| From MOP Squad Sports Boxing
Fight number four of the Contender Challenge saw Paul Buchanan facing off against Jerson Ravelo. Buchanan bit off a lot here, as he had been without a fight for one year and four months. Sixteen months with no fight is a long time, and the word was that Paul did not want this fight. Although undefeated, this match-up with Ravelo was a big step up in class for him. As with many of the other boxers from England, Paul had not been past six rounds, and this was scheduled for eight. The good news was that Buchanan would get his first opportunity to fight in front of his hometown, as he hails from Newcastle, England.
Ravelo was more than up for the challenge, pardon the pun. A fighter who was considered for both seasons of The Contender, injuries prevented Jerson from taking part in the reality show. This did not keep him from being Contender-connected, and he is now under the Contender umbrella.
Ravelo was knocked out in his last fight (with Allan Green), and that was the second knockout he has suffered in his pro career. That was not a major concern in this fight though, since Buchanan does not wield that kind of power. In fact, references kept being made to the fact that Buchanan might have been undefeated, but he was also untested. Yes, a big jump up for him, to be sure.
While the fight did go the full eight rounds, the 2000 Olympian was way too much for Paul to handle. He did show an occasional bit of aggression, but for the most part Jerson was able to roll off those punches while doing damage of his own. A third round knock down shook the confidence of Buchanan, and it was clearly Ravelo who showed he was the boss. The judges had it all USA, as they scored the fight 80-71, 79-73, and 79-72, vaulting Sugar Ray Leonard’s team into a 3-1 lead.
One interesting thing to note was that from round four on it was apparent that Ravelo had changed his game plan. He became a one-handed fighter. His right hand jab that is his bread and butter had now disappeared. It’s a good thing that he was winning the fight, or this could have been a suicide move. He later said that he hurt the hand in the third round. That right hand has been his problem child. He has had two surgeries on it and has broken it three times. Just what kind of injury he suffered on that night was not made clear.
So now there are two fights to go. Next we will see the USA’s Jesse Brinkley going against the former WBC Super Middleweight Champion Robin Reid.
Be safe and God Bless,
Viva La Raza,
Barb.
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