Jose “Loco” Hernandez (14-7-1,6 KOs) was optimistic about his fight Friday, August 9, 2013, headlining ESPN’s Friday Night Fights. His opponent Rustam Nugaev (25-6,15 KOs) was resilient in his non-stop forward aggression hurting Hernandez early. At the end of the first round boxing fans in Cabazon, CA, were on edge witnessing an all-out war between two fighters unwilling to do any holding. Hernandez came out with even more aggression planting his feet and setting on his punches straight into Nugaev’s body, working both sides.
Still, Nugaev was walking down Hernandez getting him on the ropes where he put in work before Hernandez tried to evade Nugaev’s constant pressure. Hernandez did seem to make adjustments and started to use his jab which gave Nugaev trouble coming straight forward. Hernandez would throw such looping wide punches, over committing when he threw. It would allow Nugaev to land first finally finishing off Hernandez in the 5th round.
There has been talk about the winner out of these two wanting to fight Omar Figueroa Jr. for a shot at the title. Would Rustam Nugaev be able to handle Omar Figueroa’s fast paced freight train pressure and punches to pull off a win?
