The technical power puncher Ricardo Pinell returned to form on Saturday after his last fight ended in a knockout loss. Pinell, who hurt Arturo Brambilla early, carefully dissected him until eventually stopping him late in the second round, showing his advanced level of counter punching. Pinell, who suffered his first career loss in his last outing which also came by way of knockout, looked every bit the Northern California Prospect of the Year.
Pinell, who in his last two fights, has been engaged in a fight before the fight. The first fight being with the scale. In his last fight, Pinell missed weight against a very tough opponent in Eric Mendez, who had a very good amateur record. Pinell said the big take away from that loss coming into his fight on Saturday was anger.
The frustration was taken out on Brambilla who appeared content to slug with Pinell until he began to get hit consistently with punches he did not see coming. It was early when Brambilla was first caught by a counter check hook, but Pinell simply said, “I didn’t want to walk into anything.” It was part temperament and part learning from his loss as Pinell simply controlled the pace of the fight and won on his terms. Nothing was rushed.
Pinell, the thinking man’s fighter, has stood out so far in the Bay Area boxing scene, as he never seems to get rattled in the ring. Even with very little amateur background, Pinell fights like a man with three times the experience. What weight class will Pinell fight at next? It seems his weight has been a battle so far.
For right now, Pinell is becoming one of the most enjoyable fighters to watch in the Bay Area prospect circuit. Pinell could be returning on February 17th in Salinas, CA on a Fox Sports 1 card headlined by Paul Mendez.
