Before the fight between former interim WBO world champion Alfredo “Perro” Angulo (22-3, 18 KOs) and Erislandy Lara (18-2-2, 12 KOs), my prediction was that Lara would win. As much as I like Angulo’s pressure style, I knew you can’t teach a dog a new trick even with a new trainer in your corner.
Angulo dropped Lara twice in the bout but Lara did not have any trouble recovering as he glided around the ring and almost at will landed straight lefts every time. Angulo’s game plan was to “build pressure” which again isn’t anything new. Before the 10th round stoppage, Alfredo was down on two of the three official scorecards.
Angulo told USA Today that he never quit.
“I turned to tell (trainer) Virgil (Hunter) that my eye got thumbed twice. The ref stopped it without checking the situation or giving a count. A regular punch would not do that (damage). It’s dirty fighting by Lara, again. I was following the game plan and was building the pressure.”
The problem with his statement is one…. Angulo turned his back during the action with no indication to the referee. You can’t blame Raul Caiz Sr. for stopping the fight.
Second, as much as I like Angulo, he needs to stop giving excuses. Saying Lara thumbed him and that Lara is a dirty fighter is becoming a routine for him. Angulo also accused Jorge Silva of using illegal substance since he was able to take his punches in his last fight.
As much as I know, I don’t think he quit. I do think he was hurt and should have taken a knee. Stopping the fight was probably the best thing. Two more round of punishment on his left eye could have dangered his vision.
At age 30 I don’t think Angulo is ready for retirement just yet but with the same boxing style anyone who isn’t a brawler would easily out box him.
Lost fair and square cant get thumbed in the eye by thumbless gloves
@Mike Thanks buddy.
Edgar,
I have to agree with the other post. I watched the fight and I cant say yea or nay to the eye punch,but surely you know Angulo was more than holding his own when the fight was stopped. In boxing as much as you have watched know things happen,like with klitchko and lewis , cut over the eye , stopped the fight with lewis staggering all around the ring. V was ahead on all 3 score cards, clearly beating the crap out of Lewis and felt robbed by the stoppage. The DOG has a lot of fight left in him and boxing would lose a true warrior should he hang them up. The pacman lost 4 fights before becoming the pac-man. Sorry,I got distracted ,a really good one going on at nbc sports channel, super welterweights. Ok back to the topic lol lets keep the Dog around awhile and not give up on him,he is a great person inside and outside the ring. I think his best days are yet to ,come. If you missed this fight I am watching ,it is Algieri versus mango,If it had been shown on HBO it would be contender for fight of the year.
@Ray What I was referring too was Angulo making excuses of why his eye swelled up. Watching the reply dosent appear to be Lara thumbing him. Lara kept landing those effective left punches.
I also stated and believe Angulo didn’t just quit, I don’t believe Angulo should retire as many other journalist suggest.
Angulo defiantly gave us an entertaining fight.
Edgar I think you need to take your head out of your xxx! I don’t believe he was making an excuse. He was stating what he believed happened. He was in fact beating the crap out of Lara how much more Lara could have taken was and is still questionable. Lara himself said he was taking an awful lot of punishment. Lara had been knocked down twice and was about to go down again. Do we have to be witness to a fighter being seriously injured in a fight to recognize he did the right thing by admitting he was hurt by a possible gouging? Instead of trying to sensationalize or criticizing a fighter for publicity or in my opinion riding on the coat tails of both fighters for a buck I think you need to take into account the safety of the fighter and hopefully the good of boxing. I get tired of the hype by someone who has a stake in hype itself. Especially by some one who is just a spectator not an actual participant and probably never had to put a set of gloves for more than just fun. Angulo put up a valiant fight that you cannot deny against an opponent no one else would fight and after along period of inactivity. If anybody has any question of whether Angulo is back they need just see the fight again to realize he is a real contender. If they can’t see that, they too need to take their heads out of their axx!
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