LOS ANGELES — As soon as he heard, “… and new,” Jose Valenzuela raised his arms, closed his eyes, and kneeled on the canvas in ecstasy. The rangy, 5-foot-10 southpaw used his top and attain, stayed with a sport 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 beneath the strain. I simply stayed calm. I felt nice. I felt I used to be in management the entire time, utilizing my velocity, 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 response to 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 received 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 received the battle.
“Simply hearken to this crowd,” he stated. “They’re the judges, not me. I simply must do my job and let everybody else determine. I wish to formally request a rematch. I might positively 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 maintaining Cruz off him with the jab. However Cruz burrowed in and landed chopping, large pictures at Valenzuela.
Cruz was powerful to pinpoint. He’s small to start with, made even smaller along with his crouching, ahead method.
Ten seconds into the second, Cruz had Valenzuela backed right into a nook, putting him with a barrage of pictures, a number of of which banged his head. Cruz just isn’t 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, maintaining 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 way in which of the hard-charging Cruz.
Might Valenzuela stick with it?
Valenzuela used his measurement 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 maintaining Cruz away with the jab.
After 4, the battle 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 an incredible 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 appeared to be irritating Cruz.
Getting into the sixth, it was a aggressive battle. 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 approach in and was getting timed by Valenzuela, who was touchdown the uppercuts. He saved away when Cruz would decrease his head and swing wildly at him.
Valenzuela, exhibiting nice ring generalship, landed a left uppercut in Cruz’s intestine with 1:33 left within the seventh. Cruz ate the shot. By the tip 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 combos. Midway by way of the eighth, Valenzuela placed on a grasp efficiency, hitting Cruz at will after which getting out of the way in which. He closed the spherical with Cruz towards the ropes.
Within the ninth, Cruz landed a punishing left hook that compelled Valenzuela’s head to swivel. Valenzuela fought well once more within the tenth, although Cruz related with an enormous proper to the physique.
Earlier than Valenzuela got here out for the eleventh spherical, he was advised by his nook he had two extra rounds for a title. Probably sensing he could also be in some hassle, 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 hassle. 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 battle. Valenzuela closed effectively, although Cruz could have achieved 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.
