Undefeated junior welterweight Lindolfo Delgado was pushed to the limit but secured a split decision victory over Bryan Flores on Saturday in the co-feature at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The judges scored the bout 95-93 for Delgado, 96-92 for Flores and 96-92 for Delgado.
The first round served as a feeling-out period, with Delgado (21-0, 15 KOs) staying patient while Flores (26-0-1, 15 KOs) picked his spots. Delgado, a 29-year-old from Linares, Mexico, outlanded Flores in the first round but did not show much aggression early on. The fight, expected to be a potential Fight of the Night, was cautious through the initial rounds as neither fighter took significant risks.
Delgado floored Flores, of Juarez, Mexico, in the third round with a right hand after Flores had been reaching for a left hook. Despite the knockdown, the pace remained steady as Flores pressed forward methodically and Delgado continued to wait for openings. The third round saw just 10 punches landed between the two fighters, one of which precipitated the knockdown.
Flores increased his output in the fourth round, landing an overhand right, forcing Delgado to adjust – and a fight to start. In the fifth, Flores’ pressure and accurate punches exposed Delgado’s tendency to keep his left hand low. Although Delgado began to find his rhythm toward the end of the round, Flores’ relentless pressure continued.
The sixth round illustrated the contrast in styles: Flores was active and forward-moving, while Delgado remained patient, looking for a single impactful shot. Flores was warned for low blows by referee Robert Velez in the seventh round, and a point was deducted seconds later for a questionable shot deemed low. In the eighth, both fighters fought aggressively, with Flores landing a notable left hand that seemed to daze Delgado.
In the ninth, both fighters showed signs of fatigue but continued to exchange blows. Flores was busy, but Delgado’s power began to have an effect. The final round saw both men standing toe-to-toe, unwilling to give ground, and with neither willing to give away the round.
Ultimately, Delgado’s knockdown and the point deduction against Flores proved decisive, earning Delgado the most significant win of his career.
Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.
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