In the co-main event of a ProBox TV card, Jonhatan Cardoso earned a hard-fought split decision over Adam Lopez by scores of 96-94, 93-97 and 99-91.
In the nip-and-tuck fight, whose outcome wasn’t remotely certain even after the final bell, the last card stood out.
“That’s disgusting,” commentator and analyst Chris Algieri said of the 99-91 scorecard.
Regardless, the 10-found lightweight bout fought at a 132-pound limit on Wednesday at the ProBox Event Center in Plant City, Florida, never failed to entertain. (Disclosure: ProBox TV owns BoxingScene.)
The fighters had contrasting styles: Lopez’s boxing and moving and Cardoso’s inexorable forward marching and power made for a pleasing combination. Cardoso’s power punches eventually wore down Lopez’s slick boxing and combinations.
Early in the bout, Lopez (17-6, 6 KOs) alternated between skipping away from Cardoso’s thudding shots and standing still, trading bursts of offense at close range. Lopez had success, bloodying his opponent’s nose within the first three rounds. That he had pushed Stephen Fulton to a majority decision earlier in his career made sense watching the skilled display.
The 25-year-old Cardoso (17-1, 15 KOs) frequently landed huge right hands and left hooks during these exchanges, but the 28-year-old Lopez was never wobbled or dropped, often staying right in front of Cardoso and continuing to trade. Likewise, Lopez’s cleanest punches couldn’t deter Cardoso from coming forward.
Finally, in the seventh round, Lopez’s output dropped noticeably, presumably due to fatigue in the face of Cardoso’s constant pressure. Lopez fought back hard in spots, but he was forced into a low-activity retreat for too much of the final four rounds. Cardoso’s power punches, which continued to land over that stretch, made the difference.
The fight seemed close by the end – certainly closer than 99-91 – but the 97-93 scorecard in favor of Lopez also failed to represent the fight.
Charles Harris Jr. Outclasses Kyle Erwin
In the first bout on the card, Charles Harris Jr. comfortably outpointed Kyle Erwin by scores of 58-56 and 59-55 (twice).
Harris (9-1, 7 KOs), with Brian “Bomac” McIntyre in his corner and pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford in attendance, worked behind a long jab, threw quick combinations and tied up Erwin (7-2, 3 KOs) at close range. Harris, 20, landed counter right uppercuts that jolted Erwin. While the 27-year-old Erwin came forward throughout the fight, and with more urgency in the later rounds, he could not land the offense he wanted.
