar effect). Matsumoto was cut above his eye. Both guys are having lots of problems with the blood, but it appears that the ref has ruled that both cuts were caused by punches, so even though Cuello is clearly winning, he might get KOed if his cut gets worse as the fight goes on.

They were in a clinch, and he literally threw Matsumoto. Cuello scored two knockdowns anyway, although I thought the first one was assisted by a push as well.

Sloppy fight. All power punching and headhunting, esp from upper cuts. Glove defense only. Lots of wrestling. Not a boring fight, but far from an impressive one. Both guys fighting pretty dirty.

The ref literally knocks down Matsumoto when he’s breaking the fighters up. Matsumoto gets up, Cuello rushes across the ring and promptly knocks Matsumoto out.

Cuello TKO 4

Yes, very sloppy fight. Cuello might become a local attraction in the Philippines, but probably not someone to watch out for on the international scene.

Is every time the ref warns a fighter for something, the fighter bows back. Don’t even see that in Japan usually.

Pretty funny watching the ref’s rather gentle push knock Matsumoto down. Cuello takes advantage of the confusion and shortly after knocks Matsumoto down. Ref calls it (too soon, unnecessarily really), and this one is over. Could be a fast night tonight. I wonder if they have any backup fights on tap before the two name fights.

Time to start drinking. I need something to “juice” this card up anyway.

Flyweights. I have no frigging clue who these guys are.

Francisco is a local prospect, 15-0-1 with 11 KOs. Fabanyo’s official record is 2-1-1, with three of his fights coming against people making their pro debuts, all in Indonesia. I suspect this will be another short one.

Not a big deal, but it kind of annoys me that they keep referring to the Philippines as an “island,” when it is really an archipelago.

Francisco is pretty long for a flyweight, establishing the jab. Very flat feet. Decent, but not great, quickness. Quick enough reflexes to avoid most of Fabanyo’s punches, although his punches are pretty wild. This is just a snap judgment on a few minutes of boxing, but Francisco looks like someone who could make a little noise if he can get proper training.

I won’t RBR this, since it’s just a showcase fight, but it’s nice to get to see a prospect we probably otherwise would never get to see.

Damn Catholic countries on a Sunday morning. Ring card girl is wearing a strappy shirt and skorts.

Francisco finally lets his hands go, and lands a nice liver shot in the middle of a combination, and Fabanyo is completely paralyzed. I thought he was actually about to puke there.

Francisco KO-2

Did you make predictions for the two main fights Brick? I’m guessing Donaire TKO5 and Solis UD.

Solis comes out, feeling out with the jab. Viloria, throws a big overhand right which seems to hurt Solis a bit. Solis goes on the defensive and Violria attacks, but Solis recovers. Viloria is actually being the aggressor now. Every time Viloria does anything, the crowd screams “oh” and is quiet the rest of the time, which might help Viloria with the judges. Solis switching to more of a counterpunching mode. Solis lands a nice combo near the end, but a very good round for Viloria, maybe the best I’ve seen from him.

Viloria 10-9

Hot fight so far!

Viloria is clearly doing really well and winning these rounds, but those digging body shots from Solis will start to pay off down the road, methinks—assuming it lasts a while.

Fighters come out to the middle of the ring, Viloria pops in and lands a nice uppercut. He has Solis against the ropes now, and throws 10 or so huge wide punches. Unfortunately, neither guy lands much in that exchange. Back out in the middle, both guys popping out the jab, each landing square a couple of times, and both guys are really snapping that jab.

Dancing around the middle now, both guys really just jabbing, occasionally throwing a 1-2. Solis lands a nice combination to the body. Viloria wildly comes in and misses, and Solis lands a couple more good counters to the body. The crowd would have you believe that Viloria dominated the round, but I think Solis took it close with his body work. Viloria’s been aggressive, but not a lot of it is landing.

Solis round, 19-19

Very good fight so far.

soirry about the typos. I’m not facing the computer screen while typing…

I liked that inside exchange. Nice stuff!

oh, and I thought the point deduction, while not outrageous, was a bit hasty. I would have given him one more warning, especially since both men threw questionable blows in the exchange.

Both guys come back out to the middle, Solis landing a few good body shots. One strays low and the ref warns him. Solis now landing his jab when he throws it. Viloria with a nice jab seems to wake up Solis a bit, who then goes to the body while Viloria hits the head. The ref takes a point from Solis, but actually grabs Viloria to do so. I think. Can’t really tell what happened there. Both guys are wearing green trunks, so I could see where the ref could get confused.

Solis lunges in and hits the body. Viloria throws a really nice 1-2 where he gets a good right hand in there. They get inside, and Viloria lands a nice uppercut. Close round. Viloria had his moments, but so did Solis. Viloria takes the round close, bujt if Viloria was the one who was deducted (still can’t really tell), then it’s a 9-9 round.

28-28

Viloria lands a couple big shots in the middle of the ring. Solis has him pinned in the corner, but isn’t doing much. Flurries, but doesn’t land, and now a nice hook to the body. Viloria comes in with a decent jab to the body. Solis being much more aggressive now, but Viloria isn’t falling into his pattern of waiting forever for the perfect punch. Viloria comes in with a punch, but Solis counters him nicely. Solis throwing a lot more combinations this round. Exchange happens, and crowd goes crazy, but Solis really got the better of that one.

Solis round, 38-37 Solis

and that it wasn’t a mistake?

I have Viloria up by a point, by the way, from the deduction. I gave him R2.

I thought they said the ref initially deducted the point from Viloria then changed it to Solis.

WTF? So he took a point away earlier, but not for THAT?

Viloria rushes across and comes out firing, and he has Solis a bit hurt. Solis cut on his right eye now. Back in the middle, where Solis tries establishing the jab. The cut is really flowing, but seems to be off to the side. Ref calls a time for the doctor to review the cut. Seems off to the side enough to me.

Back to the middle. back to a jabbing contest with the occasional right hand thrown in. Viloria’s really targeting the eye. He nails Solis with a big punch, backs him into the ropes, and has him hurt. Viloria gets knocked down on a low blow, but oddly the ref didn’t take a point that time, which probably helps Solis since he was hurt at the time. Solis comes in and throws yet another low blow that the ref misses. And then another, and the ref finally takes a point. Solis just throwing low blow after low blow. Viloria with nother straight right that stuns Solis a bit. This one is a scorcher, but it was a blowout round for Violria.

10-8 Viloria

47-46 Viloria (I think)

Bernstein is still talking like the first deduction was from Solis and not Viloria, and if that’s the case, then Viloria is actually way ahead.

I thought the very last shot on the upper hip was borderline low at most.

What the fuck?

This fight is totally crazy.

Back in the middle. Solis keeps doing well here, but Viloria keeps coming back with big punches. Solis lands an uppercut on the inside. Solis with a little flurry, which seems to affect Viloria a bit. Viloria seems to have gassed out a bit after the last big round, and Solis is taking advantage, throwing a lot of flurries to the body. Solis’s cut finally reopens on a decent counterpunch, but Viloria just isn’t throwing now. Viloria jumps in and beats Solis to the punch, finally getting Solis to lay back a bit. Best round of the night for Solis.

57-57

It’s hard to explain all the weirdness going on. Still a very entertaining fight for sure though.

I want to see this go on. Much fun.

Viloria coues out and starts big, but Solis lands three different combos in quick succession. Viloria seems bothered by Solis again. He looks like he’s back in his old pattern of waiting for the perfect punch. Solis is now throwing tons and tons of punches, and while he’s not landing a ton, Viloria isn’t doing much back.

Both guys take a little time off, and now Viloria is being the aggressor, and is starting to target the cut again. Solis is now cut over both his eyes. Solis still just keeps coming though. Close, close round,. Viloria steals it by landing a big punch at the last second.

66-65 Viloria

I think Viloria is up wider than Brick does, but I thinks Solis is taking charge of the fight tactically.

Nice ending to that round!

Solis’ corner doing a good job with the cuts. Solis lands a huge right on Viloria which seems to phase him a bit. Solis with a couple nice 1-2s. Viloria bounces back and lands a nice combo, though Solis gets him back downstairs. Solis with a couple of nice jabs that seem to really affect Viloria. Viloria gets backed into the corner and Solis flurries, but Viloria lands a great counter uppercut that snaps his head back. Now Solis is really stalking Solis and Viloria is countering, but the counters seem to be stronger than Solis’s clurries. On the bright side, this is keeping Viloria from targeting Solis’s eye. They get inside, and Viloria lands another nice uppercut. Viloria is working about as hard as he can, and while he seems really tired, he’s still giving his all. Solis lands a couple of HUGE shots at the end of the round, almost knocking down Viloria and probably stealing away what would have otherwise been a Viloria round.

75-75

FOTM candidate.

but not quite.

Donaire’s corner is screaming at Viloria now. Viloria comes out more aggressive to start the 9th. Big right hand, then comes forward with a big combo that pushes Solis back to the ropes. Solis now mostly trying to gather himself. Both guys simultaneously land huge shots, Viloria to the head and Solis to the body.

Viloria targeting Solis’s eyes again, Solis landing a couple nice shots to the body. Solis lands a nice combo to the head. Solis tries to go to the body, and Viloria beats him to the punch, stunning him a bit. Solis now stalking down Viloria, and Viloria is back to trying to counter, BUT HE FOOLED ME and is now coming forward with some nice straight combos. Solis tries going to the body, but Viloria lands a big left hook. Another big left hook near the end of the round. Solis flurries at the end, but can’t take it. Another great round, but clear round for Viloria.

85-84 Viloria

This fight reminds me a bit of John-Juarez, where there was a fighter who you felt like never reached their potential, and against their best opponent they’ve come out to show their best.,

Viloria comes out throwing a bit again. Viloria with a couple of attempred combos, but not much seemed to land solidly. Solis looks for the big uppercut, but Viloria keeps coming forward and sneaking that right hand in there.

Both fighters start feeling each other out for about 30 seconds, maybe the biggest lull in the action this fight. Viloria lkands a nice combo, Solis comes back but it lands on the gloves. Viloria with a big right, that wobbles Solis again, but back on the ropes Viloria can’t capitalize while trying to throw as many punches as he can. Solis back to stalking a bit. Solis lands a couple of decent punches, but Viloria lands a big counter in the middle there. Solis had his moments that roun d, but it was mostly a Viloria round.

95-93 Viloria

Both guys out in the middle, throwing jabs and right hooks. Viloria lands a decent punch, then throws a big wild one where Solis jumps back and Viloria almost falls down. Solis seems more tentative than he’s looked in a while. Just as I say that, Solis comes out and throws a huge left hook, nailing Viloria square on teh chin. Viloria comes back and lands a big combo. The back and forth action in this fight is just incredible. Solis lands another very obvious low blow, but the Ref doesn’t do anything. Solis comes in, and Viloria lands a big counter.

Solis comes in and tries to cuff Viloria’s ears, but Viloria comes up the middle and lands a straight 1-2 combo. Solis still coming forward however, lands a couple of nice shots on Viloria, but didn’t seem to have much effect. Solis jumps in, Viloria NAILS HIM WITH A HUGE RIGHT HAND. SOLIS IS DOWN!!! AND HE CAN’T GET UP!!!

Viloria KO 11

Awesome, awesome fight. Viloria really came through with the best fight of his career in the biggest fight of his career.

This is Brian Viloria’s coming out party. There are A LOT of happy Philippinos tonight on a Sunday morning.

He’s still on the ground. Doctors are getting him oxygen.

Hopefully it shows up on Youtube somewhere. Not quite a KOTY candidate, but close.

Hats off to Brian Viloria. Dude fucking rocks. Instant fan here.

And does a hula dance. Funny stuff.

Who wants to see Viloria vs. Darchinyan?

Viloria basically says he would have retired if he didn’t win this fight. Just a huge win for him.

The Philippino national anthem seems to be about 10 minutes long.

hey folks this is on box azteca right now, so for those that don’t wanna fork over the $25 check it out.

Both guys feel each other out a bit in the middle of the ring. Donaire stepping back and snapping out his jab to keep Martinez off at a distance. Martinez notoing much, but when he does, he appears to be just a hair quicker than Donaire. Donaire with a big left hook and he has Martinez on the run. Donaire throws about three shots, but none of them do much. Back in the middle, and Donaire comes with a big left hook and Martinez is DOWN in the first round. Martinez doesn’t seem too hurt, but he’s bouncing around the ring trying to find his legs again. Martinez jumps in with the left hook, but Donaire counter jabs, which hurts Martniez. Martinez jumps in again, and Donaire throws out a big hook, and MARTINEZ IS DOWN AGAIN, though that one was more of a glove touch. Huge first round for Donaire.

10-7 Donaire

if Martinez doesn’t stop walking into the left hook.

Martinez a bit more cautious this round, but the problem is that Martinez has to jump in to get a punch in, simply because his arms are so much shorter, and Donaire nails him every time he comes in. Just a barrage of huge shots from Donaire, he has Martinez on the run for 20 seconds, and he nails another left hook that puts Martinez on his ass again.

Martinez is up and now ius the one moving forward, but he’s landing nothing, and Donaire has such a huge reach advantage that he’s just staying outside of where Martinez can hit him. Martinez has landed a few big right hooks of his own, but they’re not having much of an effect. Martinez with a big right hook to close the round, but Martinez will probably need the full minute to get his legs back under him.

Donaire 10-8 round.

Donaire 20-15

Donaire with a nice short right that stuns Martinez again. Martinez steps up with a decent jab, but he’s wide open when he does it. Martinez doing a lot of stalking but not a lot of throwing. Donaire comes in with a decent three punch combo.

Nearly 2 minutes in, and I don’t think Martinez has landed a punch. Oh wait, there he just landed a jab. He seems completely tentative though, and Donaire is mostly throwing in clumps himself, though the combos are certainly winning him the round. Martinez really looks out of his depth here.

Donaire 10-9

Donaire 30-24

Martinez is trying to get in, but Donaire starts popping the jab. Martinez just can’t get inside at all. Martinez does seem to at least have his legs under him, but we’re only 4 rounds in and he already needs to count on a knockout to win the fight. Martinez hurt again on a big right hand by Donaire, but no follow up this time.

Donaire using his jab to keep Martinez on the outside. He’s so much longer than Martinez that he can land an uppercut from the outside in a spot where Martinez still can’t hit him with the jab. Martinez finally gets inside, but he misses and Donaire hits him with two big body shots. Martinez rushes in again, Donaire nails him with an uppercut and Martinez goes flying across the ring. The ref stops the fight before Martinez even hit the ground. A bit questionable on that stoppage.

Hopefully for the folks watching Azteca, they’ll show the Viloria fight again on replay.

Donaire TKO 4