THE RESULT: Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez scored a seventh-round TKO over Daniel Lugo in Aguascalientes, Mexico. The bout was stopped at 2-17 of the seventh, scheduled for 12 rounds. Lugo misplaced for the first time since 2021.
KEY MOMENTS: Boxing along with his arms too low, Hernandez was harm in spherical three. Lugo motored ahead and the crowd began to really feel that one other underdog story was unfolding.
Hernandez stopped making an attempt to field and tucked up, providing Lugo inside for a battle. That technique paid off in spherical 5 as Lugo’s nostril dripped with blood.
Hernandez put his foot down in spherical seven, touchdown a strong uppercut that staggered Lugo who was on the finish of relentless punishment earlier than the referee mercifully jumped in.
RECORDS: Hernandez pushes his slate to 35-2 (32 KOs), whereas Lugo returns to the drafting board at 27-3-1 (18 KOs).
TALKING POINTS: Hernandez wanted to bounce again strongly from the disappointment of a last-round KO to O’Shaquie Foster. He did simply that. Getting nearer to a world title alternative, Hernandez had his eyes on the prize as he proposed to his associate after the bout.
Lugo punched his approach to prominence by grabbing a shock 10-round draw with Mauricio Lara in February. Hernandez put him again in his place right here whereas additionally stealing the credibility from Lugo’s Lara show.
QUOTABLE: “We knew that when two Mexicans get into the ring, it’s an all-out war,” mentioned Hernandez, who referenced the Foster expertise as a constructive.
“I want that world title shot. O’Shaquie Foster, Joe Cordina, Oscar Valdez, I want you to know that Rocky Hernandez is ready for you!”
“It did surprise me how hard he hit,” mentioned Lugo, who did his repute as a strong B-side opponent no hurt in any respect.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: Commentator Corey Erdman precisely described Hernandez as one among the greatest tv fighters on the scene. Ranked extremely by the WBC, Hernandez was introduced as the new WBA super-featherweight Latin American champion. The WBA king is Lamont Roach Jr, who defends his title in opposition to Ireland’s Feargal McCrory on June 28.
One factor Lugo will be credited for is the comparatively fast turnaround after drawing with Lara in mid-February. This suggests he shall be able to go once more quickly reasonably than wallowing in the distress of defeat.
SUPPORTING CAST: Erika Cruz Hernandez fought to a 10-round draw in opposition to Nazarena Romero. Cruz’s WBA super-bantamweight title was on the line.
Randy Leon nearly held on to his unbeaten skilled file by scraping out a controversial majority draw in opposition to Misael Cabrera, who the deserved winner.
Criztec Bazaldua maintained his unbeaten file with a six-round factors win over Luis Fernando Ruiz by unanimous determination.
Leonardo Rubalcava moved to 7-0 after Roberto Nevarez was withdrawn earlier than the fourth spherical with a badly broken proper eye.
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