WBA super featherweight champion Lamont Roach Jr. (25-1-1, 10 KOs) retained hid title with an eighth round TKO over previously unbeaten Feargal McCrory (16-1, 8 KOs) on Friday night at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington DC. Roach dropped McCrory in round three with a short left hook. Roach floored McCrory twice more with body shots in round four. McCrory put up a game effort, but his corner finally waved the towel to end it in round eight. Time was 2:51.
In a step-up fight, unbeaten super middleweight Lester Martinez (18-0, 15 KOs) scored an impressive ten round unanimous decision over well-respected Carlos Gongora (22-3, 17 KOs). One-sided fight with Martinez connecting with big shots the entire way. Scores were 99-91, 99-91, 100-90.
Lightweight Rene Tellez Giron (20-3, 13 KOs) punished Alex Dilmaghani (20-3-1, 7 KOs) for seven rounds and the bout was halted before round eight.
Lester Martinez taxed Gongora. He may have good future ahead of him. Gongora is no joke.
I was watching that at the end thinking Gongora was looking REALLY bad. I hope I’m overreacting and he’s fine but he looked in terrible shape to me at the end of that fight.
Yes, he got the living shit beat out of him
for 10 rounds!
I think Martinez was catching him with big shot after big shot. Gongora was even laughing like shit, what else does he got.
I like Roach and want to say he looked good but McCrory was absolutely perfectly made for him.
Yes. Roach was quicker and that left hook was landing with impunity. McCrory didn’t seem to have the power to keep him off. McCrory was straight forward. He was tough. Roach is very humble and definitely would like to see him in with navarette.
He could pretty much do whatever he wanted. He could trade and rest because, like you said, McCrory didn’t really have any power and not a hint of defense. Roach – Nava would be a very interesting mix of styles. Roach couldn’t fight that fight the same way he fought tonight. Nava’s headed towards Valdez 2, Cacace is fighting Warrington, but O’Shaquie Foster is free as far as I know and they were going back and forth a few months ago.
Lucie Roach exposed in this fight…not enough angles.was abled to be smothered.core strength on inside?..
.cannot infight…no short combos on inside…Roach can fight though …need to make adjustments..his opponents watched this fight
See, I don’t think it’s fair to judge him off of this fight because I don’t think he felt threatened by McCrory in any way and he was willing to take shots and rest right in front of him because he was under the impression (and it turned out that he was correct) that McCrory posed no danger at all. He didn’t dominate as much, obviously, but in terms of an all-around performance, I think Roach looked better against Garcia who’s a better fighter than McCrory.
Now, were Roach to fight Nava or Valdez, in the exact same way he fought last night. he’d lose without question but I don’t think he’d fight those guys like that.
Yes, you could see him resting and waiting to turn it up. McCrory was slow and plodded along, but was game. If he fought Nava like that, game over. Now, foster , I believe gets him no matter what style he brings.
I would also take Foster over Roach. Would love to see it though.
Understand your position, in my humble opinion, you never take anyone for granted…when the bell rings your opponent is a live threat..yet, I observed McCory smother Roach on the inside, McCory made an infight adjustment, was able to stay in there a little longer than necessary..Roach needed angles and to throw compact combos in the inside…McCory was limited …stood straight up…Roach is very skilled…but based on what I observed …infighting was an issue…remember Roach’s future opponents watch the same fight …and I could be incorrect..just my opinion
Oh I agree with you there: I’m not saying it was good for him to think McCrory was no threat and it is definitely not a good sign. I’m just saying that, despite dominating, this fight wasn’t Roach at his best and I would expect him to be better if he were less comfortable in the ring.
I tend to forget about Roach, but I am glad he fightin’ and truckin’.
Roach beat, basically a club fighter! So what!
That boy Lester Martinez is a good fighter. Straight from Bud’s gym. Sparring Bud has made him better. He needed this step up fight and he should be ready to fight top-10 contenders already. Him
And Munguia would be an entertaining fight.
McCrory is too brave for his own good.