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(JAN 15) Last night at the Aragon Ballroom, in Chicago, Illinois, in a
rousing four round war, lightweight Rita Figueroa (134 lbs., 1-0-0, 1
KO) showed her moxy edged in edging tough customer Sarina Hayden (134
lbs.,
0-1-1).
Figueroa (R) rocks Hayden.
In round one, Hayden began jabbing, then opened up, while Figueroa stalked;
her hands were the busier and more accurate of the two, landing in
combination.
Pressuring, Figueroa landed several solid rights. A right hook over the top
seemed to start a slide for Haden as Figueroa gained momentum, driving
Hayden back hard with both fists. A pattern emerged that would follow
throughout the fight: Hayden would start strong, but Hayden would storm
back, the two fought tooth and nail and Figueroa would wrest control as
Hayden faded.
In round two, Hayden threw freely as she retreated. She landed several hard
shots that drew gasps form the crowd. Meanwhile, Figueroa stalked and landed
some heavy shots, seemingly rocking Hayden a couple of times. This was a
case of a freer swinging Hayden versus a heavier handed and pressuring
Figueroa.
Hayden opened round three with a hard flurry, drawing blood from Figueroa’s
nose. Figueroa banged in some very heavy rights over the top. Hayden surged
back with some heavy shots of her own. Figueroa drove Hayden to a corner
with heavy rights and repeatedly rocked Hayden who appeared tired and on the
verge of getting stopped. A heavy right at rounds end rocked Hayden’s head
back on the ropes.
Round four opened as Hayden drove Figueroa to the ropes with a vicious
two-handed assault. After being broken from a clinch on the ropes, Figueroa
returned the favor, driving her back to rings center. Resuming the attack,
the tow exchanged. Figueroa landed hard rights over the top and appeared to
be winning a war of attrition. Tapped momentarily on the ropes, Hayden
escaped as Figueroa pursued. Once again, Figueroa appeared on the cusp of a
stoppage victory, as she pummeled Hayden. Giving all she had, Hayden backed
Figueroa up at rounds end.
The fight was scored 39-37 for Hayden, and 39-37 twice for Rita Figueroa.
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