It was the Condors’ Christian Roda who set the tone from the opening contest, stepping up against Caciques’ AMBC American Confederation Champion Yoel Finol. The Venezuelan looked to be in control in the early exchanges, but after knocking down the southpaw mid-way through the third round, Roda’s confidence visibly grew, and he powered through to take the first bout and give the hosts an unlikely advantage.
The lead was cancelled out when Brian Ivan Nunez defeated the hosts’ 20-year-old lightweight Luis Angel Cabrera. Having lost to Cabrera in Season V, Nunez was in no mood for a repeat showing, and his attacking style brought Caciques back on level terms.
The most hotly anticipated contest of the evening came in the third bout, with the experienced WSB welterweights Alberto Ignacio Palmetta and Gabriel Maestre both looking to give their sides the advantage. Southpaw Palmetta started well against Venezuela’s Pan-American Games champion, and as Maestre came back strongly the Argentinian reacted brilliantly, raising the tempo and delivering a vital win for the Condors.
It was a timely introduction for Caciques’ in-form light heavyweight Albert Ramon Ramirez, who won five out of his six bouts during last season’s campaign and never looked in trouble against Argentina’s Sergio Lebensztajn, levelling the tie at 2-2. Step forward the hosts’ Kevin Espindola who, at thirteen years younger than his opponent Edgar Munoz, boxed like a man with nothing to lose. Controlling the tempo from the outset, the Condors’ super heavyweight delivered a boxing master class to the delight of the home fans, landing enough strong punches to bring a precious win for the Argentine team in the capital.
