Baseball and Other Sports Journal July 2025 Part 8

7-18-25

We’re back from the break.    Tonight’s MLB.TV Free Game was the Giants at the Blue Jays.    The roof was open at the Rogers Centre and getting a good look at the stadium, I have to say, it looks beautiful after the remodel.    I know stadium renovations are hideously expensive, but if you do it right, it’s like getting a new stadium with all of the memories and nostalgia still there.

I was watching the Giants’ broadcast mostly hoping to hear Jon Miller for a few innings, which happened, but I ended up being busy at work and didn’t get to hear much of it.    Dave Fleming had the best line of the broadcast talking about the Jays, “They have solid D all over the place.”    All together now: That’s what she said. They did turn two double plays in first two innings.

In the second inning, Justin Verlander was not doing well.    He gave up 4 runs and 7 hits over 2 innings.    A hit batter loaded the bases, but he limited further damage.    In the third inning with two outs and one on, Verlander walked a batter and was taken out. Verlander is 0-8 in his starts this season, but is still married to Kate Upton, so he’s a winner.    It would be a 4-0 Jays win.    The Giants had 11 hits (one was actually an error) and no runs.    The Blue Jays had 10 hits and only scored in one inning.   

I got some bonus baseball with the Royals at the Marlins tied at 5 in the tenth. The Marlins had been leading the game, 5-0 earlier.    Adam Fraizer doubled in two for the Royals to make it, 7-5, in the tenth. The Marlins scored in the bottom, and then Kyle Stowers, who was in the Swing Off at the All-Star Game earlier in the week, hit a monster two-run homer to walk it off.    The Marlins’ announcer was borderline hysterical during the call. 8-7 Marlins win.

Tonight’s Chihuahuas game came on late for a West coast game in Tacoma.    The Rainiers are in the first place with the Chihuahuas a game behind them.    Unfortunately, the broadcast was having connection problems with stadium, so the sound quality was bad.    I was busy and found myself mentally tuning out.    Also, the Rainiers dropped 8 runs on the pups in the second.    In the fourth, Luis Campusano doubled in a run and Yonathan Perlaza homered in three runs to make it, 8-4.    Broadcaster Tim Hagerty did say, “This game wasn’t over yet,” earlier, but that was about it for the comeback.    Rainiers win, 9-5.

7-19-25

I went out with dad and Lamae to Wecks for lunch to start my day.    My opinion of the place hasn’t changed since the last time: it’s not that great and it’s a bit overpriced.    At least the waitress was pretty.    I went back to dad’s to watch the Amazon Prime game between the Royals and the Marlins.   

The Royals were wearing powder blues, which frankly looked terrible.    The Marlins were in their Miami Vice-inspired uniforms and looked much better.    There was a confused Giants fan in a bright orange jersey in background along the third base line that was a continuing aesthetic distraction.   

There weren’t that many fans there, which is too bad since it seems like a neat place to see a game.    Without the crowd, you could hear the drum and horn corps in the outfield.    They changed tunes depending on what was happening on field.    New management got rid of the huge, flamboyant sculpture in the outfield, which I sort of agree with, but now it looks too plain there like there’s something missing.    They got rid of the fish tanks behind home plate, and they replaced the Clevelander club with a set of bleachers.    Unlike Toronto, this wasn’t a great remodel.

The Marlins scored in the first off a triple and a fielder’s choice, 1-0.    In the top of the second, there was a great running catch by the Marlins’ centerfielder.    In the bottom, the Royals turned an impressive double play going from the first baseman to second base back to the pitcher covering first.

I was having a problem with the stream.    It kept crashing between innings and I had to keep restarting.    I tried switching between coverages, but the Marlins’ broadcast had the audio and video out of sync.    The Royals’ announcers were talking about their pitcher, Paul Quantrill, chewing gum on the mound, except he didn’t chew until he was between batters.    The Marlins’ announcers mentioned the Royals had three catchers on their roster with their ages totaling over 100 years.    That’s, of course, mostly Salvador Perez. In fairness, the broadcasters said their ages totaled over a 100, too.

In the top of the third, a Royals’ runner at first was picked off on review.    His blue uniform looked terrible with the front covered in dirt.    In the bottom of the sixth, Royal Maikel Garcia at third, with his back to the plate, made a basket catch on a popup and made it look easy.    This was especially impressive, as he was almost injured earlier from bending out of the way of a pitch at his head.    Pity poor Michael Wacha, the Royals’ starter.    He went 6 innings, gave up 1 run, and got no run support.    This has been the story of his season.   

In the bottom of the seventh, the Marlins loaded the bases with two outs, but a fielder’s choice ended it.    In the top of the eighth, old man Salvador Perez led off with a home run to straight away center.    The ball was still sitting up in the ivy (or whatever it is) later in the game.    No kids were running out there to get it like at old Ballpark at Arlington.    Two walks in the inning were left stranded.    We were tied at 1.

In the bottom of the eighth, there was an extended argument over clock management and a batter time out, as the pitcher was working too quick. The batter stepped out without calling time and was given a penalty strike.    He singled anyway.    The Marlins loaded the bases with no outs.    Otto Lopez doubled in two (and he drove in the run in the first).    The crowd there got up and roared and the band got loud.   

After getting the first out, an intentional walk was issued to Kyle Stowers to reload bases.    The infield fly rule was call on a popup, and an FC ended the inning, 3-1 Marlins.    Anthony Bender came on for the save in the ninth.    What a name for a pitcher.    He closed it out for a 3-1 Marlins win.    It was a quick game with a few double plays quickly ending innings.       

The NASCAR Xfinity race at Dover came on during the ballgame.    The highlight was a prerace interview with Austin Hill.    There was this gorgeous girl with long brunette hair in the background shaking hair out and running her fingers through it.    Yikes!    There was water or something on the track which delayed the start.    It would be a sign of things to come.    There was heavy rain on the radar in Stage 2.    By Stage 3, the race was official, and there were sprinkles.    It was put under caution and then red flagged with 66 laps left.    It was still only sprinkling, but the storm was coming.    Connor Zilisch was leading and later given the win.

I went back home and then over to the mall to look for something at Barnes & Noble.    I ended up only getting a snow cone, which really hit the spot after that hot walk over.    I thought I should get a tea at the boba tea place, but the there was a line for that.    I did this while missing the Rangers’ game against the Tigers on the radio.    I’m not sure what I was thinking.    (And worse, I didn’t have anything to do in the early afternoon on Sunday, but I didn’t know that would happen at the time.)

       

It was 3-0 Rangers in the second when I started listening.    Rowdy Tellez, who I didn’t know was now on the team, had hit a three-run homer and I just missed it.    Rangers’ pitcher, Kumar Rocker, got out of a having two on in the fourth and hadn’t given up any hits.    Corey Seager drove in a run in the fifth to make it, 4-0 Rangers.

The no-hitter was broken up in the sixth with two out.    The announcers were constantly mentioning the no-hitter, but I don’t think they jinxed it.    (Never call bother anything a possible no-hitter until the eighth.)    They were also commenting on a “bat race,” maybe with fans participating.    A couple of the bats were going at it in the race.

Rocker was taken out after getting one more out in the seventh.    What a great effort.    In the top of the ninth, Tiger Riley Greene hit a home run.    Wyatt Langford then made a great catch in center for the second out.    Rangers win, 4-1.    I was pleased that the station stayed on long enough for me to hear the whole game.    (Often, they power down well before sundown.)    I was less pleased the next day, when the station didn’t carry the game at all.

The Chihuahuas and the Rainiers started another late game.    The pups were down 3-2 in the second.    In the third, the Rainiers got a two-run homer to make it, 5-2.    It sounded like a huge crowd there in Tacoma during the home run.    In the fourth, Rodolpho Duran singled in two as part of four-straight singles.    The bases were loaded, but a double play ended the inning.    5-4 Rainiers.   

In the fifth, Yonathan Perlaza tied it at 6 on home run.    The Rainiers retook the lead in the sixth.    There was then a failed rundown on a double steal, where a runner stole home, 8-6 Rainers.    I switched games around this point, but rejoined the game in the ninth.    The Chihuahuas loaded the bases and a run was walked in, but the Rainers closed it out, 9-7.

When the sun went down, I switched over to catch the end of the Rockies and the Twins.    I joined in the top of the eighth, 8-3 Rockies.    A Twins’ double brought in two runs with two outs, 8-5.    The Rox scored two in the bottom of the eighth.    Suddenly, there was a huge buzz on the radio and I lost the signal.    I tuned back in a little later and got the final, 10-6 Rockies.    There was an unfamiliar voice on the broadcast.    Tim Hagerty with the Chihuahuas had mentioned that the Isotopes’ announcer had been called up to broadcast games for this series.   

Flipping around on the TV, I ran into a soccer match between the El Paso Locomotive playing the Phoenix Rising.    I didn’t know this was on.    They were playing for the Jagermeister Cup.    No, I don’t know what that is, either.    It was 2-2 in extra time when I joined the coverage.    The EP goalie made a great one-on-one save late.    However, the Locos lost, 7-6 on penalty kicks.    Those PK’s took a while.    They should take those shots from the top of the box to make this quicker and more interesting.

There was also Mexican League baseball on between the Juarez Indios against the Rojos.    Yes, it was the Indians versus the Reds.    The Reds were wearing black.    The Indios were in aquamarine tops.    Something like the San Diego Chicken was working the crowd.    In the top of the ninth, it was 2-2 with two Rojos on and no outs.    A wild pitch moved them up.    After an out, the bases were loaded.    There was strikeout and the Juarez crowd got up and cheered.    However, an infield hit somehow brought in three runs.    I’m still not sure what happened. The ball dribbled past the fielder with the runners moving.    The infielder was injured trying to make the play.    5-2 Rojos was the final.

Amazingly, I ran into a big boxing match on another Mexican station, probably on delay.    I know I’ve lost my Press hard card for not sufficiently covering boxing, so I’m not bothering to do a full fight recap.    (Also, I’m just kidding about the Press card.)    The fight was between Manny “Pac Man” Paquiao and . . . wait, is this a rebroadcast of an old fight?    No, this is from today.    Okay.    Paquiao was fighting some guy that looked a lot bigger and younger, which would pretty much describe any other active boxer. (It was Mario Barrios.)   

The old man and kid did go at it hard and it was a back-and-forth fight.    I saw the decision coming.    It was a split-decision with two judges ruling it a draw.    The crowd booed, but I think they did enjoy the fight, just not the outcome.

NM State Aggies vs LA Tech Bulldogs Baseball 5-4-24

May the Fourth be with you.  It’s a Star Wars celebration at the ballpark.  (Star Wars wasn’t actually released in the theaters on May 4.  Star Wars is also currently a dead franchise.  Thanks, Disney.)  They changed the start time on tonight’s start time from 2:00 to 4:00, which screwed up my evening.  Given last night’s performance by Aggie Baseball, I nearly decided not to go, but it was an opportunity to wear my Aggie Star Wars shirt.  (What a mistake that would have been, if I hadn’t gone.)

 

Last weekend, the Aggies swept out Jax State, the last place team in the C-USA.  The final game was 22-8.  Earlier this week, they’d beaten the UNM Lobos, 10-8.  Even better, they’d come from behind, 8-2, and won it on a Keith Jones’ walk off home run.  (The game was on month end.  I couldn’t take that day off.)  Friday, things came right back down to earth.  The Aggies lost to LA Tech, 18-4, in a run rule.  Logan Galina did hit a home run in the game.  He’s definitely got this stroke back.

 

I was not feeling well last week and going to Softball on weekend caused me to relapse on Monday.  I kept going to work, but I slept all during the day for two days before going there.  At least my back was feeling better from being laid up.  On Saturday, I shouldn’t have exhausted myself doing it, but I walked over to the mall to get a foot-long chili cheese dog at Legend Burger.  It was a bit of a labor, but delicious.  With that, I was ready for the game.         

 

I went through an improvised car wash on the way past the soccer field, as a few sprinklers were on and spraying the road.  A groundskeeper on a cart drove by me as I pulled into the parking lot.  I went for a tea at the concessions, as it was hot and cloudless with only a slight breeze.  I’d need it.  At the merch trailer, I noticed they were selling Keith Jones t-shirts, which didn’t entirely surprise me.  (They were also selling Jaileen Mancha shirts from the Softball team, which did.)   

 

A local organization was handing out sunscreen, which I took and used during the game, and inflatable bats for the kids, which they used on each other.  I found Fan Michael under an umbrella, so know it was hot.  Once again, the canopy over the stadium is gone.  There’s no shade, especially not at 4:00 in the afternoon.  On field, the cute team photographer girl and the hot marketing intern girl were working with the people throwing out the first pitches.  Both had their hair down and looked gorgeous.  The intern girl hung out outside of the press box for most of the game and looked majestic there.   

 

Some Star Wars music played over the PA before the game.  There was a trivia contest later in the game.  That was it for the promotion.  No Aggie/Star Wars giveaways today.  I was disappointed that the photographer didn’t even take my picture for social media, since I was the only one there in a Star Wars shirt.

 

LA Tech were in road greys that were a splitting image of the Texas Rangers’ uniforms.  I felt like I should have worn my Ranger hat to fit in.  (I got a compliment on it at the mall earlier.)  Their lineup was read off to the tune of the Imperial March.  Michael told me they were first in the conference and looked very impressive Friday night.

 

I have to mention the first pitches.  The first fellow pitched from the mound and threw and actual strike.  An El Paso TV weather girl and alumni, Monica Cortez, threw out a second pitch.  It wasn’t quite as accurate, but she enjoyed herself immensely.  The crowd for the game was a bit light, though the Diamond Club section was packed with boosters.    

 

As you can see, we all got our money’s worth from this game.  I was actually somewhat worried I was going to run out of space on the back.  College baseball is using the pitch clock, but they are not banning shifts, limiting throws to first, and, obviously, aren’t using the “Ghost runner” rule in extra innings.  (They might want to revisit that.)  Even more shocking, these scorecards added right up.  (I did miss during the game when the first Bulldog reliever came in and I had to look that up.)

 

Dalton Davis took the first pitch of the game from Aggie pitcher, Conor Wylde, over the left field fence to give LAT a 1-0 lead.  Michael groaned that the Bulldogs were slugging like last night.  Titus Dumitru answered in the bottom of the first with a line drive homer center.  I could hear someone in the LAT dugout say, “That just barely got out.”  1-1. 

 

It should be noted that the strikezone was called very tight this evening.  Pitchers were at a disadvantage.  Keith Jones made a good running catch in the top of the scoreless second.  In the bottom, Edwin Martinez-Pagani walked and Austin Corbett doubled him in.  Austin was then thrown out at the plate, when he tried to score on a deflected Romeo Ballesteros’ infield single.  2-1 Aggies. 

 

Wylde started the third, but after three straight hits, including a two-run homer off the scoreboard, he was lifted for Trey Meza.  3-2 Bulldogs.  Next inning, Meza gave up a leadoff homer off the scoreboard.  There was another solo home run to right that I wish we had Statcast for, because it screamed out.  Finally, a pair of doubles plated another run to make it 6-2 Bulldogs.  The Aggies loaded the bases in the bottom, but a popup and a fielder’s choice ended the inning without changing the score.

 

Meza worked 1-2-3 fifth with Romeo making a nice play on an infield grounder.  The Aggies also went down in order in the bottom.  Titus hit a monster foul ball in his at bat.  Meza had a rough sixth.  A leadoff walk was brought in by a two-run homer.  A double, an error, and a groundout brought in another run, and LAT was up 9-2.  Michael Ballard made a nice sliding play at second to begin the bottom of the sixth.  The Aggies got some traffic on the bases, but didn’t score.

 

The son of one of my co-workers, Rito, is on the Aggie Vision staff.  He was working the handheld camera by the Aggie dugout.  I could see him kneeling in between innings.  He really looked gassed working out in the heat.  Meza worked a quick top of the seventh for his final inning.  LAT brought in a reliever to start the bottom of the seventh.  Logan Galina came up big with a two-run homer to make it 9-4 LAT.  He might have passed AD Mario Moccia on the All-time Aggie home run list with that one.  Michael was surprised to learn that Mario used to be a really good baseball player.

 

Matt Romero pitched the eighth and gave up a home run to Jorge Corona that went over the batter’s eye.  10-4 Bulldogs.  From here, it starts to get wacky.  Three walks with one out loaded the bases for the Aggies.  KJ hit a hard liner to the wall that nearly went over, but ended up being a single.  This caused some confusion on the basepads.  EMP scored from third.  Corbett held up there, but then Romeo joined him at third.  This started a comical rundown that took forever and I had no chance of scoring.  Corbett made the out and Romeo stayed at third.

 

A member of the stadium staff came by and asked me for the score.  He might not have had good enough vision to see the scoreboard.  I told him it was 10-5 LA Tech and he said, “Good, we’re making a comeback.”  I’d remember those words. 

 

The Bulldogs brought in a new pitcher, who hit his first batter to load the bases.  He then hit Logan to force in a run.  Catcher Nick Gore came up next.  He hit a foul popup that was dropped by the catcher.  That felt like that should have been an error, but it wasn’t scored that way.  (I looked it up.  There’s a specific situational rule where that isn’t an error if judged that way by the scorer.  I don’t think that situation applied here.)  The next pitch, Gore grand slammed it and tied the score at 10!

 

That was encouraging.  Saul Soto came in for the ninth—probably the Aggies’ best closer.  What was discouraging was that he gave up four runs, including a three-run homer.  14-10 Bulldogs.  KJ made a great diving play after the scoring to help end the inning. 

 

Shadows were crawling across the home plate area.  I wasn’t sure what the time was.  The game had been clipping along until the eighth.  Gnats were flying around and annoying people.  The Bulldogs had to be feeling pretty good going into the bottom of the ninth, but the Aggies were like gnats today.  The Aggies began the frame with a walk, a single, and a hit batter to load the bases with no outs, which brought on a new pitcher.  A sac fly and a three-run homer by Titus and we’re tied at 14 and going to extras and flipping over the scorecards.  The stadium worker came by again and I told him, “Hey man, you were right!”

 

You could tell how often games go to extras at Presley Askew Field, as the tenth inning lights on the scoreboard were way brighter than the rest of the board.  LAT loaded the bases in the top of the tenth with two outs, but didn’t score.  In the eleventh, Corona hit a solo home run to make it 15-14 LAT.  That was his third home run of the game.  In that inning, EMP caught a liner at second, it popped out of his mitt, and then he re-caught it.

 

Grant Hubka struck out the side in the bottom of the 11-th, but unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Logan hit a home run to tie the score again.  15 all.  That was clutch.  Hayden Walker came on in the 12-th and worked two 1-2-3 innings. 

 

We go to the bottom of the 13-th.  I took a quick trip to the bathroom between frames, sensing the Aggies might finish it here and wanting to avoid the rush after the game.  KJ (who else?) led off with a double against a new pitcher.  To add insult, Corona took a hard foul ball that leveled him during the at bat.  (The ump took one the previous inning.)  Credit Corona and Gore for catching all 13 innings today.  Titus moved KJ over to third and Logan was intentionally walked.  Finally, the biggest play of the game was a pitch that spun well away from Corona’s reach and all the way to backstop.     

 

KJ trotted home and was immediately mobbed behind home plate.  Aggies win 16-15!  A barrel of Gatorade was dumped on the impromptu mosh pit.  The crowd likewise went crazy.  What game!  How does a four-and-a-half hour game not get boring?  Well, this one somehow accomplished that.

 

Your MVP of the game today is me!  I credit going to Rally Hat-mode in the bottom of the ninth for the victory.  I folded the back of my black and white Aggie hat in and put it on top of my head like a NASCAR rear deflector.  Before you scoff, I did run into someone else wearing their hat like that on the way out.  Do not doubt the Rally Hat!

 

We’ll hand out some Gameballs for the players and their less important efforts in the game than mine in determining the outcome.  For the Bulldogs, their starter, Luke Nichols, should have gotten the win after a great long effort, but the bullpen lost it for him.  Ethan Bates went 4 for 8 with 6 RBI’s off of 3 home runs.  Catcher Jorge Corona went 3 for 8 with 4 RBI’s off of another 3 home runs.  The top half of the LAT’s order did massive damage today.  Also of note was Will Safford.  He was warming up in the on deck circle swinging a sledgehammer. 

 

For the Aggies, hand it to Hayden Walker.  He pitched 2 scoreless innings.  The other 9 pitchers in the game were all scored on.  Titus Dumitru went 3 for 7 with 4 RBI’s from 2 home runs.  Nick Gore was 1 for 6, but that one was a grand slam that tied the game in the eighth.  Logan Galina was 2 for 6 with 4 RBI’s, but that tying run in the 11-th, was huge.  Lastly, Keith Jones was 2 for 6 with 2 RBI’s, but that double to start the 13-th was the key to the victory.  For a game like this, it’s not so much what you hit, but when you hit it.           

 

A few LA Tech fans walked out below me, as I was furiously scribbling on my notepad.  “They’re still in last place, right?”  “Doesn’t matter.  We’re still in first.  The championship still goes through us at home in Ruston.”  Okay.  A trifle bitter there.  

 

I walked past Saul Soto on the way to the gate.  I attempted to congratulate him on the win.  He wasn’t having any of it and only had a thousand-yard stare.  Okay, you had a rough outing, but you win and lose as team.  Celebrate!

 

My stomach was upset when I got home.  I know Michael was saying he couldn’t take the pressure in the game.  Maybe I had a delayed reaction.  I listened to the end the Chihuahuas game and heard a 5-4-3 triple play.  Unfortunately, it was turned by the Space Cowboys, which explained the muted reaction from the El Paso crowd.

 

At least I was home in time for the Canelo/Munguia fight.  I was way too wiped out to think about scoring the fight for a blog post to maintain by press credentials.  (I don’t have a hard card.  I’m just kidding.)  Munguia surprisingly won the first three rounds convincingly, but Canelo came back in the fourth and knocked Munguia down with a shot to the jaw.  Munguia wasn’t knocked again, but didn’t recover for the rest of the fight and Canelo took over for a unanimous decision.  Anyway, what a day for Aggie Baseball!    

Boxing Report: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs Jermell Charlo

 

Given that my co-worker, Mike, was going to Las Vegas for the fight with his Canelo-loving girlfriend, Laiza, and she didn't get him a ticket was telling me something.  That Mike didn't bother telling me anything about the fight was telling me the rest.  This was not going to be worth watching (or reading, up front apologies).

 

Wait.  I've already written about two fights this year (5-11 and 4-16).  I don't need to write about any more fights this year to maintain my sports writing credentials.  (Here are my credentials: I have a computer, somewhere to post, and an opinion.)  Well, I took notes.  I'm not doing anything else.  I guess I'll do this.  And that's as enthusiastic as this post is going to get. 

  

This Super Middleweight championship fight was at the T-Mobile Arena in Vegas.  Canelo's punching bag tonight would be Jermell Charlo with a 37 (50% KO)-3-1 record.  He's a US boxer, but of course, he would have no home ring advantage.  TV Azteca did lots of crowd shots, so I was scanning for Laiza.  I only noticed musician, Steve Aoki.  For that matter, Canelo came out with a couple of rappers singing.  It wasn't much of a walk-out.

 

Round 1

Let's do this.  (Whatever.  I guess.  I'm watching the Cowboys game and a NASCAR race right now at dad's and wishing I was home watching the last weekend of the MLB regular season.  Or not, as the Rangers lost.)  I don't think either fighter threw a punch for over 30 seconds.  I was instantly regretting my decision to watch.  Eventually, they were mixing it up.  Canelo took a big swing that hit the ropes, but was pushing Char into them a couple of times.  Both fighters wrapped up before the bell.  Canelo took the round.

 

Round 2

Char stuck his arm out and probed.  This is not to be confused with punching.  Canelo got in some good exchanges while again putting Char into the ropes.  The ref broke up a wrap and warned Canelo.  Char went into a couple of headlocks.  Canelo got in a tremendous ab shot.  The crowd let out an “Ooooh!” like they'd taken the hit.  Canelo.

 

Round 3

The round started with an immediate headlock.  Both fighters then leaned into each other and were broken up.  Canelo forced Char back into the ropes.  Char bowed down and buried his head into Canelo's groin.  I felt a bit uncomfortable with this.  Canelo.

 

Round 4

Char came out more aggressive.  The crowd responded positively (while not actually rooting for him).  Char still ended up in a couple more headlocks.  He completely doubled over at one point.  Canelo.

 

Round 5

Canelo came out slugging harder.  The two wrapped and were broken up.  Canelo then leaned on Char and looked tired.  Char got in a couple of good hits and the crowd roared.  Me and the coverage gave this round to Char.

 

Round 6

They started off dancing around and then wrapped up again.  Char took a headshot before ending up in a headlock.  Canelo was warned.  The fighters wrapped up twice and were broken up.  Canelo got in a good shot and the crowd responded.  Canelo then pushed Char into the ropes and then held him there while punching him.  Canelo.

 

Round 7

More dancing.  Char took a hit while on the ropes.  He staggered then momentarily fell to a knee.  The crowd exalted, but then Char got back up and the fight (unfortunately) continued.  Char was pinned and punched again on the ropes.  Char got warned on a punch and lost a point.  Canelo.

 

Round 8

The crowd was chanting something as the round began, probably, “We want our money back!”  There was a vicious exchange in the ring.  Canelo pushed Char off him into the ropes.  Char stumbled throwing a punch.  Canelo had a little reach around on Char.  Canelo.

 

Round 9

Char’s corner had to be wiped up before the round could start.  He seemed to get a second wind and Char got in some good exchanges.  After taking a barrage of blows, Canelo looked annoyed.  I had Char.  The TV coverage still had Canelo.

 

Round 10

Canelo chased Char around the ring.  More headlocks.  At one point, Canelo was just standing there with Char under his arm.  Canelo got in a good gut shot.  Char took a huge swing at Canelo’s head, but missed.  Canelo.

 

Round 11

Canelo drove Char into a post.  They have to be broken up a couple of times.  Both fighters were looking tired, as was everybody watching, which you might guess from the yawning.  Canelo.

 

Round 12

More headlocks.  The fighters were leaning on each other.  The crowd was booing a bit, as they now all realized they’d been had.  Char did unload at one point and the crowd took to its feet.  Finally, the fighters just sort of stood around (literally) and ran out the clock.  Canelo.

 

Well, at least everyone got what they wanted, except for a good fight, and that was a Canelo victory.  He posed at the turnbuckle and got a cheer from the crowd.  There was a unanimous decision and everyone agreed that the fight sucked.  Then the judges unanimously ruled that Canelo won (duh).  TV Azteca talked over the Jim Gray interview.  One of the commentators then talked to Canelo over the ropes afterward.  The interviewer called the fight “Absolute domination.”  Canelo said the key to his victory was “Patience.”  I’d also add the audience’s patience.  

Boxing Report: Emanuel Navarrete vs Oscar Valdez

I’ve already done a boxing post this year.  I don’t need to do another.  Oh, alright.  I watched the fight and took notes; I may as well do the post.  (This doesn’t get me any closer to having a vote with the Baseball Writers so that I can make the wrong decisions for the Hall of Fame.) 

 

Even though I’d just gotten back from the Aggie Volleyball Scrimmage, I still wasn’t “sports out,” for the today.  Somehow, I remembered that there was a fight on tonight.  I’d never heard of the boxers (I pretty much haven’t heard of any boxer, except Canelo), but my co-worker Mike told me he was going to the fight in Arizona this weekend with his girlfriend Laiza.  She has all of the connections and probably got them free tickets.  The only thing was I couldn’t remember who they were rooting for.

 

I turned on TV Azteca out of Mexico and figured the fight was on an hour delay.  The fight was in Glendale (Phoenix) at the Desert Diamond Arena.  It looked like a full house.  This was a Lightweight Championship fight between two Mexican boxers both with over 30 wins and only 1 loss.  (If they’re both Mexican, I don’t know who Laiza’s rooting for.)  Emanuel Navarrete looked bigger and taller.  Oscar Valdez actually looked a bit scrawny by comparison, but I assumed he didn’t get into this fight by accident.

 

Round 1: (Just a reminder, these are the raw notes I took as the fight happened.)  Navarrete dominated early, but Valdez was countering well.  There was an early headlock up by Valdez, but then he went to a knee.  The ref motioned like it was a low blow.  Valdez got in a gut shot and Navarrete had the wind knocked out of him.  Navarrete then forced Valdez into the ropes and unloaded on him.  Navarrete took this round, though Valdez did well too.  This was a heck of a fight already. 

 

Round 2: Navarrete drove Valdez around the ring.  Both were taking wild swings at each other.  They both ducked under the shots.  Valdez went into a defensive shell.  There was lots of the crowd noise.  I think they were for Valdez, but I’m not sure.  Valdez was saved by the bell after taking a blast into a post.  Navarrete’s round.

 

Round 3: They were showing a couple of commercials between rounds featuring Shakira singing to a ham sandwich with a side of chips.  No further comment needed.  Valdez got in a staggering headshot and put Navarrete into the ropes.  A furious exchange of blows ensued.  Valdez wrapped up Navarrete’s head again.  The two began sparring in the middle of the ring.  Valdez was warned on a shot to the back of the head.  He nodded when the bell sounded and seemed satisfied.  I had Valdez taking the round.  The coverage had Navarrete. 

 

Round 4: There was a replay of last round showing Valdez taking a couple of massive shots to the head that I didn’t see.  Okay, Navarrete took the last round.  There was some dancing this round.  Valdez briefly put Navarrete into the ropes, but then Valdez started backing up on defense.  Navarrete unloaded a great counterpunch to Valdez’s jaw.  Round to Navarrete.

 

Round 5: Shots to Navarrete’s abs and head staggered him briefly.  Valdez was staying very low and crouching on defense to dodge shots.  Valdez was pushed into the ropes.  He wrapped up to get out.  Navarrete drove him back into the ropes briefly.  I had Navarrete taking the round.  The coverage gave it to Valdez.

 

Round 6: There was a wrap up right at the bell.  Navarrete staggered badly on a hit.  The fighters were slowing down.  Valdez put Navarrete into the ropes briefly and the crowd cheered.  Valdez wrapped again and got in a kidney punch.  He was warned.  Round to Valdez.

 

Round 7: They wrapped at the bell again.  Valdez was ducking under punches.  The ref stopped the fight briefly as Valdez lost his mouth guard.  Navarrete got in a good exchange.  Valdez pushed Navarrete into the ropes and leaned on him.  Navarrete unloaded a furious exchange.  Valdez was looking rough and tired.  Navarrete.

 

Round 8: There were a couple of blows and then a wrap.  Navarrete was probing and seemed content to let Valdez exhaust himself.  Valdez got in a good exchange.  I had Valdez because of the number of blows, but the coverage had Navarrete.

 

Round 9: Navarrete may have tripped and fell backward into the ropes after a shot.  The crowd began chanting.  Valdez wrapped up.  In the last seconds of the round, both of them landed massive blows.  I had Valdez.  The coverage had Navarrete.

 

Round 10: Navarrete was somehow distracted by something before the round started.  No problem.  He was aggressive in attacking.  The crowd was getting louder.  Valdez got in a big shot to the side of Navarrete’s head.  Valdez put Navarrete into the post and pummeled him.  Meanwhile, Valdez was showing a bad cut under his right eye.  Valdez got in two massive shots.  Both fighters were going after it furiously up to the bell.  Valdez.

 

Round 11: The round began with the crowd roaring.  Valdez drove Navarrete into the ropes.  Valdez nearly fell out of the ring throwing a punch.  Good blows were hitting, but not hard enough.  Navarrete was chasing Valdez around at the bell.  I had Navarrete.  I think the coverage had Valdez.

 

Round 12: Navarrete pounded his gloves at the bell.  He was ready to go.  He was chasing Valdez around again and pushed him down.  Suddenly, Navarrete fell to a knee. I didn’t see the punch and it wasn’t replayed, but it happened.  Valdez pressed and the crowd went crazy.  Navarrete charged.  Both fighters waded into each other until the final bell.  I had Valdez winning the round.  The coverage had Navarrete. 

 

Neither boxer was celebrating immediately after the fight.  Valdez was in his corner with his eye swelled shut.  Navarrete, in his corner, looked like he just needed a shower.  His hair wasn’t even messed up. 

 

The decision was unanimous from the judges, the coverage, and myself.  The champion, Navarrete, retained his belt.  Valdez seemed to be fighting a losing cause just looking at the two fighters before the bout started, but there were times when it felt like the fight could suddenly end either way. 

 

I knew the fight was on an hour delay, but I tried to call Mike afterward anyway.  It was an hour earlier where he was, but there was no answer.  Mike came back to work a couple of days later.  Him and Laiza were rooting for Oscar Valdez.  Though disappointed, they still had a good time.  Mike blamed the loss on Valdez “headhunting” with his punches.  I actually enjoyed the fight even it was the typical 12 rounds and decision bout.  Maybe I was just tired.  Both boxers were definitely warriors.