RESULT: Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez scored a seventh-round TKO over Daniel Lugo in Aguascalientes, Mexico. The fight was stopped 2-17 in the seventh, scheduled for 12 rounds. Lugo lost for the first time since 2021.
IMPORTANT TIMES: Boxing with his hands very low, Hernandez was hurt in the third round. Lugo stepped forward and the crowd began to sense that another underdog story was unfolding.
Hernandez stopped trying to box and closed, giving Lugo the inside to fight. That strategy paid off in the fifth round as Lugo's nose was bleeding.
Hernandez put his foot down in the seventh round, landing a powerful uppercut that spun Lugo who was on the receiving end of endless punishment before the referee mercifully stepped in.
RECORDS: Hernandez pushes his slate to 35-2 (32 KOs), while Lugo returns to the drawing board at 27-3-1 (18 KOs).
TALKING POINTS: Hernandez needed to bounce back from a disappointing last round KO to O'Shaquie Foster. He did just that. Approaching a world title opportunity, Hernandez had his eyes on the prize as he proposed to his partner after the match.
Lugo rose to prominence with an impressive 10-round knockout of Mauricio Lara in February. Hernandez puts her back in her place here while also stealing credibility from Lugo's portrayal of Lara.
QUOTABLE: “We knew that when two Mexicans get in the ring, it's a fight that never ends,” said Hernandez, who referred to Foster's experience as positive.
“I want that world title. O'Shaquie Foster, Joe Cordina, Oscar Valdez, I want you to know that Rocky Hernandez is waiting for you!”
“I was surprised how hard he hit,” said Lugo, who built a reputation as a strong competitor in the B team and it didn't hurt at all.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: Analyst Corey Erdman described Hernandez as one of the best television players on the scene. Top ranked by the WBC, Hernandez was announced as the new WBA super-featherweight Latin America champion. The WBA champion is Lamont Roach Jr, who defends his title against Ireland's Feargal McCrory on June 28.
One thing Lugo can be praised for is his quick turnaround after drawing with Lara in mid-February. This suggests that he will be ready to go again sooner rather than wallow in defeat.
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS: Erika Cruz Hernandez fought to a 10-round draw against Nazarena Romero. Cruz's WBA super-bantamweight belt was on the line.
Randy Leon almost held on to his undefeated record with a controversial knockout against Misael Cabrera, who looked like a deserving winner.
Criztec Bazaldua maintained his unbeaten record with a six-round unanimous decision victory over Luis Fernando Ruiz.
Leonardo Rubalcava moved to 7-0 after Roberto Nevarez was pulled before the fourth round with a badly injured right eye.
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