Round Up: Crawford Wins By Unanimous Decision

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, N.J.

12 Rds., Featherweights

YURIORKIS GAMBOA, 20-0, 16 KOs, Miami vs.

DANIEL PONCE DE LEON, 41-3, 34 KOs, Huntington Park, Calif.

UNDERCARD

FIGHT: TERRENCE CRAWFORD, Omaha, NE, 14-0, 11 KOs vs. ANGEL RIOS, Bronx, NY, 9-6, 6 KOs

DIVISION:  Super Lightweight – 8 Rounds

RESULT: Crawford Wins By Unanimous Decision

DETAIL: In the opening bout of the night, Crawford and Rios went at one another with furious intent for most of this fight, especially in the final rounds, which saw some intense, violent exchanges. While Crawford was on the receiving end of some harsh punishment – including a straight right that staggered him in the second – he consistently landed the harder, cleaner shots.

That said, Rios was a tough nut to crack. His face was red and puffy but his chin didn’t betray him, save for a hard shot that staggered him against the ropes in the seventh. Rios somehow pulled himself together and forced Crawford into a battle in the center of the ring, until the bell signifying the end of the round.

In the eighth, Crawford kept up his attack against a determined but ultimately outmatched Rios. The two went at each other all the way to the end, much to the crowd’s satisfaction.

Two judges scored it 80-72, with the third coming up with 80-71.