Former beltholder Francisco Rodriguez dominates Ramon Garcia

Feb

Flyweight Francisco Rodriguez did not have the best year of his pro career in 2015. After his performance on Saturday night, he could be on his way to having a successful 2016.

Rodriguez dominated Ramon Garcia, winning a 10-round unanimous decision at the Arena Jose Sulaiman in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

Rodriguez improves to 18-4-1, 11 KOs, while Garcia drops to 20-8-1, 12 KOs.

Fighting in his hometown, Rodriguez, who held a world title belt as a strawweight, was looking to snap a two-bout losing streak. Those losses were against Donnie Nietes and Moises Fuentes.

After an even first round, Rodriguez began to assert control, pressing the fight and attempting to walk Garcia down. At times, the action was sloppy, but Rodriguez landed the more-telling blows.

Rodriguez dropped Garcia with a right cross to the head midway through the seventh round. Garcia got up, but was dropped again moments later by a barrage of punches.

Rodriguez scored a third knockdown over Garcia early in the eighth round. Rodriguez looked as though he was trying to get the stoppage win in the final round, but Garcia was able to hang on.

All three judges scored the bout in favor of Rodriguez, 99-89, 99-88, and 96-91.

Garcia, a former world title holder as a junior flyweight, has now lost his last four bouts in a row.

Diaz decisions Perez

In the opening bout of the beIN en Espanol broadcast, junior lightweight Carlos Diaz won a 10 round unanimous decision over Ulises Perez.

Diaz improves to 20-0, with 11 KOs. Perez, who had a six-bout winning streak snapped, falls to 15-4, 7 KOs.

Diaz dropped Perez midway through the first round. Perez recovered, but was hurt a round later by a right hand from Diaz.

It seemed it would be a matter of time before Diaz would stop Perez. The fighter from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico stood his ground, fighting back and getting the better of the exchanges against Diaz during the middle rounds.

By the eighth round, Diaz took control of the fight. He hurt Perez repeatedly with numerous right hands to the body, forcing his opponent to back up against the ropes and hold on. Perez held his ground in the final round, even landing a series of rights to the head of Diaz until the final bell sounded.

All three judges scored the bout in favor of Diaz, 98-91, 98-91, and 96-93.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for RingTV since October of 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (CA) Star newspaper, Boxingscene.com, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing