JUAREZ ROAD REMAINS SILKY SMOOTH

By George J. Elsasser
braggingrightscorner.com

15.09 - Undefeated 2000 Olympic silver medalist Rocky Juarez welcomed NBC boxing back to the fistic fold this afternoon with an explosive 25 seconds opening round knockout of opponent Dave Murillo.

It is now back to back outings that Juarez has closed the show with a monster left-hook to the kisser ... Murillo landed flat on his back and referee Pat Russell waived it off after no more than a peek at the stricken 21 year old.

Juarez improves to 18-0 with 14 KOs as he travels a silky smooth road towards destination featherweight title shot in the coming year 2004 - his today victim Murillo drops to 19-6-1 with 12 knockouts.

Judging by what we've seen thus far of the 23 year-old Juarez, he has clearly earned equal championship potential with the Lacy, Cotto, Taylor mob ... and this contingent, with a few other new faces out there, speaks well for the game of pro boxing.

Semi-final action saw jr. welters David Diaz facing Juaquin Gallardo in a battle royal 8- round pier sixer ... Diaz entered undefeated with 20 wins, a dozen coming via the knockout route while Gallardo sported a 14-1-1, 4 KOs.

Surprise from the opening bell was seeing Gallardo with height and reach advantage but fighting like the smaller of the two ... and there's Diaz tossing away the southpaw advantage by meeting Gallardo at center stage from start to finis.

And what we got was an in your face shootout with any hint of defense missing in the action ... was Gallardo hitting the deck early after catching a Diaz right hook-left hand combo ... guess here was maybe an early afternoon's work.

Wrong ... it simply got hotter as the beat continued ... give and take, low blows, open gloved smears, head butting, hitting on break ... I mean, club fight flashback to them pre-TV days.

Tack on to the styles surprise was seeing Gallardo in role of puncher with no more than four stoppages on the resume ... anyway, it ends with judges scoring for Diaz at 77-75, 77-74, 78-73 - my unofficial went 76-76 ... was that kind of battle.

Post Script: Would like to add both these kids have prospect potential ... but cannot at this writing ... both need mucho tutoring in the skills department.

Semper fi, GEL