D-Rod, Ouballi Impressive On The Deuce
Delvin Rodriguez continues to keep afloat in the loaded welterweight division, taking a hard-earned unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Troy Browning in the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights main event in Uncasville, Connecicut.
Rodriguez was regarded as one of the hotter prospects in the sport prior to his collapse against Jesse Feliciano last March on ESPN2. His road to recovery began with a blitzing of Keenan Collins last summer, and continued tonight as Rodriguez was the busier and more aggressive fighter throughout the ten round affair.
Browning, who at one point was out of the game for eight years after suffering a near-fatal injury during his day job, began to look every bit of his 41 years of age as he was unable to keep up with his foe, 14 years his junior. Rodriguez boxed smartly behind a table-setting jab, landing right hands behind it and also making subtle moves to be just far enough out of Browning’s punching range the moment he thought about countering.
The 5th round offered a glimmer of hope for Browning, who for the first time in the fight was able to sneak in clean left hands with semi-regularity. But by rounds end, it was Rodriguez back in control, and still landing the more telling blows. Browning tried to shake it off at the start of the 6th, going to Rodriguez’ body early in the round. The tactic did little to slow down Rodriguez, who kept his jab in Browning’s face.
Each of the last four rounds was a virtual clone of its predecessor. Browning attempted to get in close, taking the body when Rodriguez refused to make his chin available, while Rodriguez stuck with the jab and right hand that had been money all night against the southpaw.
Scores were 100-90 (2x) and 99-91 for Rodriguez, who wins his second straight since the big upset loss to Jesse Feliciano last year. The Connecticut-based Dominican improves to 22-2-1 (13KO) overall.
For Browning, the clock finally strikes midnight, as the 41-year old suffers the first loss of his career. He falls to 20-1-1 (8KO), though despite his advanced age, appears to have plenty of fight left in him.
There’s plenty of fight and then some in the career of junior welterweight prospect Ali Ouballi, who overcame a flash knockdown to overwhelm British product Ashley Theophane en route to a unanimous decision in the televised co-feature.
Both fighters were taking huge steps up in class, but it was Ouballi who seemed at home in the early rounds. Theophane spent the first few rounds circling around the ring, while Ouballi sought the most effective way of cutting off the ring.
A brief attempt by the Brit to settle down in round two resulted in a big right hand for his efforts as Ouballi was finally well within his desired punching range. Back on his bike Theophane went for the remainder of the second and much of the third, only coming up for air long enough to clinch anytime Ouballi thought about pressing the action.
Theophane settled down long enough to make a fight of it beginning in the fourth round, where he was successful with his overhand right on several occasions. A steady jab paved the way for openings to the head and body of Ouballi throughout the fifth, though it was Theophane’s lead rights still doing the most damage.
Ouballi regained control in the sixth, even though he ultimately lost the round after suffering a flash knockdown about a minute in. Ouballi was complaining of Theophane hooking his arm behind his head when he got with a left hook while off balance, briefly touching the canvas as a result. Ouballi protested the call, but to no avail. He instead settled for dominating the rest of the round, getting his body attack going for the first time in the fight.
The seventh round became the point of no return. Ouballi went on the attack early. The Morrocan hurt Theophane with right hands and a thorough body attack, pulverizing his foe for much of the round. Theophane was still able to drop an occasional right hand on Ouballi’s chin, but not enough to keep the heat up off of him, as Ouballi landed a big left hook to set up another punishing barrage in the final minute of his most dominant round of the fight.
Believing he had his foe on the verge, Ouballi went to work early in the eighth. A right hand sent Theophane’s mouthpiece flying, landing in the lap of ESPN2 lead commentator Joe Tessitore. A brief timeout was called to replace the mouthpiece, though Theophane spent much of the sequence begging his corner and the ringside physician to let the fight continue. He might’ve been better off letting it end, as all he did was take more punishment as the round and fight wore on.
Ouballi slowed things down in the ninth, perhaps saving himself for a strong finish. Theophane enjoyed some moments of success in the round, not enough to change the course of the bout, but perhaps just enough to win the round. Ouballi made sure that wouldn’t happen again, going back to work in the 10th and final round, though to his credit, Theophane stood his ground, refusing to lay down and just hand the fight over to Ouballi, though his late efforts proved futile in the end.
Scores were 96-93 (2x) and 97-92, all for Ali Ouballi, who improves to 21-3 (17KO). Theophane falls to 20-3-1 with the loss.
Delvin Rodriguez continues to keep afloat in the loaded welterweight division, taking a hard-earned unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Troy Browning in the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights main event in Uncasville, Connecicut.
Rodriguez was regarded as one of the hotter prospects in the sport prior to his collapse against Jesse Feliciano last March on ESPN2. His road to recovery began with a blitzing of Keenan Collins last summer, and continued tonight as Rodriguez was the busier and more aggressive fighter throughout the ten round affair.
Browning, who at one point was out of the game for eight years after suffering a near-fatal injury during his day job, began to look every bit of his 41 years of age as he was unable to keep up with his foe, 14 years his junior. Rodriguez boxed smartly behind a table-setting jab, landing right hands behind it and also making subtle moves to be just far enough out of Browning’s punching range the moment he thought about countering.
The 5th round offered a glimmer of hope for Browning, who for the first time in the fight was able to sneak in clean left hands with semi-regularity. But by rounds end, it was Rodriguez back in control, and still landing the more telling blows. Browning tried to shake it off at the start of the 6th, going to Rodriguez’ body early in the round. The tactic did little to slow down Rodriguez, who kept his jab in Browning’s face.
Each of the last four rounds was a virtual clone of its predecessor. Browning attempted to get in close, taking the body when Rodriguez refused to make his chin available, while Rodriguez stuck with the jab and right hand that had been money all night against the southpaw.
Scores were 100-90 (2x) and 99-91 for Rodriguez, who wins his second straight since the big upset loss to Jesse Feliciano last year. The Connecticut-based Dominican improves to 22-2-1 (13KO) overall.
For Browning, the clock finally strikes midnight, as the 41-year old suffers the first loss of his career. He falls to 20-1-1 (8KO), though despite his advanced age, appears to have plenty of fight left in him.
There’s plenty of fight and then some in the career of junior welterweight prospect Ali Ouballi, who overcame a flash knockdown to overwhelm British product Ashley Theophane en route to a unanimous decision in the televised co-feature.
Both fighters were taking huge steps up in class, but it was Ouballi who seemed at home in the early rounds. Theophane spent the first few rounds circling around the ring, while Ouballi sought the most effective way of cutting off the ring.
A brief attempt by the Brit to settle down in round two resulted in a big right hand for his efforts as Ouballi was finally well within his desired punching range. Back on his bike Theophane went for the remainder of the second and much of the third, only coming up for air long enough to clinch anytime Ouballi thought about pressing the action.
Theophane settled down long enough to make a fight of it beginning in the fourth round, where he was successful with his overhand right on several occasions. A steady jab paved the way for openings to the head and body of Ouballi throughout the fifth, though it was Theophane’s lead rights still doing the most damage.
Ouballi regained control in the sixth, even though he ultimately lost the round after suffering a flash knockdown about a minute in. Ouballi was complaining of Theophane hooking his arm behind his head when he got with a left hook while off balance, briefly touching the canvas as a result. Ouballi protested the call, but to no avail. He instead settled for dominating the rest of the round, getting his body attack going for the first time in the fight.
The seventh round became the point of no return. Ouballi went on the attack early. The Morrocan hurt Theophane with right hands and a thorough body attack, pulverizing his foe for much of the round. Theophane was still able to drop an occasional right hand on Ouballi’s chin, but not enough to keep the heat up off of him, as Ouballi landed a big left hook to set up another punishing barrage in the final minute of his most dominant round of the fight.
Believing he had his foe on the verge, Ouballi went to work early in the eighth. A right hand sent Theophane’s mouthpiece flying, landing in the lap of ESPN2 lead commentator Joe Tessitore. A brief timeout was called to replace the mouthpiece, though Theophane spent much of the sequence begging his corner and the ringside physician to let the fight continue. He might’ve been better off letting it end, as all he did was take more punishment as the round and fight wore on.
Ouballi slowed things down in the ninth, perhaps saving himself for a strong finish. Theophane enjoyed some moments of success in the round, not enough to change the course of the bout, but perhaps just enough to win the round. Ouballi made sure that wouldn’t happen again, going back to work in the 10th and final round, though to his credit, Theophane stood his ground, refusing to lay down and just hand the fight over to Ouballi, though his late efforts proved futile in the end.
Scores were 96-93 (2x) and 97-92, all for Ali Ouballi, who improves to 21-3 (17KO). Theophane falls to 20-3-1 with the loss.
