March 15 2008 
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Casamayor Fought Injured From Round 2 And Up
Casamayor Fought Injured From Round 2 And Up
By Bret "The Threat" Newton
The unusual holding strategy against Jose Armando Santa Cruz has been determined as a hand injury suffered by Joel Casamayor that took place in the 2nd round. Casamayor fought an unusual, and unpleasing 12 rounds where he grabbed and held onto Santa Cruz throughout the majority of all 12 rounds. It was unclear why Casamayor was doing so because he was never in any danger, or even hurt. Casamayor would fall to the canvas in the opening round from an off balance shot that landed on his elbow. He got up with a smile and laughed with referee Steve Smoger, both knowing it wasn't a clear cut knockdown, but they had to rule it because he ultimately went down from a punch. Once they were into the second round, the lunging in with both hands to hold began. A strategy usually used by a fighter who is in desperation, in trouble, close to going down, or just not really wanting to fight. Although Casamayor's usual slick style may not be all that entertaining for the most part, this was something completely different and unlike him.
After the fight it was clear as the Casamayor corner had informed us of an undisclosed hand injury that occurred in the 2nd round. Casamayor also urinated blood after the fight which was unusual because he wasn't losing the fight because he was getting badly beaten. Santa Cruz only appeared to have won the fight because Casamayor wasn't offering much offense an any round.
This does not justify the judges scoring however. Final scores were an unusually close 114-113, 114-113 for Casamayor and 114-113 for Santa Cruz. All three judges were questionable going into this fight in the first place. Judge Frank Lombardi, who scored it 114-113 for Casamayor, also scored John Ruiz the winner in his fight against Andrew Golota, a fight that Golota appeared to be the winner. Ron McNair, who also scored the fight 114-113 for Casamayor, was mentioned as this being his first notable fight as a judge. The third judge, Tony Paolilo, who scored the fight 114-113 in favor of Santa Cruz, scored the Chris Byrd vs. Andrew Golota fight a draw, another fight that Golota appeared to have won and got robbed of. Even 114-113 in favor of Santa Cruz was being mighty generous to Casamayor who appeared to have won as little as no rounds, to a possible, but slightly, 1 or 2 rounds.
By Bret "The Threat" Newton
The unusual holding strategy against Jose Armando Santa Cruz has been determined as a hand injury suffered by Joel Casamayor that took place in the 2nd round. Casamayor fought an unusual, and unpleasing 12 rounds where he grabbed and held onto Santa Cruz throughout the majority of all 12 rounds. It was unclear why Casamayor was doing so because he was never in any danger, or even hurt. Casamayor would fall to the canvas in the opening round from an off balance shot that landed on his elbow. He got up with a smile and laughed with referee Steve Smoger, both knowing it wasn't a clear cut knockdown, but they had to rule it because he ultimately went down from a punch. Once they were into the second round, the lunging in with both hands to hold began. A strategy usually used by a fighter who is in desperation, in trouble, close to going down, or just not really wanting to fight. Although Casamayor's usual slick style may not be all that entertaining for the most part, this was something completely different and unlike him.
After the fight it was clear as the Casamayor corner had informed us of an undisclosed hand injury that occurred in the 2nd round. Casamayor also urinated blood after the fight which was unusual because he wasn't losing the fight because he was getting badly beaten. Santa Cruz only appeared to have won the fight because Casamayor wasn't offering much offense an any round.
This does not justify the judges scoring however. Final scores were an unusually close 114-113, 114-113 for Casamayor and 114-113 for Santa Cruz. All three judges were questionable going into this fight in the first place. Judge Frank Lombardi, who scored it 114-113 for Casamayor, also scored John Ruiz the winner in his fight against Andrew Golota, a fight that Golota appeared to be the winner. Ron McNair, who also scored the fight 114-113 for Casamayor, was mentioned as this being his first notable fight as a judge. The third judge, Tony Paolilo, who scored the fight 114-113 in favor of Santa Cruz, scored the Chris Byrd vs. Andrew Golota fight a draw, another fight that Golota appeared to have won and got robbed of. Even 114-113 in favor of Santa Cruz was being mighty generous to Casamayor who appeared to have won as little as no rounds, to a possible, but slightly, 1 or 2 rounds.
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