Pick of the week: Escalante and Roman go to war in El Paso

ESPN’s Friday Night Fights has provided some solid sleeper fights and this Friday it added to its catalogue when 126 pound fighters Antonio Escalante met Miguel ‘Micky’ Roman in El Paso, Texas.

Even before the fight started it promised to be a good encounter as the two 24 year olds had history. They both grew up in the same barrio in Juarez, Mexico and in their youth came to blows following an argument.

Escalante who was rated by both the WBA and Ring Magazine at 122 pounds would finally get a chance to get a measure of revenge on Roman, whose older brothers also tormented him, and over 10 rounds he did just that.

I have previously spoken on that extra something Mexican fighters have and it was fully on display as the two slugged it out. Roman constantly came forward putting pressure on whilst Escalante attempted to use the ring and his shorter more powerful punches to keep Roman at bay.

At various points Roman would trap Escalante on the ropes and the two would trade shots but Escalante realising this wasn’t to his benefit would attempt to get out of the inside fight and return to fighting from the outside.

In the 8th round a good combination from Escalante which included a well placed uppercut overwhelmed Roman and sent him to the canvas but like his promoter Oscar De La Hoya did against Felix Trinidad, Escalante sensed he was ahead and took the next round off to the annoyance of the crowd and Roman who crossed his arms and looked at Escalante in disgust.

When the 10 rounds were up Escalante took a UD with scores of 97-92, 96-93 and 96-93 but Teddy Atlas reserved high praise for Roman claiming he is a made for TV fighter, someone you would want to see win or lose and even went as far as mentioning his name in the same breath as a Micky Ward.

The fight is up on YouTube and there are download links floating about the net, I recommend it as one to watch.

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