TEST OF GRIT FOR ROCKY

Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez impressed in Leon, Guanajuato, knocking  out  Argentinean Raúl Horacio “El Látigo” Centeno in the third round, to successfully defend  his WBC Youth super featherweight belt, topping the bill of the  event of a card presented by Promociones del Pueblo.

But although the fight was a brief encounter,  young Rocky, who notched his twentieth KO,  didn`t have things all his own way.  Raul Centeno, who was tall, loping and lanky with a long reach,  was initially ready and willing to jab, fight and trade.  At just nineteen years old,  Rocky, who`s still in the learning curve, ably slipped punches and deflected some others off  the gloves and the arms, while doubling up his own left hooks to the body and then upstairs.  But he also took a few hard punches himself, yet without flinching.  At the end of the opening round the craggy faced Argentinian, who looked somewhat older than his years,  tapped Rocky on the arm, as a mark of respect.

Both decided to go to war, as soon as the bell for round two clanged.  Rocky caught Raul with a solid left hook and a glancing right hook.  Raul replied with a stinging right uppercut.  Just before the bell to end round two,  Rocky connected with a huge left hook and a follow up right, which staggered Raul, wobbling him.

With the hallmark of a great, Rocky instinctively knew the effects of that punch were still lingering and as round three started,  so he accordingly  moved from cruise control to overdrive.  A big right hook crunched into the side of Raul`s face and a follow up left, instantly dropped him.  Raul bravely tried to get up but limply slumped back to the canvass. And then worrying minutes as he stayed there, being tended by the doctor, who advised him to stay put and take his time.    Experienced Referee Lupe Garcia, had counted him at one minute and forty one seconds.

A fireball XL5 in action, Rocky is a kind, considerate and rather shy young man, when work in done.  He carefully and tenderly helped his opponent and now friend to his feet, and on to his stool.  The two embraced and Raul patted Rocky on the head in gratitude for the genuinely caring attitude and post fight action, which was more than just a gesture.

This is Rocky`s third triumph in 2017.  The level and quality of competition is constantly improving  and each time, he`s rising to the occasion.  Very composed and mighty spectacular.

Lourdes ‘Little Lulu’ Juarez, younger sister of world champion Mariana ‘Barby’ Juarez became the new FECOMBOX national  female flyweight champion after dominating Cecilia ‘Artillera’ Santoscoy from beginning to end, and from pillar to post.   Lulu established her left jab, and then followed up with sharp, fast and well directed combinations.  Cecilia who was noticeably slower was getting buffeted and systematically picked off, especially with right hooks.   By the half way mark, she was looking battered with a cut mouth and swollen face, sensibly adopting a defensive mode of moving away, out of range.  Lulu launched a blistering attack with twenty seconds before the final bell in the tenth, and Cecilia was in real trouble, but she managed to weather it, to lose a very lop sided  UD.