NorCal Roundup: Broner Stops Perez in Four, McMorrow Drops Split Nod to Mucino

By Ryan Maquiñana
Norcalboxing.net

Salinas' Eloy Perez (left) could not get on track against Adrien Broner (right).

Two Northern California fighters were unlucky in their bids for world titles Saturday night, as Salinas' Eloy "The Prince" Perez was stopped in four rounds by WBO junior lightweight holder Adrien "The Problem" Broner, and San Jose's "Mighty" Melissa McMorrow dropped a split decision to Arely "Machine Gunner" Mucino for the WBA women's interim flyweight championship.

BRONER TOO "PROBLEMATIC" FOR PEREZ

In a much-anticipated battle between two rising 130-pounders, Broner made the second defense of his WBO junior lightweight title a successful one, utilizing his advantage in the speed and power departments to take over the fight early.

"It's great. We've been going at it back and forth (in the media). I was prepared for anything," said Broner (23-0, 19 KOs), a native of Cincinnati, Ohio.

With the pre-fight buildup marked by trash talk from both sides including a choke attempt by Broner on “The Prince” at the weigh-in, the fans expected a competitive grudge match. However, Perez (23-1-2, 7 KOs) could not gain much traction throughout the fight, as Broner would beat the Salinas, Calif., resident to the punch with lead right hands and left hooks.

"I'm the best there is at 130. I can go up to 135 and take on anyone there too,” said Broner, later adding, "They can just call me the 'Can-Man' because anyone can come get it—Africans, Americans, Dominicans, Mexicans."

The opening round was a tactical affair, with both men coming out with their left hands down. The taller Broner would land the first meaningful shot of the fight, a left hook that backed Perez into the ropes. Perez threw a three-punch combination, but it found Broner’s gloves in what would be a clear first round for the champion.

Round two began with Perez trying to establish himself with a double jab, and would land a left hook off the jab. But Broner would soon back him into the ropes once more and score with a short chopping right hand over the top. Befitting Broner’s nickname, Perez would soon find his foe’s reach and height advantages to be a substantial “problem,” as the round concluded with four or five clean shots from Broner going unanswered.

Trailing by two points in the third round, Perez would need to find a way inside to have a chance to get back in the fight. As a result, the California fighter worked behind the left jab once more, but would eat an uppercut on the inside, as Broner’s shoulder roll defense continued to be impenetrable. Broner now turned to the lead right hand and found success with it as well as the third came to a close.

The fourth would begin with some theatrics, as the two shared a brief dance step after being separated in a clinch. After a right cross scored through Perez’ guard, Broner would then close the show, strafing his opponent with a lead right hand followed by a second shot that caught a crouching Perez, sending him to the canvas. When Perez tried to get up, his legs would betray him and he would fall to the floor once more, prompting referee Genaro Rodriguez to halt the bout.

Official time was 2:24.

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MCMORROW LOSES CLOSE WAR TO MUCINO

San Jose's Melissa McMorrow (right) fell one judge's scorecard shy of winning her
first world title against Mexico's Arely Mucino (left). (HG Boxing)

(Translated from HG Boxing press release excerpts in Spanish)

In an epic war that kept the fans at the edge of their seats Saturday night at the Olympic Coliseum in Guadalajara, Mex., Arely “Machine Gun” Muciño (15-1-1, 8 KOs) of Monterrey, Mex., regained her status as world champion with a split decision victory over Melissa McMorrow (6-3-3).

The Brazilian-American McMorrow constantly stayed in front of her foe while Mucino counterpunched at every moment. McMorrow's attacks to the liver were her trademark shots until the end of the eighth round.


Visibly spent heading into the last two stanzas, both fighters never stopped battling at a furious, spectacular pace, trading punches until the final bell.

One judge had McMorrow ahead 97-93, but was overruled by 97-93 and 98-92 verdicts in favor of Mucino.

"I thought we won. So did the fans, other trainers, and I think Arely thought so, too. It would have been a great story," said Eddie Croft, McMorrow's trainer. "We might get another crack at a title soon."

Boxing correspondent Ryan Maquiñana is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and Ring Magazine’s Ratings Advisory Panel. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com, check out his blog at norcalboxing.net, or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.