Undefeated Cleveland, Ohio lightweight Thomas Mattice rallies to score a seventh-round TKO of veteran Rolando Chinea in co-Feature of SHOBOX The New Generation Telecast
Photo Credits To Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME
SLOAN, IOWA (Feb. 3, 2018) – Undefeated lightweight Thomas Mattice rallied from behind to score a seventh-round TKO of ShoBox veteran Rolando Chinea in the telecast’s co-feature.
Chinea pushed the action as expected from the opening bell, throwing 90 punches in the first round to set a blistering pace for the scheduled eight-round fight. Chinea, who entered having beaten three previously undefeated fighters in his last four bouts, cut the ring off and pressed forward, keeping Mattice largely against the ropes. Mattice did his best work in the center of the ring, but the undefeated Cleveland native was unable to keep the fight from being contested against the ropes.
Down 59-55 entering the seventh, Mattice (11-0, 9 KOs) caught Chinea with a huge right to the chin and, sensing Chinea was hurt, unloaded with a series of combos to the head. With Chinea seemingly out on his feet and falling sideways to the canvas, referee Adam Pollack stepped in to stop the fight at 1:31 of the seventh.
Photo Credits To Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME
“It was a rough fight,” Mattice said. “I felt like I was behind and my corner told me I needed a knockout. He buzzed me a few times. I caught him in the seventh and he wobbled. At first, I was trying for one shot, then I remembered to start using the one-two. Then I landed a body shot, then a hook, and we got what we came here for, which was a knockout.”
Chinea (15-2-1, 6 KOs) was active, throwing an impressive 678 punches over seven-and-a-half rounds, compared to 414 for Mattice. But while he was aggressive and effective on the inside, his neglect of defense is what ultimately hurt him.
“I think I did well pressuring him and sticking to my game plan,” Chinea said. “I just got carried away and got caught with the right shot and, unfortunately, it ended the way it ended.
“I’m a little disappointed it ended the way it did, but that’s boxing and a lot of things can happen in the sport and that’s just the way it went.”
