Heading into Saturday night’s lightweight battle between Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis many people felt that the co-featured bout of the night between Rocky Juarez and Jorge Barrios had the potential to steal the show.¬ Funny how some things come to fruition isn’t it?
Prior to the bout, an impromptu poll by some of us at ringside had the vast majority in favor of a Barrios victory.¬ Many felt that Juarez’ slow, often methodical attack would be easy pickings for the nonstop aggression of Barrios.¬ Many felt that Barrios won a psychological battle at previous days weigh-in when the enigmatic Argentinean got in the face of Juarez during the stare down and taunted the Houston fighter.¬ Fast forward to Saturday night and you had the stage set for a real barn burner of a battle and to the joy of the partisan crowd of over 15,000, the fight lived up to the hype.¬ At first things looked promising for Barrios as the Argentinean brawler was landing thudding hooks to the body of Juarez.¬ But despite eating more than a favorable amount of body shots Juarez’ power seemed to be taking the steam out of Barrios in the later rounds.¬ The end came hard and fast, after a left hook stunned Barrios, a hard right from Juarez put him down and opened up a gruesome cut on his lip.¬ With the meaty part of his lip dangling the ringside doctor halted the bout.¬ Juarez found redemption Saturday night in the company of his hometown supporters.¬ Then again for them Juarez was not in need of redemption; he had never let them down.¬ And as Juarez bludgened¬ Barrios, the Toyota Center crackled with the energy of his fans, losses to Barrera, Marquez, and Soto only endeared him to them.¬
Juarez Stops Barrios In Fight Of The Night
Posted by Tim Starks on Sep 8, 2008 02:13
