Bruno Escalante battled through fighting with a damaged left hand for eight rounds and scored a unanimous decision on Saturday over Victor Ruiz to retain his IBA Continental junior bantamweight belt. Escalante (13-1-1, 6 KOs), a southpaw, said he had to adjust as he struggled even to keep his left up and strong to block punches as Ruiz (12-2, 9 KOs) fought aggressively throughout the 10-round bout at Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks, Calif., about 90 miles northeast of San Francisco. Scores were 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94.
?I had to use my feints and movement, and try to use my right more,? a visibly discomforted Escalante said after the fight, which headlined a card co-promoted by Paco Presents and Don Chargin Productions. ?I had to change things a lot because I have power in both hands, but my left is my best. I saw he was focusing on my right as the fight went on so I had to put my left out there some, but not with anything on it.?
Ruiz applied pressure from the opening bell and kept Escalante, from Cebu Philippines from establishing a consistent rhythm, though he had moments of landing an effective jab and countering the fighter from Tijuana, Mexico, and landed the fight?s biggest punches.
