SUNRISE, FL — The latest edition of Fox Sports 1’s Golden Boy Live was a another low-key affair focused on the 2012 class of Olympians. No one was spectacular by any means, but the house fighters all won without much difficulty and got rounds, which can only help their development.
OPENER, RAU’SHEE WARREN UD4 JHON MOLINA: With Molina sporting a ghastly record of 30-26, there was a little doubt this would be competitive. And with Molina behind stopped in his last four bouts inside of five rounds, this bout was a good chance for Warren to get a nice knockout.
It didn’t happen. Warren’s handspeed was too much for Molna, but with repeated flush shots to the body and heard, Molina was never in any serious trouble. Even the knockdown in the first was the result of balance.
Warren would later claim that Molina’s shorter height and tendency to butt inside was the reason he didn’t press a KO further. Plus, he allegedly got a cold a few days ago.
ERROL SPENCE JR. UD8 EMMANUEL LARTEY: The unanimous scores of 79-73 don’t tell the whole story of Errol Spence Jr.’s decision win over Emmanuel Lartey. After rocking Lartey badly with a laser-like left cross late in the first, it appeared this one wouldn’t last long. Instead, Lartey displayed a strong beard, and body for that matter, in weathering Spence’s heavy bombs while getting trapped on the ropes.
Lartey’s corner told him the truth — his only chance was to come forward and press the attack. That was easier said than done with Spence’s heavy hands coming at him, and the smaller Lartey thought it healthier to continue trying to counter off the ropes. He started finding success in the last two rounds, in particular with a right hook that buckled Spence’s legs as the round expired.
Spence was a little too ponderous and predictable with offense at times, but I believe part of that was coasting once he realized Lartey wasn’t a serious threat.
JERMELL CHARLO TKO10 JOSE ANGEL RODRIGUEZ: After a first round blitz that saw Rodriguez rattled and forced to hold, Charlo took a more measured approach over the remainder of the fight. Rodriguez had his best success in the fifth when his right jab kept Charlo guessing and restrained on offense. However, the majority of the rounds were marked by Charlo’s greater accuracy and heavy power shots.
The end came in the 10th when a left uppercut left Rodriguez staggering into the ropes, causing the referee to administer a standing eight count. The fight could have ended there, but it took another uppercut before Rodriguez was saved from further damage.
If you missed the show, you can watch it at your leisure below courtesy of @Sweetboxing
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 