By Rocky Morales at ringside
In a total war, 20-year-old René Téllez Giron (14-1, 8 KOs) pulled off a tremendous upset with a knockout victory over 2016 USA Olympian Karlos Balderas (9-1, 8 KOs). Balderas was in control for the first two rounds using his footwork, height and reach advantage to win the rounds from distance.
In the third round, however, the pitbull like Giron landed a perfect left hook to drop Balderas like a sack of potatoes. Balderas was hurt badly and undeniably saved by referee Ray Corona, who instructed Balderas to come forward only for Balderas to fall backward into the corner. The fight seemingly should have been stopped then and there but Corona gave Balderas more time and then the bell sounded to end the third round.
In the fourth round, Balderas landed a desperation blatant low blow which bought him another minute and also bought Giron an admonishment from the referee who seemingly was warning Giron not to retaliate while he should have been admonishing Balderas and deducting a point. Balderas had a better fifth round and seemed on his way to taking back control of the fight.
Giron, however, didn’t get the memo and smashed Balderas towards the end of the sixth round with a monster left hook that Balderas could not get up from and led to him being counted out. Time of the stoppage was 2:59 of the sixth round of the scheduled eight round lightweight contest. A very exciting and fan-friendly fight with a storybook ending to open up the Fox PBC telecast.
I’m shocked Giron has one loss on his record. He looked great. At only 20, he could be lightweight champion in 2 years.
Balderas got knocked down a notch, that kid whipped him…
I can’t believe the bias and blindness of the announcers he seemed to call any punch from Balderas yet ignore the more numerous and so much heavier pinches from Giron. Lennox Lewis may have been a good boxer BUT he would make a terrible ( and very biased) judge
I am disappointed in Lennox Lewis. Focus is not getting value for the money they pay Lewis.
Any officials’ clinic should air this video at their seminars. Watch the performance of ref Ray Corona. The California Athletic Commission should review his qualifications, but I won’t hold my breath waiting.
Antonio Vargas had the same fate. In fact, I thought this was a story repeating itself. I had to look this up.
Wait a second. I know this kid. Giron is going to be great.
Who trains Balderas ? After the 1th round they should have told Balderas not to stand and trade with a tough kid like Rene. They should have seen how Dominican Michel Rivera gave Giron a boxing lesson and come into the ring with a PLAN. There’s more to being in a boxer’s corner than cleaning his mouthpiece.
Ray Corona screwed up bad. He almost robbed Girón of a ko and he put Balderas health at risk. Balderas stumbled backwards when he was told to come forward. That’s a stoppage right there. And he allowed him to continue putting him at risk for serous damage.
This was the worst officiating of a boxing match, I have seen in many years. This is why boxing is loosing the audiences. The ref, needs to go back to golden gloves. Ridiculous