Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN: Live Coverage

Tonight on ESPN Deportes, and later on ESPN2, Golden Boy moves forward with its new series: Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN. The card, airing live from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, will be headlined by up-and-coming junior welterweights Antonio Orozco (25-0, 16 KOs) and KeAndre Gibson (16-0-1, 7 KOs) going head-to-head in a scheduled 10-rounder.

This fight should be a pretty good scrap with an interesting style clash between fighters. Orozco is known for his "relentless" pressure, as his moniker might infer, and Gibson is a highly touted prospect with good boxing skills. Promoter Oscar De La Hoya hopes to get the winner into a title fight in the near future.

The undercard will also notably feature Mercito Gesta (29-1-2, 16 KOs) taking on Gilberto Gonzalez (26-3, 22 KOs) in a 10-round lightweight tussle. Golden Boy prospects Joet Gonzalez (15-0, 7 KOs), Emilio Sanchez (13-0, 8 KOs), and Edgar Valerio (9-0, 5 KOs) are also scheduled to appear on the non-televised portion of the card.

The Golden Boy on ESPN card will air live on ESPN Deportes starting at 9pm EST while being re-aired on ESPN2 at 11pm EST. Yours truly has drawn the live coverage assignment for Bad Left Hook so I figure why wait, I’ll be here as the fights unfold live on ESPN Deportes. Join us!

*****

RESULTS

ANTONIO OROZCO def KEANDRE GIBSON by TKO (1:31 of Round 4)

MERCITO GESTA def GILBERTO GONZALEZ by UD (99-91, 98-92, 96-93)

*****

ROUND BY ROUND

ANTONIO OROZCO vs KEANDRE GIBSON

Round 1: Orozco and Gibson both come out respectful of one another, feeling each other out. Gibson lands a right hand after two jabs fall short. Orozco lands a right hook to the body, Gibson gets one back. Gibson looking really dialed in as he lands another right hand after a jab. Orozco tries a left hook to the body. Gibson and Orozco trade body punches as they meet in a corner. Gibson flashes some good hand speed with two sharp jabs. Orozco tries a combination but its' blocked. I liked Gibson here. Gibson 10-9.

Round 2: Gibson comes out looking to stick to his game plan of boxing and moving, picking spots to ambush Orozco. Orozco goes on a blitz to Gibson's body while the fighters were tied up with one hand free. Gibson lands a nice jab in between Orozco's punches. Gibson lands another two hard jabs which prompts Orozco to retaliate, throwing a ton of punches at Gibson along the ropes. That's a round I think Orozco wins on effective aggression. Orozco 10-9, 19-19.

Round 3: Gibson comes back out boxing and moving, Orozco stalks him. Both fighters trade jabs. Orozco lands a nice right hook to the body on the inside. Gibson tries to counter with an uppercut that misses. Orozco whips a left hook to the body, Gibson comes back with his own which clearly lands low. Referee temporarily gives Orozco a moment to recover. Gibson lands a left hook. I think Gibson regained control of the action this round. Gibson 10-9.

Round 4: Gibson throws three quick punches on the inside. Orozco tries to pressure Gibson all over the ring, lands a nice uppercut. Gibson gets it back with a left hook. GIBSON GETS CLIPPED BY OROZCO AND GOES DOWN! Gibson beats the count. Referee asks Gibson if he wants to continue but Gibson apparently says no! It's over! Orozco TKO-4.

MERCITO GESTA vs GILBERTO GONZALEZ

Round 1: Gonzalez comes out to center ring looking like the bigger man in this battle of two southpaws. Gesta lands a solid counter right as Gonzalez came forward. Geslta lands a right look, left hand right before going on a blitz where he rushes Gonzalez to the ropes. Gest lands a nice lead right uppercut. Gonzalez Lands a hard right uppercut of his own that catches Gesta's attention and makes him want to retaliate. Gesta is landing some hard counters already. Gesta 10-9.

Round 2: Gesta lands another hard counter right immediately after the bell rings. Gest goes on an assault, throwing several more punches. Gesta continues to find spots to throw 4-5 punches at a time and then move away before Gonzalez can get anything off. Gesta lands a counter right hook. Gonzalez digs in momentarily and trades with Gesta at center ring. Gonzalez throws an irresponsible uppercut from the outside which causes him to leap off his feet right into a hard counter shot. Gonzalez shows he's game and gets Gesta back but his face is bloody. Gesta 10-9, 20-18.

Round 3: Gonzalez comes out with a purpose to show that he doesn't care if he's taking punishment, he's come to fight. Gesta is happy to oblige him and gets of another five punch combination but Gonzalez catches him clean with one uppercut that drops Gesta! Gesta beats the count and looks like he still has his wits about him. Might have been a flash knockdown but it was a beauty of a shot. Gonzalez presses forward trying to jump on Gesta while he has the momentum but can't land anything else clean. Gonzalez 10-8.

Round 4: Gesta comes out bouncing on his toes pumping his jab. Gonzalez catches Gesta back with one. Gesta continues to be more active with his punches while Gonzalez looks to land one big shot being the clearly bigger fighter in the ring. Almost every shot Gonzalez is throwing now is a home run swing. Gesta manages to evade Gonzalez for the most part but Gonzalez looks a bloody mess, something out of a Quentin Tarentino flick. Gesta 10-9, 38-37.

Round 5: Gonzalez comes forward and lands a hard straight left which pisses off Gesta, who throws back about four punches. Gesta continues to land counter right hooks over and over and over again. Gesta is winning this fight but Gonzalez has shown he has the power and willingness to end this fight with one punch if he gets a chance. Gesta boxing and move touching Gonzalez with both hands. Gesta goes on about a 15-punch flurry as he turns Gonzalez back towards center ring. Gonzalez lands two nice hooks along the ropes but it's not enough. Gesta 10-9.

Round 6: Both fighters meet at center ring and exchange a flurry of punches. Gesta catches Gonzalez with two consecutive right hooks. Both fighters get in close quarters and clash heads, referee warns Gesta. Gonzalez sure got some big heart: he's eaten a lot of shots, looks a disgusting mess, and continues to relentlessly walk forward looking to land hard shots -- unfortunately he's just not landing enough. Gesta pick off Gonzalez. Gesta 10-9, 58-55.

Round 7: Gonzalez comes out on his usual warpath and Gesta times his with a right hook, but Gonzalez gets in a left hand. Gesta pivots as he jabs up Gonzalez's battered face. Gonzalez lands a hard left uppercut which quickly gets Gesta's undivided attention. Gesta nods at Gonzalez and then throws a few of his own. Gesta continues to pump the jab repeatedly, landing at an exceptional rate. Gesta 10-9.

Round 8: Gesta comes out and lands a sharp jab, then paws a half-hearted one. Gonzalez looks for another left uppercut which doesn't miss by much. Gesta throw a lengthy combination, a couple land. Gonzalez lands a one-two combination. Gonzalez tries a knockout straight left but Gesta saw it coming and stepped aside. Gesta jabs Gonzalez again in the face. Gonzalez lands a hard left as Gesta pulls back straight. Better round for Gonzalez but I still think Gesta edged it. Gesta 10-9, 78-73.

Round 9: Gesta switches things up and lands a jab to the body. Now he brings a few back upstairs. Gesta looks a little content with what he's done thus far and willing to force Gonzalez into making a fatal mistake. Gesta lays back, moves around the ring, and pops a few jabs. Slow round compared the the rest of the fight, but then again bother fighters must be a little fatigued at the pace they've fought. Gonzalez gets Gesta to the ropes and tries to whip in hard shots. I still got to go with Gesta because he's doing more of what he wants. Gesta 10-9.

Round 10: Last round. Gonzalez comes out and basically throw Gesta into the ropes so he can throw hard shots. Gest manages to get himself back to center right where the two exchange punches. Gonzalez gets in a nice straight left hand. Gesta comes back with another three punch combination. Gonzalez falls short on a left hand and gets countered by Gesta. Gesta catches Gonzalez again coming forward. Gesta 10-9. BLH scores the fight for Gesta, 98-91.