Questionable scoring overshadowed a strong performance, which was a shame for Yordenis Ugas.
The slick, seasoned welterweight contender from Cuba seemed to control his fight against Abel Ramos from beginning to end yet had to settle for a surprising split-decision victory Sunday night at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Ugas fought behind an effective jab all night, setting up right hands and making it difficult for Ramos to touch him. Ugas didn’t land an inordinate number of power punches but he landed enough — many to the body — to win rounds, or so it seemed.
Meanwhile, Ramos, waiting passively to counterpunch for three quarters of the fight, did next to nothing until the final few rounds.
In other words, it seemed to be one-sided fight.
That’s why it was jarring – particularly for Ugas – when Jimmy Lennon Jr. announced that the result was a split decision. It was even more shocking to hear the card of veteran judge Lou Moret: 117-111 for Ramos, or nine rounds to three.
Huh?
Thank goodness the other two judges – Zachary Young and Edward Hernandez Sr. – had it 115-113 for Ugas, which at least gave him the victory and a secondary welterweight belt that he coveted. Boxing Junkie scored it 118-110 for the winner.
Ugas (26-4, 12 KOs) was on the wrong side of a disputed split decision in March of last year, when he came up just short against then-world titleholder Shawn Porter in nearby Carson.
He didn’t seem to be taking any chances of a repeat of that experience when he stepped into the ring to face Ramos, who was coming off a last-second knockout in a fight he was losing to Bryant Perrella.
Ugas fought with controlled aggression throughout, jabbing at a high rate, alternating power punches to the head and body and proving to be an elusive target. Ramos (26-4-2, 20 KOs) couldn’t or wouldn’t take the risks necessary to bull his way inside until the final rounds, which was his best hope of winning.
Ramos had his moments. In fact, he delivered the two most-eye-catching shots of the fight. He buckled Ugas’ knees with a left hook in Round 3 and staggered him with the same punch with seconds to go in the fight.
And, to his credit, Ramos finally picked up his work rate beginning in Round 9, which made the fight more competitive down the stretch. That’s why the fight was close on the cards of Young and Hernandez.
But seven rounds to three for Ramos? Doesn’t make sense.
Consider the CompuBox stats, which aren’t conclusive but provide another window through which to view the fight. Ugas outlanded Ramos 233 (of 768) to 109 (of 626) in total punches. Ugas landed 30% of his shots, Ramos only 17%, which was a testament to the Cuban’s defensive skills.
Still, Moret gave the first two rounds to Ugas and then nine of the final 10 to Ramos. Fortunately, his colleagues at ringside – Young and Hernandez — prevented the night from becoming a complete disaster.