By Paul Strauss: Alexis Camacho carried an impressive record into the Roseland Ballroom in New York, N.Y., but he wasn’t ready for the bright lights of Broadway. On paper it appeared as though Camacho was the knockout artist, and Molina was the carefully selected light punching opponent. Camacho’s people undoubtedly looked forward to another win and another KO to add to the 16 Camacho had already tallied up..
The ring has a way of bursting bubbles and exposing inflated records, and Friday at Roseland was one of those occasions. Molina is not a serious threat to any top welterweight, but Friday night he certainly displayed more talent than Camacho. The truth is Camacho is very fortunate Molina is not a big puncher, because instead of losing a UD, he would have been knocked stiff, and the Friday the 13th black cat would have been strolling by.
In addition to Camacho’s impressive win/loss record and 16 big KO’s, he also supposedly sparred with the likes of Kermit Cintron and Carlos Manuel Baldomir. Just being associated with those names, even if just in sparring, causes fans to think this guy is for real. In actuality, his record now seems illusionary.
It took a few rounds for that fact to become evident, as initially Molina was cautious and was content with landing his punches to Camacho’s gloves. Meanwhile, Camacho was throwing long swinging punches, which caused him to fall in and smother any possible additional attack. Molina jabbed to the body, and also threw rights to the body, which would cause him to bend in and down, opening himself up for possible uppercuts. However, Camacho was too slow to take advantage.
Going into the second round, it appeared Camacho was unconcerned with Molina’s (lack of) power. He continued to take chances with long swings and lead uppercuts that left him off balance and exposed to counters. But, at this point, Molina wasn’t yet taking advantage. In the third round, Camacho came out fast, but Molina quickly regained control with the more accurate punching. He even started to back Camacho up at this early stage of the contest. Camacho did not appear at all sharp with his punches. The fourth continued with similar action. Molina closed the round out with a good counter left hand.
In the fifth, Molina was backing up Camacho again. Camacho was moving straight back, and failed to move his head much, so it was target practice for Molina. Camacho was still putting forth good effort, but he was missing a lot, and Molina was landing. In the sixth, Camacho did try to work in a little bobbing and weaving, but his movement was slow, and he wasn’t accompanying the movement with effective punching. Toward the end of the round, Molina was landing a stiff jab.
In the seventh, Camacho continued to be a target. By this time, Molina was bullying him into the ropes. Molina had Camacho bleeding from the nose, and Camacho’s right eye was starting to swell shut. With a harder puncher, Camacho would have been done for by this time. Camacho has heart though, and he continued to try and step up his attack, but he just couldn’t find Molina with a solid punch. Even when Molina was stationary, Camacho couldn’t put anything together, but Molina wasn’t having any trouble landing right hands to Camacho. Molina managed to land some nice short lefts when on the inside.
Camacho continued to try and land long rights, but Molina managed to avoid them and counter with left hooks. Molina was also roughing up Camacho by this time. Camacho, who had never been ten rounds before, was noticeably tiring. The fight ended with Molina landing two hard left hooks. All three judges saw the fight as one-sided, and the score cards read 97-93, 98-92, and 100-90.
The previous bout between The New Ray Robinson and Darnell Jiles, Jr. was far more representative of skilled fighting. Both fighters were much faster, and hit harder than the main event duo. Jiles was unable to come out for the fourth round, but up until that time, the fight was full of action. These two lanky southpaws were displaying fast hands, and pretty good defensive skills.
Starting with the first round, Robinson was throwing combinations from a distance. At times his long punches pulled him a bit off balance, but his speed and coordination allowed him to quickly regain his balance, and often times he would fire off another punch in the process. His favorite combination was a simple one two three, but he managed to be effective with it because Jiles would duck down after the first two, so Robinson could find him with a short right shovel hook.
Both fighters were throwing well to the body, and both fighters exhibited a strong ability to employ a “snap away” technique to avoid punches. By the end of the first round, Jiles started to open up a bit more. It was still a Robinson round. In the second, Robinson seemed a bit more tentative, and Jiles was getting inside more and landing a right hook. Robinson was a little wild, but he continued to punch in combinations, and was proving to have very good speed.
In the third, Robinson continued with a high volume of punches, most of which were thrown in combinations. About two minutes or so into the round, Jiles left a lazy right out a bit too long, and Robinson came over the top with a hard straight left, and quickly followed with a right hook. Jiles was in trouble. Robinson got him against the ropes and unleashed a volley of punches, but he didn’t go to the body, so he couldn’t finish Jiles. Jiles managed to fire back just enough to keep the referee from stepping in to stop the action.
However, after the third, Jiles complained to his corner men that he had hurt his right hand and was unable to continue. Hence, the fight was stopped as a RTD. It appeared Jiles might have fractured the metacarpal right behind the middle knuckle. Jiles winced when his trainer touched the area. X-rays will be needed to confirm a fracture, but there did appear to be a lump or bump in that area. Regardless, Jiles seemed to be on the verge of being stopped. This New Ray has good size, and looked sharp and aggressive. We will definitely be hearing more from this Robinson.
In between rounds, there was some discussion of the Margarito hand wrap situation. Bob Arum’s ridiculous ranting attempt to defend Margarito’s innocence was replayed The California State Boxing Commission and the State Attorney didn’t buy it, and neither have other fighters and trainers. One of the most interesting comments about Margarito’s guilt or innocence was made by Bert Randolph Sugar when he said, “Even if we never know, we know!”