Battle of Unbeatens! Barboza Wins WBO Super Lightweight Technical Brawl Over Zorilla
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Temecula, CA (July 16th, 2022)– In the main event of a seven TOP Rank ESPN televised bout card at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California, on Friday, July 15, 2022, in a battle of unbeaten super lightweight prospects, rising Arnold Barboza Jr. won a clear unanimous 10 round decision over Danielito Zorrilla, in a vacant World Boxing Organisation Inter-Continental Super Lightweight regional title bout.
Barboza, 27-0 with 12 knockouts, Los Angeles, California, used a consistently active left jab to outwork Zorrilla, now 16-1 with 12 knockouts, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. Zorrilla loaded up on his overhand right hand bomb, and loaded up on his left hook, for purposes of counter power shots, but did not throw often enough to win most rounds. Zorrilla only opened up on the tenth and final round, coming forward to aggressive power shots to win the round while behind on the scorecards, but it came as too little too late.
By the fifth round, Barboza had outpunched Zorrilla 234 to 127 in terms of punches landed. Barboza’s jab had Zorrilla primarily on the defensive, aside from the occasional right hand overhand bomb. Both fighters were coming in on over 10 months inactivity, however the layoff inactivity was not the deciding factor. Barboza was simply the busier fighter. Zorrilla was loading up with every punch, remaining most of the bout on the gloves up defensive. Zorrilla’s approach fell short, as he did not have the power of a Wilfredo Gomez in his prime. In the seventh round, Barboza landed 15 of 45 punches, while Zorrilla landed only one punch of 15 thrown. Looking to land the bomb as the winning weapon only works if you have the power to back the approach up, and the speed to land it.
This bout featured good brawling in center ring, and exchanges along the ropes, with both fighters in top condition and moving well. Zorrilla landed a good right hand bomb to the head of Barboza need the end of the bout, who held on to hear the final bell. Zorrilla gave his best effort over the last two rounds, but waited too long to open up against a superior technical fighter, Barboza, who was too polished to get overpowered.
Result: Arnold Barboza Jr. Win 10 Danielito Zorrilla, Super Lightweights
Barboza wins vacant World Boxing Organisation Inter-Continental Super Lightweight title
Scoring: 97-93, 97-93, 98-92 Barboza. Referee: Edward Hernandez Sr.
Pechanga Resort & Casino Undercard Bout Results
Raymond ‘Danger’ Muraralla Win 8 Jair Valtierra, Super Lightweights
15-0 super lightweight prospect Muratalla knocked down Valiterra in fourth round
Stephan ‘Big Shot’ Shaw KO 1 Bernardo Marquez, Heavyweights
17-0 heavyweight prospect Shaw had Marquez down three times in first round
Jorge Marron Jr. Majority Draw 6 Adrian ‘Chinito’ Yung, Welterweights
California’s 20-3-2 Marron and Mexico’s 28-3-7 Yung draw 57-57 on two scorecards
Floyd Diaz KO 3 Pedro Salome, Featherweights
6-0 Las Vegas prospect Diaz dropped Mexico’s Salome in third round, then stopped him
Austin Brooks Win 4 Victor Salavia, Featherweights
7-0 southpaw prospect Brooks opens the ESPN card. Scoring: 40-36, 40-36, 40-36 Brooks
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