Another Head-Butt Ends Gary Antonio Russell vs. Emmanuel Rodriquez Fight Resulting In Technical Decision

(Photos by David Algranati) 

In last year's meeting between Russell and Rodriquez an accidental head-butt caused their first fight to result in a no-contest just 16 seconds of the opening round. Tonight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York the two fighters took the fight a little deeper into the rounds. Rodriquez gets technical decision victory over Russell.

In the earlier part of the fight Rodriguez pressured Russell throughout the rounds. Russell took Rodriguez’s hardest shots better during the fifth round than he did in the fourth round, but Rodriguez was in complete control by using the opportunity to counter punch. Rodriquez made good use of his right hand as he landed it multiple times throughout the fourth round. Russell landed a low blow on Rodriquez with 16 seconds to go in the eighth round causing referee Benjy Esteves to give him the time he needed to recover. Rodriguez was ahead on the scorecards over Russell and added to it when he dropped Russell toward the end of the eighth round. Rodriguez went to canvas after he suffered a cut beneath his right eye when Russell head-butted him with less than 20 seconds left in the ninth round. Referee Benjy Esteves stopped the contest seconds into the 10th round. Here are the scores. Judges Bernard Bruni (100-90), Tom Schreck (99-91) and Ken Ezzo (99-93) all for Rodriguez in this IBF/WBA batamweight elimination contest. 

Russell suffers his first defeat and falls to (19-1, 12 KO's, 1 NC) and Rodriquez improves to (21-2, 13 KO's, 1 NC).