Welcome to Inside Fights live coverage of tonight’s Top Rank pay-per-view event headlined by Miguel Cotto vs. Ricardo Mayorga. The action begins at 9pm ET. Be sure to refresh this page often to get the latest round-by-round updates from all the fights.
We are live from Las Vegas. Surprised that the opener will be Vazquez-Zappavigna. This one will be for Vazquez’s IBF Lightweight title.
Miguel Vazquez vs. Leonardo Zappavigna
Referee: Tony Weeks
Round 1
Vazquez is looking to box with the brawling Zappavigna. Zappavigna is in the center of the ring while Vazquez circles. Zappavigna lands a nice body-head combo, the first big punch landed of the fight. It’s been a slow-paced round, more of a feeling out process. Vazquez is the better boxer and needs to work his jab more. He was too tentative in this round.
Zappavigna 10-9
Round 2
Vazquez lands a nice jab. The two lightweights are opening up more this round. Vazquez is landing the crisper shots as Zappavigna flails about. Vazquez having a better round and looking more like the boxer we expected.
Vazquez 10-9
Round 3
Vazquez continues to box until Zappavigna swings the momentum in his favor by landing an overhand right. Vazquez is so methodical that the bigger Zappavigna shots can overshadow his hard work. As is the case this round. Vazquez won the majority of the round but Zappavigna steals it with the more impressive shots.
Zappavigna 10-9
Round 4
Vazquez controls this round and avoids the big shots of Zappavigna. Vazquez is backpedalling but countering very well. Zappavigna chases but he’s not connecting and looking rather foolish in this stanza.
Vazquez 10-9
Round 5
Zappavigna has swelling over his right eye and a little bleeding to boot. Vazquez is in control this round. The eye doesn’t seem to bother Zappavigna but it certainly looks gross. Zappavigna is slowing although still attempting to push the pace.
Vazquez 10-9
Round 6
Zappavigna, perhaps feeling pressure due to the cut/swelling, is turning up the aggression. Vazquez is keeping his hands low and leaving himself open. Zappavigna actually shortens his punches a bit and it is working out for him.
Zappavigna 10-9
Round 7
Slow round this time. It had been a good pace up to now but for some reason neither are excited to exchange. Vazquez is workmanlike and these kind of rounds favor Vazquez. Zappavigna is scoring with big bombs but he’s not throwing. Vazquez takes this one.
Vazquez 10-9
Round 8
Vazquez is circling well and landing potshots while avoiding Zappavigna’s offense. In and out for Vazquez. Zappavigna lands some good combos during an exchange in the final seconds of the round but it’s too late.
Vazquez 10-9
Round 9
Both men look tired. They are each showing a greater urge to brawl. Neither are really landing. Vazquez is benefiting once again. Not much to report. Missed punches and Zappavigna getting more desperate.
Vazquez 10-9
Round 10
Left eye is starting to get worse for Zappavigna. Vazquez is slowly racking up points while Zappavigna is tiring.
Vazquez 10-9
Round 11
Vazquez pumps the jab more seemingly putting this fight’s outcome into less doubt. It’s a matter of time. One and a half rounds to be exact. Zappavigna is showing a lot of blood from his left eye. Vazquez is still doubling the jabs and Zappavigna needs a lot of help to take this fight.
Vazquez 10-9
Round 12
Zappavigna is gallant but outmatched. Vazquez is showing his class. More jabs from Vazquez. More getting hit by Zappavigna. Just a bad matchup all around for the challenger.
Vazquez 10-9
Inside Fights scores it: 117-111 Vazquez.
Official decision is 117-111, 118-110, 118-110 for Miguel Vazquez.
Time for a special attraction fight as current Baltimore Raven Tommy Zbikowski takes on his second professional fight. He fought his first professional contest while he was attending Notre Dame.
Tommy Zbikowski vs. Richard Bryant
Referee: Russell Mora
Round 1
Bryant is described as a nutritionist and future accountant. Honestly, he looks like neither. Tommy Z feints to start. Bryant is fighting this like a Toughman contest, althought it is a four-rounder. Zbikowski throws Bryant down like this is a wrestling match. Bryant back up. Zbikowski puts Bryant down with a body shot that landed more around the tit area. Bryant is up at nine, says he wants to continue, but Mora disagrees and stops the fight.
Winner: Tommy Zbikowski by KO at 1:45 of Round 1.
Yuri Foreman vs. Pawel Wolak
Referee: Kenny Bayless
Round 1
Wolak jumps right in Foreman’s grill from the start. Foreman is backed against the ropes. He’s trying to gauge the distane but Wolak gets in his face so quickly. Foreman lands two good consecutive lefts. Wolak is landing short hooks as Foreman stands right in front of him. Wolak continues the pressure and Foreman just has to weather the storm. Wolak keeps going until the bell.
Wolak 10-9
Round 2
Foreman is so much bigger in the ring than Wolak. They are fighting in a phone booth as Foreman is willing to exchange with Wolak. That’s not working out in his favor. Foreman is landing some shots, and being the bigger man it looks impressive when he lands, but Wolak is busting out an extraordinary workrate.
Wolak 10-9
Round 3
Wolak continues to chop away at Foreman while Foreman continues to allow it. Foreman was never the most swift of foot but he’s making it too easy for Wolak to hit him. Wolak is landing a lot and throwing about 3 to 1 more than Foreman. Wolak is winning off workrate.
Wolak 10-9
Round 4
Wolak stalks and is showing no signs of fatigue as of yet. Foreman is not using his reach at all. Allowing Wolak to get inside and then trying to answer with his own shots. But with Wolak landing first, it looks bad. Wolak lands a huge body shot that wobbles Foreman late in the round. Foreman retreats and gets caught with a few more shots as he tries to just hang on for the survival.
Wolak 10-9
Round 5
Wolak keeps at the pressure as they get tied up in the center of the ring. Foreman lands a nice left uppercut but it barely stuns Wolak as he keeps coming forward. Wolak lands a three punch combo right afterwards. That’s another round for Wolak.
Wolak 10-9
Round 6
Foreman appears more tired than Wolak. Wolak snaps his head back twice in a row with lefts. Foreman circles now, at least pretending to be a boxer now. Wolak flurries at the end of the round, knocking Foreman’s mouthpiece out with a left hook.
Wolak 10-9
Round 7
There is no round 7 as Yuri Foreman fails to come out for the 7th round.
Winner: Pawel Wolak by TKO in the 6th Round
After all the anthems and hoopla the fighters are finally coming to the ring. The fight should start shortly.
Miguel Cotto vs. Ricardo Mayorga
Referee: Robert Byrd
Round 1
Cotto starts with the jab. Both land simoltaneous lefts but Cotto gets the better of it. Mayorga lands a couple of rights. Mayorga is talking to Cotto during the round. Left from Mayorga. Cotto responds with another big shot. Mayorga throws some chopping shots, as have been a part of his repitoire for his entire career.
Cotto 10-9
Round 2
Mayorga flurries early and is landing some good shots on Cotto. Cotto sidesteps and gets Mayorga’s back against the ropes. Cotto jabs. Cotto misses on some looping shots and Mayorga mocks him for it. Mayorga seems to be fighting with a controlled crazy instead of his usual plain crazy.
Mayorga 10-9
Round 3
Mayorga misses on some bombs to the body. They circle in the ring and Mayorga goes batshit crazy. Mayorga retreats to the corner and beckons Cotto to attack. Cotto slowly follows while Mayorga gets extremely animated in calling Cotto out. Mayorga flails about but nothing really lands. Usual showmanship from Mayorga.
Cotto 10-9
Round 4
Mayorga is really trying his best to goad Cotto into a brawl. Nice exchanges. Mayorga unloads and makes a good run of shots that forces a smile out of the so far stoic Cotto. Cotto guards against the left and takes consecutive rights.
Mayorga 10-9
Round 5
Mayorga retreats to a corner once again, this time propping his arms up against the ropes. Cotto comes in and lands a huge uppercut that gets Mayorga’s attention. Cotto batters Mayorga as the Nicaraguan seems to have lost some steam here. Mayorgas is starting to look even more sloppy than normal.
Cotto 10-9
Round 6
Mayorga is his usual wild self and Cotto is doing a good job of avoiding his awkwardness. Cotto is showing good footwork. Big left from Mayorga is countered by a left from Cotto. Cotto is putting some round in the bank now.
Cotto 10-9
Round 7
Nice exchanges in this round as Mayorga seems to have woke up. Mayorga is getting dirty with multiple shots behind the head. Cotto is waiting for a moment to counter but Mayorga isn’t giving him a chance. Mayorga continues to go crazy as he carries the round with workrate.
Mayorga 10-9
Round 8
Cotto goes back to landing first with his jab. Mayorga has worked his way back into the fight when it seemed he was losing his grip on the fight. Mayorga isn’t putting his punches together very well. He’s just sort of flailing with no regard to fundamentals. Cotto has the fundamentals and it is leading him in this fight.
Cotto 10-9
Round 9
Mayorga is attacking in spurts and Cotto uses that to get his shots in. Mayorga lands three clubbing rights in a row. Mayorga is attacking and making this not only a fun fight but an exciting fight. Mayorga was impressive this round and I’ll give it to him in a close one.
Mayorga 10-9
Round 10
Cotto snaps the jab as the championship rounds commence. Triple jab from Cotto snaps Mayorga’s head back on the third shot. Mayorga is starting to show some swelling over his left eye. Mayorga attacks but Cotto is doding the wildness.
Cotto 10-9
Round 11
Mayorga is having a hard time getting Cotto to engage in a brawl. He tries to taunt him into a brawl once more but Cotto doesn’t bite. While Mayorga dances and taunts and mocks, he’s not throwing any punches or doing anything really to score any points. Cotto isn’t dancing so he’s landing punches and scoring points.
Cotto 10-9
Round 12
Mayorga goes in for the finish and Cotto lands a beautiful left that crumbles Mayorga to the mat. Mayorga gets up and seems to be favoring his left hand. Mayorga is motioning that his left hand is broken but opts to continue. Cotto lands another big left and Mayorga nods to the ref, giving his consent to stop the fight.
Winner: Miguel Cotto by TKO at 0:53 of Round 12.
Jim Gray asks Mayorga about his hand and Mayorga says it was broken. Replays show nothing that would have caused the break. I think Mayorga just got knocked silly. In fact, Mayorga uses his left hand with ease and without restriction as he wipes his face and scratches his nose. I’m not buying the broken hand.
Ricardo Mayorga also announced his retirement, saying he was staying true to his prefight commitment to retire if he lost.
That’s all for our live coverage of tonight’s action. Thank you for joining us at Inside Fights.
