Rustam Nugaev Shatters Jonathan Maicelo
by Gautham Nagesh
Russian veteran Rustam Nugaev wore down and flattened lightweight Jonathan Maicelo at Chumash Casino, handing the Peruvian his first loss via highlight-reel knockout on the most recent edition of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights.
Maicelo looked every bit the slick boxer at the start, sharply moving his head to dodge punches while pot-shotting Nugaev from the outside. Maicelo has some defensive ability, but Pernell Whitaker he is not. He keeps his hands low and sometimes pulls straight back, which allowed Nugaev to catch him with clean power shots. A bigger puncher would probably stop Maicelo earlier.[[MORE]]
To his credit, the Peruvian was not afraid to stand and fight with the bigger Russian. Maicelo’s willingness to trade was perhaps his biggest mistake, when he should have been using his feet more to keep Nugaev off balance and neutralize his pressure. That pressure appeared to catch up with Maicelo at times, allowing Nugaev to engage him in a brawl for extended periods.
The exchanges began wearing on Maicelo, which in turn forced him to stand still and take more damage. The 7th round saw the momentum shift decisively, with the taller Nugaev stalking Maicelo and breaking him down with his constant pressure. Maicelo was already fading in the 8th when he tried for a looping right hand. Nugaev beat him to the punch with a much shorter and straighter right, which landed flush and put Maicelo flat on his back.
The Peruvian tried to rise halfway through the count, but the referee grabbed both his wrists and forced him to stay on the mat, stopping the fight in the process. Maicelo might have been able to continue, but the result was probably inevitable. Nugaev was catching him too frequently as the rounds wore on, and Maicelo’s punches barely deterred the Russian. We never write off a fighter after just one loss, but it seems Maicelo’s celebrity in Peru may have been a bit premature.
Wily lightweight Gabriel Tolmajyan exposed Puerto Rican prospect Jorge Maysonet Jr. in the TV opener, handing the 23-year-old his first loss in 12 fights via unanimous decision. The Armenian native moved to the U.S. in 2008 and was likely viewed as a stepping stone by Maysonet, the son of a former title challenger of the same name. But it was Tolmajyan that handled his opponent with relative ease over eight rounds.
Maysonet entered the fight having stopped all but one of his opponents, proving once again that KO percentages reveal very little about young fighters. His only strategy was to walk through his opponent, a notion quickly shut down when Tolmajyan scored a flash knockdown in the first round with a left hook to Maysonet’s chin. That punch successfully halted Maysonet’s advance, and his Plan B was sorely lacking.
The southpaw Tolmajyan began landing his left hand from a variety of angles, confusing and frustrating Maysonet with his unorthodox style. Maysonet showed a shocking lack of polish for the son of a former Olympian and contender, holding his hands low and throwing wide shots with little leverage. It’s difficult to see him amounting to much in the sport. Tolmajyan, on the other hand, is an intriguing but limited fighter. He can’t punch much, but he could prove a good test for prospects that are a little further down the line.
Whittier, Calif. lightweight prospect Alejandro Luna dominated Mario Hermosillo of Mexico City in the four-round swing bout. Luna kept his distance well against the shorter Mexican, whose face was quickly the same shade as his pink trunks. The 21-year-old Luna used quick feet and a dedicated body attack to control the bout. He doubled the left hook and used it after the right to the body, smacking Hermosillo constantly without taking much in response. It will take better competition to prove it, but Luna looks like he has the skills to make a living in the ring.