number1contender.net

Versus Fight Night Live Recap

June 15, 2007

Main Street Armory-Rochester, New York

NABF Lightweight (135 pounds) 12 Round Championship Match:

Almazbek "Kid Diamond" Raiymkulov (24-1-1, 14 KO's, 134.75 pounds) (c) vs. Miguel Angel Huerta (24-7-1, 17 KO's, 134.75 pounds)

Diamond was a member of the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympic boxing team representing Kyrgyzstan at 132 pounds. He is largely a product of the Soviet boxing system. Born in 1977, the 30-year-old, began the first several years of his training under communism and he boxes with those fundamentals, rather then the American style. This makes him very difficult stylistically for North American boxers to prepare for, because most have never seen his style of boxing. Diamond is coming off a ten round decision victory in January at the old ECW Arena, where he threw 1000 punches in the effort.

Huerta is a late substitute opponent for Diamond for this event. That may be his only advantage, because Diamond is unhappy about having only three weeks to change training strategies for the new opponent. Huerta's last match was a round 6 TKO victory, in December.

The competitor from Mexico City, Mexico boxes as a southpaw, but  likesto switch to the orthodox stance regularly during his matches. Huerta can be effective with power punches out of both stances. He is a year younger, at 29-years-old, then Diamond, but an inch taller standing 5' 8" tall to Diamond's 5' 7" tall. Their reach is exactly the same at 70" in reach (Versus appears to measure wingspan).

These rules are in effect for this match which include: No 3 knockdown rule. No standing 8 count. A boxer cannot be saved from a knockout by the bell in any round. The referee or the doctor can stop the match. In case of a cut or huge bump on the head in the case of Rahman/Holyfield (more on that later) caused by an accidental headbutt the match will be determined by the scorecards after four rounds. If the match must be stopped prior to that, it will be ruled a no contest.

This event is featuring a very small ring, most conducive to big punchers. These two lightweights and Rahman fit that bill.

Huerta wins round 1, 10-9. Diamond is holding his hands low and it is allowing Huerta to throw headshots before Diamond can get his hands up to block. Huerta is being very effective throwing the left hand out of the southpaw stance versus his orthodox standing opponent. Round 2 goes to Huerta, 10-9. Huerta is throwing a hard left hand coming from about 7:30, which is a very unusual angle for a punch to come from and Diamond seems unable to see it coming. Huerta wins round 3, 10-9. Through 3 rounds, I have Huerta ahead, 30-27.

To open round 4, Huerta's left eye is beginning to swell. Round 4 is Diamond's best, so far, but still not good enough to win. Huerta takes round 4, 10-9. Versus scored the last round for Diamond, but mentions that it was just barely. The CompuBox numbers through 4 rounds, have Diamond throwing 347 punches and landing 98, for a 28% connect percentage. Huerta has thrown 252 and landed 96, but has a 38% connect percentage. The challenger's punches has been landing the higher quality punches, and that is why he is likely ahead on the scorecards. Diamond had Huerta up against the ropes at one point in round 5, and was able to bloody his (Huerta's) nose. Round 5 goes to Diamond, 10-9. At the end of round 5, Diamond is bleeding from his lower lip. In round 5, Diamond threw 80 power punches and landed 30 of them good for a 38% connect percentage. Huerta in round 5 , connected on 31 of the 62 power punches he threw, good for a 50% connect percentage. Both boxers are very tired in round 6, as the pace has substantially slowed. Diamond wins round 6, 10-9. Through 6 rounds, I have Huerta leading, 58-56. Versus has it scored at this point in favor of Huerta, 59-55.

At the beginning of round 7, Huerta is cut at the hairline, above his left eye. Huerta wins round 7, 10-9. Really close round 8. Diamond probably wins, 10-9. Round 9 goes solidly to Diamond, 10-9. Through 9 rounds, I have Huerta leading on my scorecard, 86-85.

Diamond wins round 10, 10-9. Huerta was very inactive in round 10, either saving his strength for the final two rounds or because he has already used up all his energy. Versus has the score after 10 rounds for Huerta, 96-94. My score is tied, 95-95. At 2:10 of round 11, a straight left hand from Huerta stuns Diamond and sends him to the canvas. Diamond easily answers the referees count, as blood pours from his, now likely, broken nose. Diamond should be fine to last out the round after the flash knockdown, already on fairly steady legs as the action resumes at 1:56. However, the knockdown will make it almost impossible for Diamond to win on a decision and he must score at least a knockdown to have a chance to win this match. Huerta wins round 11, 10-8.

Diamond has abandoned his limited defensive skills to do anything he can to score a knockout in the waning minutes. Huerta only needs to stay standing and coast out the round for a victory, but is instead looking to mix it up with a desperate Diamond. That is a dangerous strategy. With 1:57 to go in round 12, Diamond gets tangled in the ropes and goes down. Very late, the referee makes the correct call of a slip and the match continues. Huerta finishes strong and wins round 12, 10-9. My card has Huerta winning, 115-112. This is a huge upset of a top ten ranked lightweight.

The official decisionis thatthe the judges scorecards are: 116-111, Huerta; 114-113, Diamond; 114-113 for the winner by split decision and still NABF Lightweight Champion, Kid Diamond. The fans are booing this decision mercilessly. The match was close, but to have Diamond win 8 rounds is not reasonable. The broadcasters are calling it one of the most horrible decisions they have seen in the decades they have been covering boxing. The only way, I can figure the judges getting to that score is giving every round I gave to Diamond, to Diamond, plus round 4, which would be understandable. Then they would have had to give either round 7 or 12 to Diamond which would be hard to justify. Diamond moves to 25-1-1 with 14 wins by way of knockout.

In the post match interview Diamond said he knew he won the match on points. Diamond went on to say that the fans are just fans and they do not understand what goes on in the boxing ring, which endeared him more to the crowd that has now been steadily booing for six minutes. The official winner said he only learned of Huerta being inserted in the match 3 days before the actual event. Diamond said he had been preparing for an orthodox style boxer, instead of the powerful southpaw he faced. However, when Huerta was asked the same question he said he had known he was facing Diamond for about a month. Diamond did credit Huerta with being very strong, but said he (Diamond) was faster and that was why he won on points. This was not an interview that is going to win over fans for Diamond. He continued to blame his poor performance on he never seeing any footage of Huerta training or in competition, before he stepped in the ring. His interview came off as excuses and whining. Diamond's statements that he did not know of the opponent change is either false, or his management team is completely incompetent, and should be fired immediately for not informing their boxer what has been on websites promoting this event for a while. Diamond was going to receive a major title shot with an easy victory in this match. This poor performance has probably set him back at least a year.

Huerta in a strong interview through a translator, said he would have loved to have been knocked out rather then to have been robbed the way he was robbed tonight. Huerta when asked about a rematch said he did not want it. Huerta said had he been knocked out or lost a clean decision he may want a rematch, but he has nothing to prove by taking on Diamond, again. Everyone knows who really won and there is no purpose in a rematch. Huerta boxed well enough to be a solid top ten lightweight in this match. He has earned a top contenders status after this huge performance. Huerta left the ring to a standing ovation.