23.11.03 – By Keith Terceira: Dominick Guinn, the much heralded heavyweight, found last night that everything is bigger in Texas, including Derrick Banks. Journeyman Banks came closer to handing the top ten ranked Guinn his first loss than any fighter to date.
Battling on the Juarez-Velasquez under card, Guinn came up with the unanimous decision against a fighter that many believed was pretty much retired. Banks had not fought for the last two years after suffering a first round knockout by Baby Joe Mesi at Foxwoods.
In fact coming into the Reliant Center last night Banks was 1-6-0 in his last seven bouts with the only win being an eight round decision against the 7-32-3 Bradley Rone. It surely was a setup for Guinn to shine but someone failed to inform Banks that he was to be an easy mark.
After a brilliant display of skill against Duncan Dokiwari in August, Guinn looked sloppy and unprepared. Hopefully, it was a matter of an off night that affected Dominicks performance and not a sign that perhaps he is rated to high, to soon, by the sanctioning bodies. Based on last nights work Guinn may need to face some more journeymen fighters before stepping into the ring with the top ten or his undefeated record will be blemished quickly.
Also not displaying his usual skill was Rocky Juarez who in this writers opinion had a much harder time with Hector Velasquez than a couple of the judges scored this fight. Lets just say that Rocky had home field advantage.
Velasquez came up with a strategy that worked against the Rocky left hook and that was an offense of his own. Through much of the fight Hector proved that Juarez could be hit and hit often. Working the body for the entire fight and countering hook with hook, the crafty solid workman Velasquez moved Rocky around the ring at will.
Juarez showed good stamina and came on stronger in the last few rounds but waited until the last round to show his normal style and punching power. Most of the fight he seemed to be in a transition between styles not quite a boxer and not the puncher he is known to be. This uncertainty made Hector a much tougher opponent than expected. Truthfully I had the fight scored between a draw and a one round victory for Hector Velasquez. The step up in experienced competition combined with the changing of management and styles almost cost the Juarez camp this fight.
Rocky complained about Hector using his head in close exchanges but honestly after a second viewing of the match we can not see anything to justify this. Velasquez abruptly left the ring after the fight clearly disgusted with the results.
Baby Bull Diaz continues to roll with a TKO in the sixth against Joel Perez. What was billed as a fight for Bragging Rights of Houston turned out to be just another match between a couple of friends. No shock that the Baby Bull came out the victor.
Francisco Bojado punished Juan Rubio for eleven of twelve rounds looking a much more deliberate fighter than he did in their first meeting. Instead of rushing in and headhunting Rubio in the early rounds, Bojado took his time, worked a good defense and keep Juan Carlos off his game plan. In the later rounds Rubio was open to most anything Bojado threw.
Stamina was the major problem for Bojado in the first meeting between the two, last night though he paced the fight and kept control of the ring showing much improved skills and conditioning. His studies in defensive tactics and punch selection are rapidly progressing and he should prove to be a force in his division.