NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 29: Richard Torrez Jr. knocks down Ahmed Hefny during their … More
On Saturday night at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, Richard Torrez Jr. defeated Guido in an entertaining heavyweight fight between two guys who aren’t quite good enough to be considered top title contenders.
That said, Torrez, 25, will get the opportunity at some point after earning the unanimous decision victory (97-92, 98-91×2).
Torrez’s pressure and accuracy on power shots were the biggest differences. Vianello showed toughness and grit, but he couldn’t maintain the pace Torrez set.
This fight was the toughest challenge of Torrez’s career. Like Torrez, Vianello is a former Olympian who showed heart and an ability to adjust mid-fight. Ultimately, Torrez proved he’s ready to take a step up in competition.
It wasn’t a pretty fight, and Torrez’s lack of balance and defensive gaps could put him in a bad position against better heavyweights.
ESPN’s Tim Bradley called it out. “Torrez is good,” he said during the post-fight analysis on ESPN Plus. “He’s not great.”
That’s accurate analysis. However, Torrez is popular and very likable. He’s going to get support, and he’ll be rooted on by American boxing fans and those who follow his Olympic teammates Keyshawn Davis and Mikaela Mayer.
The great thing about Torrez’s game is that he has excellent motor and cardio. That could be his saving grace as the competition stiffens. The win pushed Torrez to a 13-0 record, while Vianello fell to 13-3-1.
Here is a look at the rest of the results from the ESPN card.
Lindolfo Delgado Vs. Elvis Rodriguez Results
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 20: Lindolfo Delgado celebrates after defeating Omar Aguilar during … More
The co-main event saw the two 140-pound fighters clash in a competitive scrap.
Lindolfo Delgado eeked out the majority decision 96-94×2, 95-95. The fight could have gone either way, but Delgado’s pressure made a bigger impression on two of the judges’ scorecards.
Delgado kept his aspirations of obtaining a big-money fight alive with the win. He could seek to chase a fight with Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney, and others over the next two years.
Rodriguez, who is trained by the legendary Freddie Roach, had his moments, but it appeared Delgado did the better work over the course of the 10 rounds.
Abdullah Mason Vs. Carlos Ornellas Results
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JULY 05: Abdullah Mason poses on the scale during a weigh-in ahead of their … More
On his 21st birthday, Mason gave himself a gift.
He put together a solid performance en route to a sixth-round TKO victory. Ornellas was clearly out of his depth, though Mason still showed he has some holes in his defense.
While Mason won with a TKO, he took some shots from a fighter far beneath the level he’ll see once he rises the lightweight ranks.
The all-action fighter scored a knockdown in the second round with a well-positioned left hook that caused a delayed-reaction knockdown.
Ornellas took a knee, got to his feet, but that only prolonged the one-sided action. Here is a look at the knockdown.
Another massive left hand sent Ornellas down for a delayed-reaction knockdown to end the fourth round. The latter took the shot and finished the round, but he was clearly getting plastered.
This is the second knockdown.
In the sixth round, Mason brought more pressure and forced Ornellas to take another knee. It was clear Ornellas’ game plan was to take a knee any time he took some serious damage. Unfortunately, it was more of a strategy for survival and not one for victory.
In between the sixth and seventh rounds, the ringside doctor made the proper decision to stop the fight.
