By James Slater: Last night in Indiana, two fights took place on the season finale of ESPN’s excellent Friday Night Fights, and the two co-main events could not have been more different in terms of action. Unbeaten former amateur star Demetrius Andrade took a notable step up in class as a pro as he took on the tough and experienced Grady “Bad Boy” Brewer, and the talented 23-year-old southpaw won via near shut-out in the light-middleweight meeting.
Andrade totally outclassed the game 40-year-old former “Contender” winner, winning by commanding scores of 98-92 and 99-91 twice. Before the fight, Andrade, now 14-0(9) said he felt Brewer was one dimensional, and he certainly made him look like it. Brewer, who was coming off an impressive upset of unbeaten prospect Fernando Guerrero, is now 28-13(16). Fans had anticipated a much more exciting, evenly fought bout. Fortunately, they got a mini classic with the David Diaz-Henry Lundy lightweight clash.
In a great action fight, former WBC 135-pound champ Diaz was outboxed by the faster, younger man in the early going. 27-year-old Lundy, boxing southpaw early and then switching to the orthodox stance and then back again, caught the advancing Diaz with uppercuts to the jaw and was winning the rounds. Then, in the 4th, 35-year-old Diaz smashed through with a right hand to the head that sent Lundy sprawling across the ring. Down, hurt and disorientated, Lundy had to get through a crisis upon getting back up.
Southpaw Diaz, seemingly a man never in a bad fight, had unfortunately picked up a nasty cut over his right eye during the torrid 4th-round. The two banged away to the bell, with the older man getting the better of it. The cut worsened in the 5th, though, and the Chicago tough guy’s face was transformed into a horrific mask of blood. The ref took time out to look at the wound but there was no way Diaz wanted to be stopped. Credit must go to the former champ, because he could so easily have claimed he couldn’t see (maybe he couldn’t see!) and opted to quit. That’s just not Diaz’ way though, as we all know.
Lundy gets credit also, for the sizzling way in which he closed the show in the 6th. A crisp, short and straight left hand landed flush on Diaz’ exposed jaw and down he went hard. The fight was over with just 37-seconds gone in the round.
Now 21-1-1(11) the skilled Lundy has won three in a row since his 11th-round TKO loss to John Molina. The scare in the 4th may serve to convince some fans Lundy has a suspect chin, but he has real talent and his future fights will be worth watching. Diaz, now 36-4-1(17) overall and 2-3 in his last five, may have to look at calling it a day.