TRINIDAD vs. VARGAS

ROUND 1: There was no feeling-out process as Vargas came out swinging immediately. But after Vargas missed with a left jab, Trinidad caught Vargas with a left hook and Vargas went down for the first time in his career. A stunned Vargas was easy prey as Trinidad jumped on Vargas and caught him with another left hook and Vargas was on the canvas again, both knockdowns coming within the fight’s first 30 seconds. Vargas got his bearings back and was able to survive the round with the crowd chanting “Tito, Tito.” A still-stunned Vargas, however, went to the wrong corner at the break.

THE SCORING

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Trinidad Vargas J-Ford 10 7 J-Christodoulou 10 7 J-Hamada 10 7 Springer 7 10 Plaschke 7 10 Gutierrez 10 7

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ROUND 2: Vargas remained tight and tentative as he staved off Trinidad’s advances. A pro-Vargas chant begin midway through the round and Vargas seemed to gain energy from it, though he still had no answer for Trinidad’s powerful and quick left hook to the head. Vargas caught Trinidad with a left near the end of the round and, after smiling at Trinidad, went back to the right corner with a smile on his face.

THE SCORING

*--*

Trinidad Vargas J-Ford 10 9 J-Christodoulou 10 9 J-Hamada 10 9 Springer 10 9 Plaschke 10 9 Gutierrez 10 9

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ROUND 3: Vargas seemed to finally wake up from the first round and scored with quick left-right combinations to the head. But Trinidad, playing a counterpunching role, was too quick with his left as Vargas’ right eye began to swell. With 50 seconds remaining in the round Vargas catches Trinidad with a flurry and the tape from Vargas’ left glove rakes Trinidad’s right eye during a clinch, bothering Trinidad. With 10 seconds remaining in the round, Trinidad is warned after hitting Vargas with a low blow. Vargas is awake.

THE SCORING

*--*

Trinidad Vargas J-Ford 9 10 J-Christodoulou 10 9 J-Hamada 10 9 Springer 9 10 Plaschke 9 10 Gutierrez 9 10

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*ROUND 4: Vargas, finally recovered from his first-round knockdowns, catches Trinidad flush on his chin with a left hook 30 seconds into the round, sending Trinidad to the mat. Trinidad is bothered by his swollen right eye and Vargas is scoring with lefts until Trinidad hits Vargas below the belt again, prompting referee Jay Nady to take a point away from Trinidad. Vargas curses Trinidad as they walk back to their respective corners.

THE SCORING

*--*

Trinidad Vargas J-Ford 7 10 J-Christodoulou 7 10 J-Hamada 7 10 Springer 7 10 Plaschke 7 10 Gutierrez 7 10

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ROUND 5: The two spend the majority of the round feeling each other out. Any punch Trinidad throws, though, is a power punch as his eye is noticeably bothering him. Vargas closes the round out strong with an upper cut and a combo to the chin. Trinidad winks at Vargas as the bell ends the round.

THE SCORING

*--*

Trinidad Vargas J-Ford 9 10 J-Christodoulou 9 10 J-Hamada 9 10 Springer 9 10 Plaschke 9 10 Gutierrez 10 9

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ROUND 6: Vargas is back to fighting on his toes and picks away at Trinidad with left jabs and scores with a right uppercut. The two seem spent with more than a minute remaining in the round and the crowd starts booing. The two start throwing rapid combinations to close out the round, much to the approval of the crowd.

THE SCORING

*--*

Trinidad Vargas J-Ford 10 9 J-Christodoulou 10 9 J-Hamada 10 9 Springer 10 9 Plaschke 10 9 Gutierrez 10 9

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ROUND 7: After Trinidad catches Vargas with yet another left hook to the head, he follows it up with a lead right to stun Vargas in the first 20 seconds of the round. But Trinidad goes south again and is penalized one point for a low blow as the crowd boos. Trinidad spent the rest of the round stalking a weary Vargas, who catches Trinidad with a left hook but is too tired to follow up. Both fighters nod at each other at the conclusion of the round.

THE SCORING

*--*

Trinidad Vargas J-Ford 10 8 J-Christodoulou 10 8 J-Hamada 10 8 Springer 9 9 Plaschke 9 9 Gutierrez 9 9

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ROUND 8: Nady wipes Vargas’ forehead of a Vaseline-like substance to start the round. Trinidad is back to stalking again, scoring with precision and left-right combinations. Vargas is now warned for a low blow after hitting Trinidad with a right hook. With 10 seconds remaining, yet another Trinidad left hook stuns Vargas but he is able to weather the storm.

THE SCORING

*--*

Trinidad Vargas J-Ford 10 9 J-Christodoulou 10 9 J-Hamada 10 9 Springer 10 9 Plaschke 10 9 Gutierrez 10 9

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ROUND 9: Vargas is weary and punching from his heels, which suits the counterpunching Trinidad just fine. A straight right at 1:20 weakens Vargas’ knees again before the two start trading punches in the center of the ring. Vargas, whose left eye is starting to swell, wobbles back to his corner.

THE SCORING

*--*

Trinidad Vargas J-Ford 10 9 J-Christodoulou 10 9 J-Hamada 10 9 Springer 10 9 Plaschke 10 9 Gutierrez 10 9

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ROUND 10: While Vargas is plodding and on his heels, a rejuvenated Trinidad is light on his feet, bounding about the ring. Trinidad starts to utilize a lead right and is picking Vargas apart. Vargas is penalized a point for a low blow with 30 seconds to go. Nady has to separate the two after the bell as both keep throwing wild punches.

THE SCORING

*--*

Trinidad Vargas J-Ford 10 8 J-Christodoulou 10 8 J-Hamada 10 8 Springer 10 8 Plaschke 10 8 Gutierrez 10 8

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ROUND 11: Vargas is scoring with his left jab but can’t follow up. Trinidad sits back and picks his spots as Vargas is left to bob and weave for survival. Vargas scores with a few lefts out of a clinch but Trinidad answers with rights. Vargas closes strong with lefts to the head by taking advantage of Trinidad’s rapidly deteriorating peripheral vision to win the round.

THE SCORING

*--*

Trinidad Vargas J-Ford 9 10 J-Christodoulou 9 10 J-Hamada 9 10 Springer 10 9 Plaschke 10 9 Gutierrez 9 10

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ROUND 12: The crowd roars at the start of the final round. Trinidad goes back to what worked for him in the first round and, after slipping a lunging Vargas jab, drops Vargas with a left hook to the jaw. Seconds later, Trinidad uses the same punch to drop the hurt Vargas again. After stumbling to his feet, and barely able to raise his gloves, Nady allows Vargas to continue. Trinidad and the crowd smell a knockout and it comes with a frightening right lead hand which drops Vargas for the fifth and final time of the night. Nady ends the fight at 1:33 of the round and the “Tito, Tito” chants begin anew.