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By David A. Avila
Ryan Garcia turned on the power early and cruised to victory by unanimous decision against Ghana’s unwilling and overmatched Emmanuel Tagoe on Saturday in their lightweight match in Texas.
Once Tagoe tasted the power and speed of Garcia’s fists, the will to engage disappeared just as quickly.
“It was a track down fight. I appreciated it,” said Garcia, 23. “I had to track him down. He was very slippery.”
Garcia (22-0, 18 KOs) was eager to show the sold-out crowd at the Alamodome in San Antonio that adapting to a new trainer could not deter him from dominating Tagoe (32-2, 15 KOs).
After a quick knockdown by Garcia in the second round, it looked like Tagoe would be dismissed like 18 foes before.
Garcia’s height advantage and lightning fists kept Tagoe in survival mode from the second round until the 12th and final round. In between there were some brief exchanges but nothing to brag about.
Tagoe was not eager to trade blows with Garcia after being floored in the second round by two blows he did not see. Even as he got off the floor, he complained he was pushed, but a replay showed two quick right hands by Garcia had connected and were responsible.
After the first and only knockdown of the fight, Tagoe shifted into survival mode perhaps hoping that Garcia would get sloppy and he could land a knockout punch. It never came.
Toward the final four rounds Tagoe realized he was far behind and had no chance of winning by decision. He mounted several well-timed rallies but returned to survival mode after tasting Garcia’s powerful reminders especially in the ninth round.
“He was really hurt but I could not find the next shot,” Garcia said.
Both fighters had not fought in more than 15 months and it showed. For Garcia it was the first time he heard the final bell in the 12th round. All three judges scored in favor of Garcia 119-108 twice and 118-109. Both fighters hugged and talked after the decision was rendered.
“I hit him with some good shots,” said Garcia about fighting the always moving Tagoe. “I got to cut off the ring better.”
Marlen Esparza Wins
Houston’s Marlen Esparza (12-1, 1 KOs) showed the Texas crowd that she could out-battle Japan’s Naoko Fujioka (19-3-1, 7 KOs) and do it while fighting in the pocket. Two judges had their eyes closed and simply gave every round to Esparza, but it was much closer than that.
The US Olympian was expected to keep the fight at a distance as was her method during her amateur star days. But as a professional Esparza has changed her method of attack and just needed time to adjust to the experienced Fujioka. Adjustments were made.
“It was different because she is such an experienced fighter,” said Esparza. “I had to pick the right way to fight.”
Fujioka walked into the prize ring with experience in winning world titles in five different weight divisions. After three rounds the Japanese fighter began pounding the body and head despite Esparza counters. It began to force the Texas fighter to stand and fight.
For the remaining part of the fight both stayed within punching distance and pounded away. It was professional boxing as it should be. Too bad it was only two-minute rounds.
Every time Esparza connected with a big overhand right, Fujioka would counter with her own overhand right and left hook chaser. It was good stuff and kept the crowd involved. Every round was tough and nobody could gain separation.
Sadly, two judges were seemingly asleep.
Two judges from Texas picked Esparza the winner by ridiculous scores of 100-90, 100-90. Only the judge from Nevada had it a more accurate 97-93 for Esparza.
Despite the two outrageous scores, the Olympian from Houston did manage to show her pedigree and ability to absorb big shots and return the favor. Now she holds three belts as proof she is the flyweight world champion.
“It was amazing,” said Esparza.
Other Bouts
Shane Mosley Jr. (18-4, 10 KOs) out-boxed the rugged and ultra-dangerous Gabe Rosado (26-15-1) by majority decision after 10 rounds in a super middleweight fight. It was not a close fight as one judge saw it.
Azat Hovhannisyan (21-3, 17 KOs) knocked out Dominican fighter Dagoberto Aguero (15-2, 10 KOs) in the second round. The featherweight from the Los Angeles area had been insulted by the Dominican during the weigh-in. He got his vengeance with a convincing knockout over Aguero at 1:11 of the round.
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