Jose Valenzuela celebrates his upset victory over Isaac Cruz. (Picture by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
LOS ANGELES — As soon as he heard, “… and new,” Jose Valenzuela raised his palms, closed his eyes, and kneeled on the canvas in ecstasy. The rangy, 5-foot-10 southpaw used his peak and attain, stayed with a recreation plan and did one thing not many thought he may do—beat Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz.
The 25-year-old Venezuelan (14-2, 9 knockouts) beat Cruz by break up choice to win the WBA junior welterweight title on Saturday evening at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Judges Rudy Barragan (116-112) and Pat Russell (116-112) dominated in favor of Valenzuela, overriding the scorecard of Edward Hernandez (115-113 for Cruz).
“I’m speechless, speechless for a dream that got here true,” Valenzuela stated. “I simply needed to be good. I didn’t get determined. I didn’t fall underneath the stress. I simply stayed calm. I felt nice. I felt I used to be in management the entire time, utilizing my pace, utilizing my footwork. That is for my mother and pa and all of the sacrifices they made.”
CompuBox stats bore out Valenzuela’s victory. He outlanded Cruz total, 171(37)/516 (33%) to 118 (63)/521, a 53-punch distinction. He outlanded Cruz in energy punches, 138 (36)/337 to 112 (61)/413. In keeping with CompuBox, Valenzuela achieved double digits in landed punches in 11 of the 12 rounds whereas Cruz reached double digits in 5 of the 12 rounds.
(Picture by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
The judges agreed in simply three rounds, the primary (Cruz), seventh and tenth. On Russell’s scorecard, Valenzuela gained 5 of the final six rounds, and Barragan had Valenzuela successful 4 of the final six.
Clearly, Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs) thought he gained the struggle.
“Simply take heed to this crowd,” he stated. “They’re the judges, not me. I simply should do my job and let everybody else determine. I wish to formally request a rematch. I’d undoubtedly wish to throw that down.”
Within the opening seconds, the 5-foot-10 Valenzuela tried to place his 7-inch southpaw attain benefit to good use by retaining Cruz off him with the jab. However Cruz burrowed in and landed chopping, vast photographs at Valenzuela.
Cruz was robust to pinpoint. He’s small to start with, made even smaller along with his crouching, ahead strategy.
Ten seconds into the second, Cruz had Valenzuela backed right into a nook, putting him with a barrage of photographs, a number of of which banged his head. Cruz will not be averse to winging lead rights from his crouched place. With :27 seconds within the second, Cruz popped Valenzuela with a tough proper to the face.
Valenzuela opened the third higher than he had the earlier two rounds, retaining Cruz away along with his jab. Just a few seconds later, Cruz closed the gap, however Valenzuela started touchdown the left uppercut as his opponent neared. It was the primary good spherical Valenzuela had — touchdown the jab and getting out of the best way of the hard-charging Cruz.
Might Valenzuela stick with it?
Valenzuela used his dimension effectively once more within the fourth, although with a minute into the spherical, Cruz did handle to bear in and join. However Valenzuela, for the second-straight spherical, did effectively in retaining Cruz away with the jab.
After 4, the struggle arguably may have been even at two rounds apiece.
Within the fifth, Valenzuela had Cruz flailing and lacking horribly. Cruz tried coming at Valenzuela like a terrific crab, with its arcing, clutching claws. However he was getting hit the entire time.
Between the fourth and fifth, Cruz’s nook implored him to be extra affected person, don’t get determined. Valenzuela gave the impression to be irritating Cruz.
Coming into the sixth, it become a aggressive struggle. With 1:03 left within the fifth, Valenzuela landed a proper uppercut proper on Cruz’s chin that buckled his knees.
Cruz didn’t appear to have a Plan B. He continued to try to burrow his method in and was getting timed by Valenzuela, who was touchdown the uppercuts. He stored away when Cruz would decrease his head and swing wildly at him.
Valenzuela, displaying nice ring generalship, landed a left uppercut in Cruz’s intestine with 1:33 left within the seventh. Cruz ate the shot. By the top of the spherical, Valenzuela was backing up Cruz.
Within the eighth, Cruz closed a ways, however he was counting on one punch. Valenzuela was nailing Cruz with mixtures. Midway by way of the eighth, Valenzuela placed on a grasp efficiency, hitting Cruz at will after which getting out of the best way. He closed the spherical with Cruz in opposition to the ropes.
Within the ninth, Cruz landed a punishing left hook that compelled Valenzuela’s head to swivel. Valenzuela fought neatly once more within the tenth, although Cruz linked with a giant proper to the physique.
Earlier than Valenzuela got here out for the eleventh spherical, he was informed by his nook he had two extra rounds for a title. Presumably sensing he could also be in some bother, Cruz launched himself at Valenzuela within the opening minute of the eleventh. CompuBox stats favored Valenzuela. Within the closing seconds of the eleventh, Cruz tagged Valenzuela and had him in some bother. Valenzuela was capable of final the spherical, however Cruz’s straight proper added some drama to the final spherical.
With 2:05 left within the final spherical, Cruz popped Valenzuela’s head again with a straight proper. Valenzuela landed a proper uppercut with 1:30 left within the struggle. Valenzuela closed effectively, although Cruz might have performed sufficient to win the final spherical.
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Journal/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America.
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