Thread: Jennings went easy on Perez last night.

Didn't it seem as if Jennings took it easy on Perez last night? Jennings didn't start to fight until about the 6th round, and the earlier rounds, Perez didn't hurt or score as cleanly as I thought he would have and should have.

Jennings just barely put on some gasoline as he took the fight to Perez in the later rounds. Jennings held back, looked tentative and cautious. But as the fight progressed, the worries about Perez's power and strength dissipated and Jennings started to score, land and wobble Perez.

If Jennings had started to fight earlier, he could have gotten a stoppage or win much more impressively than he did with the Split Decision.

If they were to rematch, Jennings would win the lopsided match as I anticipated him to do. In fact, after the 6th round, the fight was lopsided- even though Jennings was still fighting on half strength.

Perez is still top notch contender status. No doubt. Work on his stamina, and he will be in the title hunt again.

Both fighters lost nothing with the decision last night, although Jennings won a little more.

Jennings is still a little unsure of himself and it showed in this fight. He should have been all over Perez, like you said, but he waited too long, plus he let Perez get away with that roughhouse crap. He'll learn!

To be fair I think that's all Jennings has.

No way, I was rooting for Jennings but he never actually figured Perez out, and early on he was pretty lost himself. If he had really tried to press for a stoppage at any point he would've more likely been on the receiving end of it imo. He wanted it more and came in much better shape so credit to him, but it's Perez who could have done a lot more.

Jennings had the better footwork early but it wasn't getting him anywhere early and he showed signs of fatigue first imo. He obviously worked on negating Perez' jab early but gave away rounds in the process because of the hug job Perez put on. Would have loved to have seen Jennings really let go on a few right hands to give Perez some food for thought. He didn't and his original strategy of taking away the Perez jab ended up paying off anyways. I thought he won. It wasn't easy but the fact that he wasn't outclassed and held his own was impressive enough in it's own right. Good on to Jennings. There aren't going to be many fights where Jennings is going to really have to use his reach to win. He just doesn't keep guys on the end of his punches because he, like Perez, is small for the division. The lack of experience using his reach showed this fight, especially early. Don't think it was a case of him going easy, just that he isn't used to fighting this way.

Originally Posted by p4pking

No way, I was rooting for Jennings but he never actually figured Perez out, and early on he was pretty lost himself. If he had really tried to press for a stoppage at any point he would've more likely been on the receiving end of it imo. He wanted it more and came in much better shape so credit to him, but it's Perez who could have done a lot more.

I think Jennings was expecting more boxing from Perez, and when all he got was two punch combos, an occasional body shot, and a lot of hugs it took him a while to realize he was going to have to make the fight.
This was an important fight for Perez and he blew it from beginning to end. Is there any other way to say it?
A lesson on how to set you boxing career back a few years in two lackluster performances.