February of 2023 could also be the most effective month of boxing I’ve seen in my grownup life, and it stored proper on giving in Florida tonight with a Richard Vansiclen vs Manuel Gallegos most important occasion on ProBox TV. Issues went from 0-100 in mere seconds, with each males combating like that they had flights to catch and hadn’t anticipated the 4 openers would all go distance. Usually, we highlight essentially the most lively and attention-grabbing exchanges in a struggle for our recaps, however this entire struggle was a see-saw affair the place energy pictures had been touchdown continuously and my unofficial scorecard by no means had the fighters greater than a spherical aside.
It’s a disgrace that “Spiteful” has change into a humorous cliche from UK broadcasts, as a result of it’s the proper phrase to explain the method from either side on this one. Gallegos (19-1-1, 16 KO) fought like he took each punch as a private insult, throwing indignant hooks at each alternative. As for Vansiclen (13-0-1, 6 KO), he confirmed some unhealthy intentions of his personal. When Gallegos misplaced his mouthpiece halfway by means of the 4th, Vansiclen went after him like he was on fee with an area dentist, swarming and popping Gallegos to the face till a break lastly allowed the referee to pause the motion and change the mouthpiece.
The second half of the struggle was much less frenetic than the primary, in that it slowed from fixed motion to occasional breaks between blood-pumping back-and-forth violence. Vansiclen appeared a bit of fatigued first, and tried to make use of motion to take care of a bit of distance. However, it didn’t work usually or final lengthy when it did. Gallegos appeared drained within the final spherical or two, but additionally rallied and by no means surrendered a minute of the struggle.
Official scores had been two draw playing cards of 95-95, with the third 96-94 in favor of Gallegos. Something a spherical or two both method was completely affordable, and the bulk draw we obtained was best. Nobody misplaced this struggle, and now there’s a compelling purpose to place these males proper again within the ring collectively as quickly as doable.
This didn’t have the knockdowns or the injury to get into the dialog for Struggle of the Yr, notably in a yr that’s already blessed us with so many thrilling battles. And, credit score to the ProBox broadcast group for by no means as soon as saying the phrases “Struggle of the Yr.” Goldberg, Algieri, and Malignaggi confirmed a restraint we wouldn’t have heard on different broadcast shops, the place we’d have spent 9 and a half rounds getting force-fed the concept THIS WAS THE FIGHT OF THE YEAR UNFOLDING RIGHT BEFORE OUR VERY EYES.
It wasn’t, nevertheless it was a textbook Struggle of the Yr of the Week. One other nice one so as to add to the 2023 checklist, and one more enjoyable ProBox most important occasion. I’d offer you extra highlights if we had them, however the entire struggle is effectively price your consideration. Run it again, please.
Darrelle Valsaint UD-6 Lucas de Abreu
The chief assist noticed Darrelle Valsaint stay undefeated, however not with out some oddball controversy after the ultimate bell.
Valsaint (7-0, 5 KO) began effectively, however highly effective Brazilian Lucas de Abreu had him combating off the again foot and towards the ropes after that. De Abreu (14-3, 11 KO) had rising success within the center rounds as he locked in Valsaint’s timing, with Valsaint resorting to an odd-angled model with restricted effectiveness.
Valsaint appeared to attain a knockdown within the final minute of the fifth, however the referee was vindicated on replay for waving it off. He didn’t get the bonus level, however Valsaint did appear to get a bit of juice out of the change, combating the remainder of the spherical with a tenacity and depth that was largely absent prior.
Tempers obtained heated after the struggle. Or, slightly, after the top of the sixth spherical from de Abreu’s perspective, as a result of he appeared to suppose he was in an 8 spherical struggle. He needed to be pulled away from the Valsaint nook, and somebody hopped up on the apron to wave some papers in his face to try to settle the problem.
De Abreu didn’t come to the center of the ring for the choice announcement, nevertheless it proved irrelevant since Valsaint wound up getting his hand raised on scores of 59-55, 59-55, and 58-56.
Najee Lopez UD-6 Cristian Rios
Najee Lopez was combating for the primary time in nearly a yr, however didn’t have any rust to shake off in a start-to-finish controlling efficiency. He couldn’t cease Cristian Rios, a man that’s gone the space with severe energy punchers like David Lemieux with out ever dropping by knockout, however Lopez (6-0, 5 KO) did sweep each spherical on all playing cards.
Rios (23-17-3, 7 KO) lived as much as his popularity for sturdiness, however by no means actually threatened Lopez, who fought sensible, disciplined, and seized alternatives with out ever attempting to drive a knockout. Rios overextended his arm on the finish of the 4th, however continued with out lingering points. Lopez caught him early within the fifth and had him in bother on the ropes, however the savvy and durable Rios stayed on his ft.
Lopez appeared simply as succesful at mild heavyweight as he did at cruiser and heavyweight. Commentary talked about an expectation that he’ll transfer down but once more to tremendous middleweight… I sit up for him successful a world title at tremendous flyweight someday in mid-2025.
Marques Valle UD-6 Jarrod Tennant
Marques Valle had by no means gone previous two rounds earlier than tonight. Not solely did Jarrod Tennant dangle in to see spherical 3, he took Valle all the best way to the ultimate bell in by far the sternest take a look at he’s confronted as a professional.
Valle (8-0, 6 KO) began out marching ahead and pushing for one more early knockout. Tennant (8-2, 4 KO) could not have the variety of professional fights to qualify as a seasoned veteran, however the 37 yr outdated had the expertise to journey by means of it, and began discovering gaps to counter. He didn’t appear to have the facility to make Valle again off, however he did put Valle on a extra affected person, deliberate tempo.
Scores had been 60-54, 60-54, and 59-55 in favor of Valle, who as soon as once more appeared lively and entertaining. It stays to be seen how his model will carry over towards larger degree opponents, nevertheless it’s actually nice tv proper now.
Derek Cintron UD-4 Dario Guerrero
A profitable debut for Derek Cintron, who received a unanimous choice towards a more durable take a look at than most fighters tackle of their first skilled outings.
Cintron (1-0) appeared very calm and clean from the beginning, whereas Dario Guerrero got here out a bit stiff, and had an odd behavior of leaning ahead along with his face pointed on the canvas whereas winging huge, looping punches like a freestyle swimmer.
Guerrero (1-3-1) discovered some success within the center rounds, although, and appeared to drag a bit of trick by switching from lefty to righty within the 4th and ultimate spherical. He appeared extra pure within the orthodox stance, however obtained clipped arduous by Cintron and switched again for the final minute of the struggle.
Cintron received on 39-37, 39-37, and 40-36 playing cards, and strikes on as a seasoned, undefeated professional fighter. Guerrero suffers his third loss, however he’s a Harvard graduate, so he ought to have fallback alternatives most fighters don’t if he decides to take a distinct path.
