SuperFly 2: Rungvisai Escapes Estrada
In one of the most entertaining bouts of 2018 thus far, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai got a decision win over Juan Francisco Estrada to retain the WBC Super Flyweight Title.
“Estrada was a very good fighter,” Rungvisai said after the bout. “It was a tough fight.”
Rungvisai controlled the fight’s pace in round one, but the second saw Estrada connect with more hard, fast shots all over Rungvisai’s body. Rungvisai, however, delivered his own power in the third, shifting the fight’s momentum.
Rungvisai landed more hard shots in the fourth, rocking the challenger late in the round. Some minor controversy arose in the fifth, as Rungvisai went down to the canvas twice, but both times the referee ruled that Estrada shoved Rungvisai, so the knockdowns would not count.
Estrada would continue to throw some of his hardest shots of the fight; however, the champion showed off an unbelievable chin and was not rocked. Estrada stepped up his game once more in the eighth, eating whatever the champion could dish out. Estrada then began to move around more and landed more solid shots, possibly shifting the fight’s momentum once more.
The final three rounds were close brawls, with cards from all across the boxing community going all over the place.
In the end, the judges gave a majority decision to Rungvisai. However, while one judge scored the bout 114-114 and one gave the match to Rungvisai 115-113, a score of 117-111 caused a stir.
“I thought I won the whole time out,” Estrada said. “If the judges say it that way, that’s the way it is. But the people know I won.
“Of course I want a rematch, or I’ll fight any other champion.”
WBC Super Flyweight Title: (c.) Srisaket Sor Rungvisai def. Juan Francisco Estrada via majority decision (114-114, 115-113, 117-111)
McWilliams Arroyo def. Carlos Cuadras via majority decision (95-95, 98-92, 97-93)
In the co-main event of the evening, McWilliams Arroyo defeated Carlos Cuadras by majority decision in a closely-contested bout.
Arroyo mixed it up early on with Cuadras, and it was clearly having an effect, as Cuadras was getting hurt from hooks to the body. Arroyo continued his offensive flurry into the second round, but Cuadras nailed him with an overhead right that forced Arroyo to clinch up. Cuadras landed a couple of more hard shots before the round came to an end.
Cuadras won the third round with another hard late shot. Arroyo had an improved game in the fourth, and the middle rounds of the bout truly showed two men with hard chins taking as much leather as possible.
Arroyo worked on the inside well in the seventh and then made Cuadras eat more hard hands in the eighth. While Cuadras was the more active fighter in the ninth, Arroyo was still throwing hard and landing.
While one judge ruled the bout a 95-95 draw, the other two gave the fight to Arroyo with scores of 98-92 and 97-93, giving Arroyo the upset victory.
IBF Super Flyweight Title: (c.) Donnie Nietes def. Juan Carlos Reveco via KO (Rd. 7, 0:53)
Donnie Nietes scored a knockout over Juan Carlos Reveco to retain the IBF Super Flyweight Championship.
Normally a fighter who comes out firing, Reveco threw at most 30 punches in the opening round, playing more cautious against Nietes’ style. Coincidentally enough, Nietes had his way with the challenger in round two, landing twice as many shots as Reveco.
Nietes worked the jab and continued to control the pace in round three, but Reveco got in his fair share. Nietes was more defensive throughout, and it especially showed in the fourth, when Reveco could barely get anything off thanks to Nietes’ guard. Nietes then proceeded to work on the inside in the fifth while Reveco swung away.
The climax of the match came at the end of the sixth round when a quick right hand before the bell rocked Reveco. While Reveco did not go down, he was clearly out on his feet, and his corner unsuccessfully argued the punch came after the bell. This led to Nietes going on the aggressive attack on the seventh, getting a knockdown early on before the bout was called to a halt.