Fourth bout: Okay, I’m wrong, there’s also a Puerto Rican contingent in the crowd for Jonathan “La Bomba” Gonzalez of Puerto Rico (sporting a perfect five, all by knockout). The favorite because he’s in the blue… just kidding, red corner versus Jose Rivera of New York, via Mexico (3-3-2).
Pauli Malignaggi just walked past me and what he was wearing was more interesting than the fight: black bowler hat and big sunglasses. Vintage Malignaggi. In the ring Gonzalez is faaaaast, very fast. And the fight is pretty much Rivera landing the occasional body shot and even more occasional sweeping right. Rivera can’t match Gonzalez in speed or power. This looks to be a rout, quite possibly presaging the main event.
By the 2nd round I’m thinking that, in a night of fairly one sided fights, this is the most one-sided. I think Rivera has landed one meaningful punch. Gonzalez drops Rivera in the 2nd, but he’s up. Good news. The round card girls are here, and they are absolutely stunning.
Wait, the fight’s not over. I had thought it was certainly done when Gonzalez dropped Rivera. By round 5 (and the fact that it has gone this far says volumes about Rivera’s chin) it’s clear Rivera’s only chance is up close with uppercuts and very occasional right hooks. Still, Rivera is far outworked by Gonzalez. Yet Rivera just connected with his first meaningful punch, a big right. Rivera his figured out that if he keeps his gloves up, Rivera lands a big left. Final round, Rivera still the aggressor, but still connects with chafing right hand. “La Bomba” Gonazalez dances in and out, connecting at will. Suddenly the fight ends with a victory of sorts for Rivera, having been Gonzalez’ first opponent to go the distance.
The NYC Joint Services Color Guard here, as an Argentine sings the national anthem. The singer isn’t actually singing, he’s standing there, very poised, but when begins the song? Ah, after a LOOONG intro he sings. Oh crap. He sang the song and people clapped, but IT’S NOT OVER. This isn’t a national anthem, it’s an opera. Oh, man now we have the Philippine anthem. but the microphine is messed up slightly. so, there’s embarrassing crackle.
And the U.S. national anthem is also performed by a Filipino, 11-years-old, and what pipes.
